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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

James Drake

Photo

Dates

June 26, 1947 – present

Authorized Form of Name

Drake, James (James F.)

Biography

Abstract

James F. Drake is Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland (1978-present). Other institutional affiliations include the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests include magnetic reconnection and plasma turbulence.

Important Dates

June 26, 1947Birth, Pasadena (Calif.).

1969Obtained BS, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Calif.).

1972Obtained MS, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Calif.).

1975Obtained PhD in Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Calif.).

1975 – 1978Adjunct Assistant Professor (1975-1976) and Assistant Research Physicist (1975-1978), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Calif.).

1978 – presentResearch Associate (1978-1979); Senior Research Associate (1979-1985); Senior Research Scientist (1985-1987); Associate Professor of Physics (1987-1990); Interim Director, Center for Scientific Computation and Mathematical Modeling (2000-2002); and Professor of Physics, Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (1990-present), University of Maryland, College Park, College Park (Md.).

1981 – 1983Member, Executive Committee, Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference.

1981 – 1983Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Plasma Physics.

1985 – 1987Member, Executive Committee, Division of Plasma Physics, American Physical Society.

1986 – 1988Member, Executive Committee, Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference.

1992 – 1998Member, Executive Committee, University Fusion Association.

1993 – 1996Member, Executive Committee, Division of Plasma Physics, American Physical Society.

1994 – 1995Humboldt Fellow, Garching, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics.

1995Member, Review Panel on Space Physics Theory Program, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

1995 – 1997President, University Fusion Association.

1999 – 2000Chair, Division of Plasma Physics, American Physical Society.

1999 – 2000Member, Review Panel on the Fusion Energy Sciences Program, National Academy of Sciences.

1999 – 2001Member, Plasma Science Committee, National Research Council.

1999 – presentMember, Advisory Committee, Plasma Science Advanced Computing Initiative, United States Department of Energy.

2000 – 2004Member, Theory, Modeling and Data Exploration Panel, Decadal Survey of Space and Solar Physics (2000-2002) and Member, Committee on Space and Solar Physics, National Research Council.

2003 – 2006Member, Council (2003-2006) and Member, Executive Board (2005-2006), American Physical Society.

2005 – presentMember, Executive Committee, University Fusion Associates.

2008 – presentMember, Panel on Public Affairs, American Physical Society.

2011Awarded James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics, American Physical Society.

Occupation

Theoretical plasma physicist.

Places

Birth

Pasadena (Calif.)

Undergraduate Education

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Graduate Education

Los Angeles (Calif.)

Employment

College Park (Md.)

Subjects

Magnetic reconnection.

Nuclear fusion.

Plasma (Ionized gases).

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Chaikin, Paul M.

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Chen, Francis F., 1929-

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Dawson, J. M. (John Myrick), 1930-

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Fisher, Michael E. (Michael Ellis)

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Gates, S. James

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Griem, Hans R.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Holstein, Theodore David, 1915-1985

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Jain, Jainendra K.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Kennel, Charles F., 1939-

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Langenberg, D. N., 1932-

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Misner, Charles W.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Phillips, William D. (William Daniel), 1948-

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Rudnick, Isadore, 1917-

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Sagdeev, R. Z.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Schwinger, Julian, 1918-1994

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Webb, R. A. (Richard Alan)

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Webb, W. Richard (Wayne Richard), 1945-

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Weeks, John David

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Wetherill, George West

Both employed at University of California, Los Angeles.

Williams, Ellen D.

Both employed at University of Maryland.

Institutions

Major Positions

University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Physics

Obtained BS, MS, PhD in 1975 in Physics; Adjunct Assistant Professor; and Assistant Research Physicist.

University of Maryland at College Park. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Research Associate; Senior Research Associate; Senior Research Scientist; Associate Professor of Physics; Interim Director, Center for Scientific Computation and Mathematical Modeling; and Professor of Physics, Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Member, Executive Committee, Division of Plasma Physics; Member, Executive Committee, Division of Plasma Physics; Chair, Division of Plasma Physics; Member, Council; Member, Executive Board; Member, Panel on Public Affairs; and awarded 2011 James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics.

Gordon Research Conferences

Chair.

International Sherwood Fusion Theory Conference

Member, Executive Committee.

Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik.

Humboldt Fellow.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member, Review Panel on the Fusion Energy Sciences Program.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, Plasma Science Committee; Member, Theory, Modeling and Data Exploration Panel, Decadal Survey of Space and Solar Physics; and Member, Committee on Space and Solar Physics.

United States. Department of Energy

Member, Advisory Committee, Plasma Science Advanced Computing Initiative.

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Member, Review Panel on Space Physics Theory Program.

University Fusion Association

President.

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