ABOUT STEVEN TOMLINSON

The linked document needs updating as this was written while I was still a student, prior to obtaining my current position.  In this supplementary material section, I will elaborate on a few points located within the main resume and provide some additional material and information which I feel is significant and strongly represents my accomplishments as a student.

Table of contents

Chapter 1: Relevant courses and descriptions

     Section   I: UCLA undergraduate upper division coursework by departments

     Section  II: UCLA graduate level graded coursework by departments.

     Section III: Summary of lower division coursework

     Section IV: Summary of non-graded graduate level coursework

     Section V: Teaching assistant experience

Chapter 2: Selected Examples of work

     Section   I: Graduate degree thesis and PhD proposals

     Section  II: Plasma Physics homework writeups

     Section III: Poster presentations

Chapter 3: Full list of talks and presentations

      Section   I: UCLA Space Physics Journal Club talks

      Section  II: ARTHRB Weekly Friday group meetings talks

      Section III: AGU Poster presentations

      Section IV: LPSC Poster presentations

      Section V: NASA summer internship talks

Chapter 4: Internship Summaries

      Section   I: Graduate Student Researcher: UCLA

      Section  II: Teaching Assistant: UCLA

      Section III: NASA JPL

      Section IV: Undergraduate Student Researcher: UCLA

Chapter 5: Acknowledgements/ Funding awards/scholarships

      Section   I: Torch Technologies

      Section  II: State of California

      Section III: UCLA

      Section IV: NASA

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Chapter 1: Relevant courses and descriptions

Section I: UCLA undergraduate coursework by departments

Mathematics

1. Linear Algebra: Math 115A: Grade: B:Description:Techniques of proof, abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, and matrices; determinants; inner product spaces; eigenvector theory.

2. Complex Analysis for Applications: Math 132 : Grade: B:Description:Introduction to basic formulas and calculation procedures of complex analysis of one variable relevant to applications. Topics include Cauchy/Riemann equations, Cauchy integral formula, power series expansion, contour integrals, residue calculus.

3. Linear and Nonlinear Systems of Differential Equations: Math 134: Grade: B:Description:Dynamical systems analysis of nonlinear systems of differential equations. One- and two- dimensional flows. Fixed points, limit cycles, and stability analysis. Bifurcations and normal forms. Elementary geometrical and topological results. Applications to problems in biology, chemistry, physics, and other fields.

4. Mathematical Modeling: Math 142: Grade: A-:Description:Introduction to fundamental principles and spirit of applied mathematics. Emphasis on manner in which mathematical models are constructed for physical problems. Illustrations from many fields of endeavor, such as physical sciences, biology, economics, and traffic dynamics.

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Physics

1. Analytic Mechanics I:Physics 105A: Grade:A-:Description:Newtonian mechanics and conservation laws, gravitational potentials, calculus of variations, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, central force motion, linear and nonlinear oscillations.

2. Analytic Mechanics II:Physics 105B: Grade: B:Description: Relativity with four vectors, noninertial reference frames, dynamics of rigid bodies, coupled oscillators, normal modes of oscillation, vibrating strings, and wave propagation.

3. Electricity and Magnetism I: Physics 110A: Grade: B:Description: Electrostatics and magnetostatics.

4. Electricity and Magnetism II:Physics 110B: Grade: A-:Description: Faraday law and Maxwell equations. Propagation of electromagnetic radiation. Multipole radiation and radiation from an accelerated charge. Special theory of relativity. 

5. Thermodynamics: Physics 112: Grade: B:Description: Fundamentals of thermodynamics, including first, second, and third laws. Statistical mechanical point of view and its relation to thermodynamics.

6. Quantum Mechanics I: Physics 115A: Grade: B+:Description:Classical background. Basic ideas of quantum nature of light, wave-particle duality, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, Bohr atom, physical operators. Schrödinger equation. One-dimensional square well and harmonic oscillator problems. Boundary values. Classical correspondences.

7. Quantum Mechanics II: Physics 115B: Grade: B+:Description:Formal theory: commutator algebra, Hermitian operators, generalized uncertainty principle, Ehrenfast relations. Three-dimensional problems. Central potentials. Angular momentum. Hydrogen atom. Identical particles and Pauli exclusion principle. Electrons in an electromagnetic field.  

