VT SuperDARN student Shibaji Chakraborty successfully presented his Project and Report in support of earning a Master of Arts Degree from Virginia Tech's Department of Statistics on December 1, 2020. The title of his presentation was 'Characterization of SuperDARN Backscatter Echoes using Machine Learning Techniques'. The background to this unusual accomplishment is a special degree program that enables graduate students to take courses and earn degree credit in Data Analysis and Applied Statistics (M.A. DAAS degree). Shibaji was advised on the Statistics side by Dr. Srijan Sengupta. Shibaji is simultaneously a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering supervised by Drs. Jo Baker and Mike Ruohoniemi and has several radar-related papers to his credit. (Photo credit: Uddipan Mukherjee)
Congratulations, Shibaji!

For students interested in doing scientific research in the atmospheric sciences, solar and space physics, engineering, social sciences, or computer sciences the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is holding an NCAR Explorer Series Student Opportunities event on Wednesday, November 18 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (MT). During the event, a panel of educational program leads, an NCAR scientist, and a student internship participant will talk about internships, workshops, and fellowships for students in all stages of their academic careers, from undergraduate through early career.
Please note the registration link below and the request to register by the end of the day on Monday, November 16th : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzG7l3f7XCMgBK3nsfYkhFVuCEYDP6LYLnNacau8wJv8UQVw/viewform

Space@VT doctoral graduate Dong Lin has pointed out that NCAR hosts a program that makes it possible for graduate students to visit for periods ranging from a few months to a full year. In the words of the program announcement: 'NCAR's Advanced Study Program's Graduate Student (GVP) Fellowship is an excellent way to spend time at NCAR and work on parts of your thesis, or final project equivalent, with guidance from NCAR scientists and engineers. The GVP also is an opportunity to develop research collaborations at NCAR and to participate in professional development workshops and seminars.' The program website is https://asp.ucar.edu/graduate-visitors/graduate-visitor-program
Dong, now an ASP Postdoctoral Fellow at High Altitude Observatory, has offered to answer questions about the program and further opportunities. Application deadline: November 15, 2020

Recent PhD graduates Dr. Dong Lin and Dr. Xueling Shi, also a married couple expecting their first baby, were hosted on a visit to the site of the Fort Hays SuperDARN radar by Fort Hays State University intern Cody Jiles, on May 31, 2019. Dr. Shi performed her research in the SuperDARN group headed while Dr. Lin was a member of the plasma physics group headed by Prof. Wayne Scales. They defended within a few weeks of each other. The visit occurred while they were driving across the country to take up postdoctoral positions at Boulder, Co. Cody is an FHSU undergrad and maintains the radar site for the VT SuperDARN group. The photo in the background shows the closest approach or 'nexus' of the main arrays of the two radars.

Photo credit: Selfie by Dong

Following the completion of the move of the VT SuperDARN group to new on-campus quarters, the group website is now undergoing a thorough updating, a process that may take several months. Temporary interruptions in some services are possible. If you have a time-critical need for a product that is unavailable, please contact a group member listed under 'Contact/Visit Us'.

New banner design credit: B. Kunduri

SuperDARN PI Dr. Jiaojiao Zhang has passed on the news that two radars are under construction at a site in Inner Mongolia. The build is part of the Meridian Project phase II and follows the inauguration of the first SuperDARN radar in China at a site near Jiamusi (http://vt.superdarn.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=354). This will be a twin radar site. The photo shows the construction of one of the antenna arrays. A total of six radars are planned to be built as a chain across northern China. Jiaojiao has been assisted in this work from the beginning by her colleague Dr. Ailan Lan.

Congratulations to Dr. Zhang and her team at the National Space Science Center (CAS)!

Photo credit: Boyu Huang