Jay Johnson

Dr. Jay Johnson is a Professor in the Department of Engineering & Computer Science at Andrews University's School of Engineering, where he has served since Fall 2016. His research focuses on computational plasma physics with expertise in magnetospheric and ionospheric wave phenomena. Prior to Andrews, he led the space physics group at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (2005-2016) and held research positions at MIT and the University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992
• B.A. in Physics (with distinction) and Mathematics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1987

Dr. Johnson's research centers on kinetic wave processes in space plasmas, employing advanced computational methods to study Alfvén waves, substorms, and radiation belt dynamics. His work combines kinetic fluid modeling with hybrid simulations to investigate wave generation, propagation, and dissipation across scales—from electron dynamics in auroral beads to global magnetospheric responses. Current projects examine ionospheric irregularities' impact on communications and EMIC wave propagation in compressed magnetospheres.

His 2025 publications reveal concentrated focus on computational space plasma physics, particularly full-wave simulations of ionospheric disturbances and EMIC wave behavior. These works demonstrate methodological consistency in applying multi-scale modeling to space weather prediction challenges, with emphasis on wave-particle interactions and cross-scale coupling phenomena.

Research Funding:

• Principal Investigator for NASA HSR program grant 'Magnetosphere-Ionosphere coupling of small scale structures' (2022-2025)
• NSF grant 'Collaborative Research: GEM: Investigation of Radiation Belt Losses' (2021-2025)
• Multiple NASA subawards including projects with Johns Hopkins University and Boston University
• Continued leadership of NSF-GEM program initiatives studying substorm wave dynamics

Dr. Johnson maintains an active research group building on his success at PPPL where he expanded the space physics team through strategic grant acquisition. His current work continues to develop computational frameworks that bridge kinetic-scale physics with global magnetospheric models, supported by sustained NASA and NSF funding. The group emphasizes practical applications for space weather forecasting while advancing fundamental understanding of plasma wave processes.