Atmospheric Electricity & Electromagnetics Research
The Atmospheric Electricity & Electromagnetics Research Group in the Geospace Physics Laboratory (GPL) works on measurements and modeling of electrical discharges and energetic radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere, sensing technology development, electromagnetic wave propagation effects, lightning interaction with airborne vehicles and space launches, power lines, wind turbines and other tall objects, lightning protection, and meteorological applications of lightning data. Measurements of various atmospheric electricity phenomena are made at the Melbourne Lightning Observatory which includes a wide range of measurement systems operating over different frequency ranges. The Observatory is comprised of measurement stations on Florida Tech's Melbourne Campus, as well as, at the Kennedy Space Center.
This group also collaborates with the University of Florida on X-ray measurements of natural and rocket-triggered lightning which are performed at the UF-FIT International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, FL. Work also includes theoretical investigations of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), lightning initiation processes, runaway breakdown, and thunderstorm electrification on Earth and other planets.
Prospective students and postdocs
Applicants to the Graduate Program
We are almost always looking for talented and motivated students to join us as Ph.D. students. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Amitabh Nag. We read all our emails even though we may not be able to respond to all of them quickly. Contacting Dr. Nag in advance helps ensure that your application for admission is thoroughly considered. In your admission application to FIT your statement of purpose essay is a good place to list advisers who you have contacted or whose research you are interested in.
FIT Undergraduate Students
In the AE&E area, we usually have a few undergraduates helping with specific research tasks during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Some highly motivated and talented undergraduate students have even been co-authors in publications and have continued as graduate students at the GPL or elsewhere. If you are a hard-working graduate student interested in pursuing research at the GPL please contact Dr. Amitabh Nag with an expression of interest. Please note that your success in research activities depends upon you being self-motivated and hard-working.
Postdoctoral Positions
The availability of postdoc positions in our group depends upon funding availability and changes from year-to-year. If you are interested in our research please feel free to contact Dr. Amitabh Nag with an expression of interest. Please note that we receive more applications from candidates than positions available at any given time, but we consider each application thoroughly and choose candidates whose background best matches our research needs at that time.