8. Quantum Mechanics III: Physics 115C: Grade: B-:Description:Matrix mechanics. Addition of angular momentum. Time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory. Fermi Golden Rule. Applications. Scattering theory.

9. Mathematical Methods of Physcis: Physics 131: Grade: B+:Description: Vectors and fields in space, linear transformations, matrices, and operators; Fourier series and integrals.

 

Earth Planetary and Space Science

1. Earths Energy: Diminishing Fossil Resources and Prospects for Sustainable Future: EPSS 101: Grade: B:Description:Earth's energy resources (fossil fuels and alternatives) from Earth science and sustainability perspective.

2. Advanced Computing In Geoscience: EPSS 134: Grade: A-:Description:Original programming and application of software to generate and test hypotheses with nonideal or incomplete data sets. Interpolation/extrapolation with graphics to generate hypotheses; forward modeling from fundamental equations to explore implications; probabilistic testing of models against data. Examples and exercises from Earth and space sciences. Introduction to software used in research and industry

3. Introduction to Fluid Dynamics: EPSS M140: Grade: B+:Description:Fluid statics and thermodynamics. Kinematics. Conservation laws and equations of fluid motion. Circulation theorems and vorticity dynamics. Rotating frame. Irrotational flow

4. Remote Sensing for Earth Sciences: EPSS150: Grade: B:Description:Characteristics of electromagnetic spectrum and review of remote sensing devices. Applicability to land-use classification, soil survey, urban studies, vegetation classification; emphasis on geologic interpretation of imager

5. Physics of the Earth: EPSS 152: Grade: B:Description:Crust-to-core tour of Earth and physics used to explore it. Isostasy, plate tectonics, mantle convection, and geodynamo as discovered with tools of elasticity, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics.

6. Oceans and Atmospheres: EPSS 153: Grade: A:Description:Physics and chemistry of Earth's oceans and atmosphere; origin and evolution of planetary atmospheres; biogeochemical cycles, atmospheric radiation and climate, energetics and dynamics of oceanic and atmospheric circulation systems.

7. Solar Terrestrial Physics: EPSS 154: Grade: A-:Description:Particle and electromagnetic emissions from sun under quiet and under disturbed conditions. Solar wind. Magnetospheres and ionospheres of Earth and other planets. Geomagnetic phenomena and aurora.

8. Planetary Physics: EPSS 155: Grade: A+:Description:Formation of solar nebula; origin of planets and their satellites; comets, asteroids, and meteorites; celestial mechanics and dynamics; physics of planetary interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres.

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Section II: UCLA graduate level coursework by departments

Engineering

1. Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics: Mech&AE 250A: Grade: A-:Description:Development and application of fundamental principles of fluid mechanics at graduate level, with emphasis on incompressible flow. Flow kinematics, basic equations, constitutive relations, exact solutions on the Navier/Stokes equations, vorticity dynamics, decomposition of flow fields, potential flow.

Physics

1. Electromagnetic Theory:Physics 210A; Grade: B:Description: Boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics. Multipole expansions; dielectrics and macroscopic media. Maxwell equations and conservation laws. Wave guides and resonators; simple radiating systems.

2. Statistical Physics:Physics 215A;Grade: B+:Description: Microstates and macrostates, statistical ensembles, entropy and other thermodynamic functions, equilibrium, variational principles, functional integration methods. Applications: ideal gas, oscillators, rotors, elasticity, paramagnetism. Indistinguishable particles, Fermi/Dirac and Bose/Einstein distributions. Applications: electron gas, neutron stars, white dwarfs, Bose/Einstein condensation.

3. Plasma Physics I:Physics 222A: Grade: B-:Description:Properties of Coulomb gas with and without magnetic field: equilibrium, oscillations, instabilities, fluctuations, collective phenomena, transport properties, and radiation. Description via single-particle orbit theory, magnetohydrodynamics, and kinetic equations of various types

4. Plasma Physics II:Physics 222B: Grade: A-:Description:Properties of Coulomb gas with and without magnetic field: equilibrium, oscillations, instabilities, fluctuations, collective phenomena, transport properties, and radiation. Description via single-particle orbit theory, magnetohydrodynamics, and kinetic equations of various types.

