Aaron Covington

Aaron Covington is an Assistant Research Professor in the Physics Department at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). He has held several key academic and administrative roles, including serving as the Physics Graduate Director since 2014 and Interim Director of the Nevada Terawatt Facility since 2010. Prior to this, he was Director of Graduate Studies in the UNR Physics Department (2007–2010) and an Assistant Professor at Lake Tahoe Community College (2001–2004).

He holds a Ph.D. in Physics (1998) and a B.S. in Engineering Physics (1992), both from UNR. His research focuses on experimental studies of plasmas, photon-matter interactions, and condensed matter systems. Key areas include atomic and molecular collisions in high-energy-density plasmas, structural analysis of materials under extreme conditions using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and astrophysical plasma dynamics.

Awarded the Westfall Scholar Mentor (UNR College of Science, 2007 & 2011) and the David A. Shirley Award (2002), his work bridges fundamental physics with applied material science. Over 30 refereed publications highlight his contributions to plasma physics, spectroscopic techniques, and high-pressure material characterization. His involvement with the Nevada Terawatt Facility underscores his role in advancing cutting-edge experimental facilities for high-energy density research.