| About me:
UCLA:
I
have recently completed a 2 year postdoc with Prof.
Richard M. Thorne studying the dynamics of the
Earth's radiation belts, and now hold the position of
assistant researcher in the same group. Main my focus areas are numerical modeling of VLF wave
propagation (lightning, transmitters, chorus, hiss, etc.), and the nonlinear
interaction of whistler-mode waves with energetic radiation
belt electorns. I've been at UCLA since September
2004.
Consulting:
Since June 2004 I have acted as a consultant to a small company called
QuakeFinder, based in Palo Alto, CA. QuakeFinder uses a chain
of search-coil magneto-
meters to look for possible magnetic precursors to large
earthquakes, as well as DEMETER satellite data.
Stanford:
I did my Ph.D. at
Stanford University, in the VLF group (electrical engineering dept.)
under Prof. Umran S. Inan, and Prof. Tim Bell. My research dealt with the numerical
modeling of lightning-generated, magnetospherically reflected whistler
waves, and calculating the precipitation signatures of energetic
radiation-belt electrons due to these waves. I was at
Stanford from Sept. 1998 to Sept. 2004.
South Africa:
I
was born in Israel to Russian parents, but at the age of 10 we moved to
South Africa where I lived until 1998. I attended Wendywood
High school, and obtained my B.Sc. and M.SC. in electrical engineering
at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in
Johannesburg, in power/high-voltage engineering. (Remember to visit South Africa for the FIFA world cup in 2010!)
Personal:
I
have been married since 2001 to my lovely wife and best-friend, Kirsty
Bortnik, and live in Pasadena,
California. I enjoy keeping fit and have always played squash and swimming. I also do weight
training, and (when I'm not injured) running. Recently (after
visiting Bulgaria and Finland) I started
enjoying good beers, and
fine coffees. I like to play the classical guitar, Sudoku,
and hang out
with
my awesome friends. A bit like C.S. Lewis, I became a Christian
in my
adult life (Dec 2001) and have been surprised by Joy ever since.
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Jacob, Escondido CA. Jan 2005
Kirsty, Sausalito CA.
Dec. 2005
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