What kind of experience can you gain from working in FIU's Experimental Plasma Physics (FEPP) Group?

I have created a basic summary of skills learned/ practiced from my own research in FEPP. Please speak to Dr. Boeglin and myself (Ramona) regarding current and future research opportunities.

• Electrical hardware:
  • Radiation detection electronics (such as electronic amplifiers, high-speed digitizers, surface barrier detectors, etc.)
  • Cable connections for UHV applications
  • Data acquisition automation (writing programs to interface with hardware)
  • Electronic schemas/ cable block diagrams
  • Instrument Electrical Design Reviews
• General:
  • Fundamental concepts in magnetic confinment fusion and fusion plasma dynamics
  • Statistical analysis
  • Mentoring undergraduate researchers
  • Experience in creating and advising undergraduate research projects
  • Creating and giving effective technical presentations
  • Working in an international research collaboration
  • Project management
    • Running weekly research meetings
    • Detailed planning, prioritizing, monitoring, and accomplishing research goals
      • long-term instrument design goals (timescale of years)
      • short-term instrument testing and installation (timescale of months)
    • Grant budgeting, obtaining product quotes, preparing vendor paperwork and purchase orders
    • Exporting scientific equipment domestically and internationally (insurance, freight forwarding paperwork)
• Mechanical hardware:
  • Design concepts and creating machine/ shop drawings
    • Instruments and hardware for use in ultra high vacuum (UHV) systems and general bench testing
  • Building and designing vacuum and high vacuum systems
    • Turbo and roughing pumps
    • Basic leak detection techniques
  • Graphite coating for UHV applications
  • Cleaning and installation for UHV applications
  • Instrument Mechanical Design Reviews
• Programming:
  • Python, C, C++, Fortran 95, Shell scripting (Monte Carlos simulations)
  • IDL (writing and running code to access NSTX and MAST data)
• Operating systems:
  • Mac
  • Windows (to use Solidworks and Labview)
  • Linux/Unix (to access NSTX and MAST data)
• Software:
  • Latex
  • Solidworks, Vectorworks (machine design and machine drawings)
  • Labview (data acqusition programming)
  • GNU Make (Monte Carlos simulations)
  • Virtual Network Computing (installing and troubleshooting servers and viewers)
  • Videoconferencing (Polycom H.323)

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-- RamonaValenzuelaPerez - 2013-09-23