Michael Balikhin

Professor Michael Balikhin is a distinguished academic in the Space Systems Laboratory at the University of Sheffield's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. With over 30 years of research experience, his work focuses on space plasma physics, collisionless shocks, plasma turbulence, and radiation belt dynamics. He serves as Principal Investigator for the Digital Wave Processor instruments on ESA's Cluster satellites and as editor of Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.

• PhD in Physics (1989)
• Joined Sheffield in 1995
• Key contributor to Cluster mission
• Leading expert in nonlinear space plasma systems

Research Areas

His research spans space weather, solar-terrestrial relations, and spacecraft instrumentation, with particular emphasis on electron heating mechanisms, shock structures, and nonlinear system identification. The 15 most recent articles demonstrate his expertise in gamma-ray burst analysis, magnetospheric wave dynamics, and multi-point space plasma observations.

Scientific Recognition

• Leverhulme Grant (2024-2027)
• STFC/NERC grants exceeding £1.5M
• EPSRC Platform Grant (2010-2015)
• Over 20 years of ESA Cluster mission involvement

Key Collaborations

Extensive collaborations with ESA, STFC, AGU, and international space agencies. Currently working with University of Michigan, Space Research Institute (Austria), and Skobeltsyn Institute (Russia).