5. Plasma Physics III:Physics 222C: Grade: A+:Description:Properties of Coulomb gas with and without magnetic field: equilibrium, oscillations, instabilities, fluctuations, collective phenomena, transport properties, and radiation. Description via single-particle orbit theory, magnetohydrodynamics, and kinetic equations of various types.

Earth Planetary and Space Science

1. Solid Earth and Planets:EPSS 200A: Grade: A:Description:Geochemistry, cosmochemistry, and petrology; geotectonics; gravity field; seismology; heat transfer, thermal and mechanical evolution of mantle; core and geomagnetism; lunar and planetary interiors.

2. Oceans and Atmospheres:EPSS 200B: Grade: A-:Description: Evolution, chemistry, and heat balance of oceans and atmospheres; molecular spectra, radiative transfer, and planetary observations; dynamics of oceans and atmospheres.

3. Plasmas- Aeronomy and Interplanetary Medium:EPSS 200C: Grade A:Description: Solar surface features, heating and expansion of corona, solar wind, plasma and magnetic fields, interaction of solar wind with Earth, magnetospheric phenomena.

4. Mathematical Methods of Geophysics and Space Physics: EPSS 211: Grade: B+:Description: Designed to provide mathematical background required for students pursuing Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics, as well as related programs in department. Extensive survey of these methods, with focus on geophysical applications consistent with needs that geophysics students encounter in their research.

5. Space Plasma Physics:EPSS 240: Grade: A+:Description:Physics of plasmas in space, including treatments based on magnetohydrodynamics and kinetic theory. Applications to solar or planetary winds, steady-state magnetospheres, magnetospheric convection, substorm processes, magnetic merging, field-aligned currents and magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling, ring current dynamics, and wave particle instabilities.

6. Instrumentation, Data Processing, and Data Analysis in Space Physics:EPSS 265: Grade: A:Description:Principles, testing, and operations of magnetometers and other instruments. Data processing, display, and archiving. Time-series analysis techniques, including filtering. Fourier series, eigenanalysis, and power spectra.

7. Advanced Topics in Space Physics:EPSS 298: Grade: A:Description:Introduction to turbulence.

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Section III: Summary of lower division coursework

The pre-requisites for the listed upper division and graduate level course work consisted of: 

1. Three combined semesters of single variable, multivariable, and vector calculus. 

2. One semester of college algebra, one semester of trigonometry, one quarter of intro differential equations, one quarter on intro linear algebra.

3. Three semesters of introductory calculus based physics.  Mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and waves/optics.

4. Two semesters of chemistry for physical science. 

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Section IV: Summary of non-graded graduate level coursework

During each quarter as a graduate student, I have presented talks one to two times per quarter during the Space Physics Journal club and the ARTHRB weekly research group meeting (See full list of publications).  Additionally, I have attended the Kivelson research group meeting on a semi-regular basis.  At this meeting I occasionally present my own research or participate in discussions concerning other group members research.  This typically includes troubleshooting methods/approaches and discussion of fine scale details related to my own or another group members research. 

Each Friday while lecture is in session, I attend the space physics seminar where presenters are invited to come speak about their current research or publications.  This typically covers a broad range of topics throughout the space physics discipline so it has been a valuable experience in seeing different researchers styles of presentation along with keeping current on the many different sub-categories of the discipline.

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Section V: Teaching Assistant Experience

       Catalog number: Course name, quarters covered

1. EPSS 3: Introduction to Astrobiology, Fall 2015, Fall 2017

2. EPSS 8: Earthquakes, Fall 2016

3. EPSS 9: Solar Systems and Planets, Winter 2016

4. EPSS 17: Dinosaurs, Spring 2017, Spring 2018

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Chapter 2: Selected Examples of work

Click on the underlined hyperlinks to open each document. If the hyperlink does not work, each document is located within the subfolder titled “supporting documents”.  The simulation code files and/or examples of Matlab code are available upon request.

