EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

• B.A. Physics and Mathematics, Minor in Geology, University of Pennsylvania 1991


• Ph D. Physics, University of Minnesota 1996

BRIEF BIO:

Prior to working at GSFC, I was employed as a graduate research assistant until 1996, where I studied the acceleration mechanisms of energetic electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere. I moved to GSFC after completing graduate school to serve as an operations scientist for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). In 1998, I began working for the Solar Physics Branch, and have participated in a number of instrument proposal and development projects. Currently my primary effort is focused on scientific research and the development of the Solar Dynamics Observatory for the Living With a Star program.

RESEARCH INTEREST:

Coronal Mass Ejections, wave disturbances on the Sun, 3-D magnetic evolution of the corona, interplanetary transient disturbances.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

"Coronal Dimmings and Energetic CMEs in April-May 1998," B.J. Thompson,E.W. Cliver, N. Nitta, C. Delannee, J.-P. Delaboudiniere, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 27, No. 10, pp. 1431-1434, 2000.

"Observations of the September 24, 1997 Coronal Flare Waves," B.J. Thompson, B. Reynolds, H. Aurass, N. Gopalswamy, J.B. Gurman, H.S. Hudson, S.F. Martin, O.C. St. Cyr, Solar Physics, April 2000.

"SOHO/EIT Observations of the 7 April 1997 Coronal Transient: Possible Evidence for Coronal Moreton Waves," B. J. Thompson, J. S. Newmark, J. B. Gurman, W. Neupert, J.-P. Delaboudiniere, O. C. St. Cyr, S. Stezelberger, K. P. Dere, R. A. Howard, D. J. Michels, Astrophysical Journal Letters, V. 517, L151-154, 1999.

"SOHO/EIT Observations of an Earth-Directed Coronal Mass Ejection on May 12, 1997," B. J. Thompson, S. P. Plunkett, J. B. Gurman, J. S. Newmark, O. C. St. Cyr, D. J. Michels, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 25, No. 14, 2465, 1998.

"Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Observations of a Helical Coronal Mass Ejection," Ciaravella, A., J.C. Raymond, B.J. Thompson, A. vanBallegooijen, L. Strachan, J. Li, L. Gardner, R. O'Neal, E. Antonucci, J. Kohl, G. Nock, Astrophysical Journal, Volume 529, Issue 1, pp. 575-591, 2000.

PRESENT POSITIONS:

• Astrophysicist, Solar Physics Branch
• Project Scientist, Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
• Co-Investigator, STEREO and SERTS projects

PREVIOUS POSITIONS:

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS: