Frank Tofolletto

Frank Tofolletto is a Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University. He also serves as College Magister at Martel College and is affiliated with the Ken Kennedy Institute and the Rice Space Institute. His primary research focuses on magnetospheric physics and computational space plasma physics, particularly the Earth’s inner magnetosphere and ring current dynamics.

His current projects include the development of the MAGE coupled magnetosphere model as part of the Center for Geospace Storms, the study of buoyancy waves in the magnetosphere, and the modeling of bursty bulk flows and interchange using the Rice Convection Model (RCM-I). Additionally, he contributes to star-exoplanet modeling research.

Education:

• 1981 BS from La Trobe University
• 1987 PhD from Rice University