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Section I: Masters degree thesis and PhD proposals: Selected examples of technical writing

Below are links to proposals written as part of the requirements to earn a masters degree in Space Physics.  This work is currently ongoing and could serve as PhD proposals.  1A_Thesis outlines the development of the numerical simulation which I have developed and is central to my research.  1B_thesis gives a brief outline on the history of solar prominence models.  This serves as the basis for developing new models to study using the simulation.  1C_thesis outlines a possible study of the force free magnetic field configurations of the solar corona and has implications for studying fast solar wind acceleration and heating of the solar corona.

          1A_thesis

          1B_thesis

          1C_thesis_8_10_18

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Section II: Plasma Physics solution sets

            These documents are the homework writeups for the second and third quarters of the graduate level plasma physics series at UCLA.  The second quarter, Physics 222B is primarily concerned with the study of field free plasmas and non-magnetized plasmas while 222C includes the effects of magnetization in all three dimensions and breakthroughs in the field within the last one to two decades.  These solution sets were developed independently based on the Physics 222C lecture series given by Professor Morales at UCLA along with the well known text book on the fundamentals of plasma physics written by Krall and Trivelpiece 1968. A more detailed discussion and explanation of these problem sets is available upon request.  

            There are a total of four homework sets contained in the 222B document and three within the 222C document.  The fourth task for the 222C section was to give a talk at the 2018 Plasma Physics mini-seminar which took place on the last day of class during the spring 2018 quarter where each student presented an approximately 25 minute talk on their own research.   The slides from this talk are located at the end of the 222C document.

            These solution sets are presented here in their unedited original form as they were when turned in for a grade.  Although they are not error free, I feel they represent the results of years of dedication learning the complex mathematics and physics contained within and truly demonstrate a mastery of the material and techniques.  I am very proud to have received the highest remarks from Professor Morales on these solution sets along with the highest grade for Physics 222C.

          2_Physics222B

          3_Physics222C

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Section III: Poster presentations

The fourth document is a poster presented at the 2017 American Geophysical Union conference held from December 10-14 in New Orleans detailing work related to the development of my numerical simulation and one of the preliminary studies.  A detailed explanation of this material can be found in 1A_thesis

          4_AGU_2017_Poster

The fifth document is a poster presented at the 2016 AGU held in San Francisco, the 2016 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference held in Houston, and the 2016 Student Research Symposium held at UCLA detailing the work done at NASA regarding plume induced subduction on Venus.  A detailed explanation of this work can be found in the Nature Geosciencepublication.

          5_AGU_LPSC_2015_Poster

The sixth document is a poster presented at the 2014 LPSC in Houston and the 2014 Student Research Symposium held at UCLA detailing the work regarding the hydrogen content of Lunar rocks returned from the Apollo missions.  A detailed explanation of this work can be found in the Sciencepublication.

          6_ LPSC_2014_Poster

 

 

Chapter 3: Full list of talks and presentations

Section I: UCLA Space Physics Journal Club talks

Each quarter as a graduate student,  I review one peer reviewed published paper during a 30 minute talk at the Space Physics Journal Club.  The journal club is designed to give people in the department some background information on the Space Physics Seminar topic held each Friday during the quarter so the topic is not necessarily related to my own research.  

Section II: ARTHRB Weekly Friday group meetings talks

I give a talk once per year on my research during the ARTHRB research group meeting held each Friday while the quarter is in session.  This meeting is similar to journal club in format except the topics presented pertain directly to the presenter’s own research.

Section III: AGU Poster presentations

See Chapter 2, section III

Section IV: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Poster presentations

See Chapter 2, section III

Section V: NASA JPL summer internship student talks

1. Summer 2014: 30 minute talk at JPL detailing the work on the theory behind the gravity modeling of subduction on Venus.

2. Summer 2015: 30 minute talk at JPL detailing the work on the results of the gravity modeling of subduction on Venus.

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Section VI: Various other presentations

1. Spring 2018: Plasma Physics Mini-Conference : See Chapter 2, section II

2. UCLA Student Research Symposium : See Chapter 2, section III

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Chapter 4: Internship Summaries

This section contains an explanation of the internships listed in the main resume.

 

Section I: Graduate Student Researcher : UCLA : Sept 2015-Present

Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles▪515 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095

I received my B.S. in Geophysics/Space Physics from UCLA in 2015.  I am currently a third year graduate student at UCLA majoring in Geophysics/Space Physics and specializing in Heliophysics.  I have completed the requirements and will be receiving a Master’s degree in Space Physics in August/September 2018. The goal of my research is to develop a 2.5 dimensional magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulation in order to study the fine structure of the solar corona.  This will lead to a better understanding of the mechanism by which energy is transferred into the lower corona and solar wind.  My research is directly related to: heating of the solar corona, prominence formation and coronal mass ejections, solar wind acceleration, shocks/turbulence/energy dissipation.  Through my research, I intend to make significant contributions to heliophysics and the field of space weather prediction.  

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Section II: Teaching Assistant : UCLA : Sept 2015-Present

Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles▪515 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095

My primary responsibility as a Teaching Assistant is to hold 1-2 hour lectures three times per week during various general education courses offered by EPSS.  During this time I hand back graded homework, answer general questions, and expand on certain topics covered by the Professor in the primary lecture. Secondary responsibilities include grading weekly homework, answering email, holding office hours, and proctoring exams.

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Section III: NASA Planetary Science Internship : JPL : Summer 2014, Summer 2015

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology  ▪  4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA,91109

 

During the summer of 2014, I began an internship at NASA JPL working on a project building numerical static models of subducting plates beneath corona on Venus.  The models were then compared to the Magellan space craft gravity data.  This project is where I was introduced to and became highly interested in numerical modeling.  I initially began doing everything in Matlab.  I now do all calculations in C and use Matlab for post processing.  During the summer 2015, I continued on this project which eventually led to a publication in the journal Nature Geoscience,where my contribution is primarily in the generation of a few of the images using ArcGIS along with all of the gravity modeling and data analysis.

 

Section IV: Undergraduate Research Assistant : UCLA : 2013-2014

Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles▪515 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095

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In 2013 I began working with researchers at UCLA on a project aimed to determine the hydrogen content of the moon.  My responsibility was to build a static model in Matlab which recorded the volatile content of an initially molten crystallizing moon.  This work was published in the journal Science.

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Chapter 5: Acknowledgements/Funding Awards/Scholarships

Section I: Torch Technologies

Thank you to all of the great people I have had the pleasure of working with at Torch Technologies.  This is an absolutely great company to work for and over the years here, I have developed relationships that will last a lifetime.  Specifically thank you to Phil Gallmeier for being an excellent mentor and Jim Moore for giving me my original opportunity.

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Section II: State of California

Thank you to the state of California and the California public school system.  Without this, getting started with my education would have never been possible.  At Sacramento City College, I was able to utilize a Federal Pell Grant and BOG fee waiver which covered full tuition and partial living expenses while I was pursuing lower division requirements for the university.

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Section  III: UCLA

Specifically I would like to thank UCLA for the several years of funding and support I have received.  Due to outstanding performance in the lower division prep courses, as an undergraduate transfer student, I was awarded the Blue and Gold Scholarship and several internal UCLA scholarships which covered full tuition and partial living expenses.  Again, none of this would have been possible if not for the excellent higher education public school system in the state of California.  As an undergraduate, I received two awards based on performance at UCLA: The Strauss Family Award and the Donald Carlisle Undergraduate Research Award.

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Section  IV: NASA

Finally, I would like to thank NASA, specifically Sue Smrekar for being an excellent mentor and giving me the opportunity to work as a paid intern at JPL for two consecutive summers.  Additionally, I have worked closely with people from NASA and JPL for my entire undergraduate and graduate career.  I owe a huge thanks to Jeremy Boyce who is now at Johnson Space Center for giving me my first official research position which led to a publication.  Jeremy is an excellent mentor and there is no doubt I would not be where I am today without his leadership and guidance.  Lastly, I would like to thank my current advisor, Marco Velli of UCLA and JPL for providing the framework for me to pursue my graduate degree.  In addition to UCLA scholarships, my graduate degree has been partially funded by NASA computing grants and the Parker Solar Probe space mission.