University of Michigan College of Engineering
Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences


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Brian E Gilchrist
Professor; Interim Chair, ECE Division, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Email: gilchris@umich.edu
Telephone: (734) 763-6230
Fax: (734) 764-5137
Office:
Website: http://www.engin.umich.edu/dept/aero/spacelab/
Education:

Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Stanford University

M.S., B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois
Research: Plasma electrodynamics for space propulsion technology; plasma diagnostics
Students: Rafael Ramos


Specializations and Research Interests
  • Investigations of electrodynamic tethered systems in the ionosphere and high-density electron beam effects
  • Microwave diagnostics of dense, high-speed plasmas for space electric propulsion

Honors, Awards and Accomplishments
  • Led team of U-M, Utah State and Stanford University researchers investigating tether electrodynamic fundamentals in the Earth's ionosphere and use of space tethers for scientific and technological applications
  • Led student team designing and building U-M's first-ever student satellite, Icarus, part of NASA's ProSEDS mission
  • Principal Investigator, Shuttle Electrodynamic Tether System (SETS) experiment on NASA's TSS-1R mission
  • Phase-1 winner of the University Space Research Association (USRA), Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative (STEDI) missions
  • Developed advanced microwave interferometer for highly accurate plasma density and turbulence measurements of space electric propulsion plasma plumes
  • Designed a successful neutral gas release system for spacecraft charge neutralization
  • Faculty Excellence Award, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2000
  • Excellence in Research Award, Department of AOSS, 1997
  • AT&T/Lucent Technologies Education and Research Enhancement Award, 1997
  • Key Note Speaker, European Space Agency (ESA), Roundtable on Space Tethered Applications, 1994

Professional Service
  • Associate Editor, American Geophysical Union
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (senior member)
  • Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society



Updated: 2007-10-15




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