Assistant Professor
Email: petersen.alicia@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 392-3496
Alicia Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Florida. Through data analysis, instrumentation and modeling, Dr. Petersen researches the kinetic physics, magnetism and dynamics at play during the transit and interaction of space weather phenomena in the inner solar system, their impacts on spacecraft, and strategies for mitigating the impacts of space weather.
Dr. Petersen joined the Department of MAE in 2022 after being an NRC Research Fellow at the Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, where she researched the propagation of space weather events in order to improve space weather forecasting, with the aim of enhancing space situational awareness and protecting space-based assets for the US Air Force and Space Force. Dr. Petersen earned her PhD and MS from the Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Dept. at the University of Michigan.
Outreach & Leadership
- AGU Education Section Executive Committee, Early Career Representative: May 2020 – January 2022
- AGU Education Section Executive Committee, Student Representative: July 2019 – May 2020
- CLaSP Dept. Core Curriculum Committee, Student Committee Member: September 2017 – May 2018
- Rackham Professional Development Leaders Program: August 2017 – May 2018
- Appraiser for the Destination Imagination Michigan Region 2 Competition, a K-12 STEM program: February – March 2017
- CLaSP Dept. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Seminars with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Players: Organizer, November 2016 – October 2017
- CLaSP Graduate & Undergraduate Student Organization (GUStO): Co-President, April 2016 – May 2018
- Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering (CLaSP) Ladies Lunch: Lead Organizer, April 2016 – May 2019
- Graduate Society for Women Engineers (gradSWE), UM Chapter: Member, September 2015 – December 2019
Former Research Groups
- Solar and Heliospheric Research Group (SHRG) –
- Magnetosphere, Ionosphere, Thermosphere Research And Simulation (MITHRAS)
- Solar Group, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base