David Lee Hysell

David Lee Hysell is the Thomas R. Briggs Professor in Engineering at Cornell University's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. He leads the NSF-funded cooperative agreement for the Jicamarca Radio Observatory in Peru, the world's largest radar facility. His research focuses on ionospheric plasma physics, plasma instabilities, and radar remote sensing techniques to study space weather effects. Hysell has developed innovative radar methods applicable to both academic and defense sectors, with a focus on improving theoretical-experimental closure in aeronomy.

Education: B.S. in Electrical & Communication Engineering (Penn State University, 1987); Ph.D. in Electrical & Communication Engineering (Cornell University, 1992). Teaching includes courses on radar remote sensing, inverse methods, and plasma physics.

Key Research Contributions: Pioneering radar imaging techniques (e.g., time diversity MIMO radar), deploying portable radar systems at Caribbean/Alaskan sites, and advancing space weather forecasting using satellite data (e.g., ICON mission collaboration). His work addresses ionospheric irregularities' impact on radio communications and GPS systems.

• Awards: AGU Fellow (2024), Teaching Excellence (2006), URSI Young Scientist (1996)
• Grants: NSF Cooperative Agreement for Jicamarca since 2005, NSF-funded upgrades to radar systems

Current initiatives include the Zeman Lab Radar at Cornell Botanic Gardens – a 600-foot antenna array for Northeast US space weather monitoring – and plans for a coastal radar network to study mid-latitude space phenomena.