معرفی
Rachael Filwett is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Montana State University's College of Letters & Science. Her research focuses on energetic particles originating from the Sun and their behavior in interplanetary space and planetary magnetospheres.
Her educational background includes a B.S. in Physics, East Asian Studies, and Mathematics from Valparaiso University (2013), followed by M.S. (2016) and Ph.D. (2018) in Physics from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her academic journey has positioned her at the forefront of space physics research.
Dr. Filwett's research centers on ion particle acceleration and transport mechanisms, with particular emphasis on how particles accelerated at the Sun and shocks move through interplanetary space. She utilizes both space-based and ground-based data to investigate particle origins and acceleration processes, with applications to space weather prediction. Her work extends to energetic particle entry and trapping in terrestrial and gas giant magnetospheres. A significant portion of her research involves developing next-generation miniaturized particle instruments for SmallSats that maintain high mass and energy resolution, addressing critical needs in space instrumentation.
Her publication record reveals strong emphasis on heliospheric science, with key contributions in solar wind dynamics, particle acceleration mechanisms, and space weather applications. Recent work shows increasing focus on community development, accessibility, and mental health awareness within the heliophysics field.
Dr. Filwett actively secures competitive research funding, with current projects including:
- Suprathermal Property Scaling and Acceleration Processes from the Near-Sun Environment to 1 AU (NASA)
- Resolving Uncertainty in Past 14C Spikes from Tree Rings (NSF)
- CAREER: Evolution of Stream Interaction Regions from 1 to 5.4 au and Implications for Geomagnetic Induced Currents (NSF)
- LabOratory for the Behavior of the SloT Region (LOBSTR) (NASA)
She is deeply committed to educational outreach, having developed the CS CORE course ASTR 120 'The Sun and Society' for non-STEM majors and taught various physics courses including honors-level general physics and electromagnetism. Her service includes committee work for the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics. Dr. Filwett also champions inclusivity in space physics, advocating for accessibility and mental health awareness within the scientific community.
