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Elizabeth A. MacDonald

Space Physicist, NASA
My research has focused on experimental particle measurement techniques and data analysis in the magnetosphere and ionosphere for the last 15 years. Currently I am a Co-I on the Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron Spectrometer on the NASA Radiation Belts Storm Probe mission. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, I was the PI for the Z-Plasma Spectrometer on the DOE Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System (SABRS) geosynchronous payload. I also led the Innovative Research and Integrated Sensing (IRIS) team in my group (www.lanl.gov/projects/iris). In the recent past I've led the DoE-funded Technology Infusion Project entitled Modular Advanced Space Environment Instrumentation (from 2009-2011) and served as the PI for the Advanced Miniaturized Plasma Spectrometer on the DOE SABRS Validation Experiment payload (2007-2008).

I have a blend of expertise in both instrument development and data analysis and interpretation that comes from sounding rocket and satellite instrumentation experience. This experience ranges over the complete cycle of instrument production, including design and modeling, integration and testing, calibration, satellite operations, and in situ scientific data analysis. As a result, I'm very interested in instrument technology development, basic magnetospheric science, and space situational awareness national priorities. My specific research interests include wave-particle interactions and the effect of plasma on radiation belt dynamics, mapping, coupling, and transport between the ionosphere and the inner magnetosphere, and the impact of heavy ions on geomagnetic storm processes.

I received my Masters and PhD degrees from the University of New Hampshire. I received a Bachelor's in Physics from the University of Washington, largely funded by a NASA Space Grant scholarship. I began work in Code 673 in February 2014.

Economy

Pakistan Seeks 10 Billion Yuan Swap Boost, Eyes Panda Bond Launch in 2025

Pakistan has requested China to expand its currency swap line by 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington. The country already...

Wall Street Gains on Tech Rally Amid Hopes for U.S.-China Trade Easing

Wall Street closed higher on Friday, lifted by technology shares, as optimism over a potential easing of U.S.-China trade tensions buoyed markets. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged 1.7% after surpassing earnings expectations...

Swiss National Bank Warns of Slower Growth Amid Rising Global Risks

Swiss National Bank (SNB) Chairman Martin Schlegel warned on Friday that rising global economic risks, fueled by U.S. tariffs and trade uncertainty, will likely slow Switzerlands economic growth. Speaking at the SNBs...

Dollar Rises Amid Trade Deal Uncertainty, Yen and Franc Strengthen

The U.S. dollar edged higher Friday, rebounding from earlier losses as markets reacted to mixed signals from President Donald Trump on trade talks and monetary policy. The greenback has swung sharply this week, falling 1%...

Asian Tech Stocks Climb on Alphabet Earnings and AI Optimism

Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Friday, driven by a rally in tech shares after Alphabets strong earnings and bullish AI outlook. The U.S. tech giant beat earnings expectations and reaffirmed its commitment to...

Politics

Cardinal Re Honors Pope Francis, Urges World Leaders to Embrace His Legacy

In a powerful sermon at Pope Francis funeral on Saturday, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re called on world leaders to honor Francis legacy by caring for migrants, ending wars, and tackling climate changecentral issues...

Trump and EU’s von der Leyen Agree to Future Meeting Amid Tariff Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen briefly met on Saturday during Pope Francis funeral, agreeing to arrange a formal meeting at a later date, according to von der Leyens...

Trump and Zelenskiy Hold Key Vatican Meeting Amid Ukraine Peace Push

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy met privately at the Vatican during Pope Franciss funeral, aiming to revive stalled peace talks to end Russias war in Ukraine. In a symbolic 15-minute...

South Korea Approaches U.S. Trade Talks with Caution to Secure Tariff Exemptions

South Koreas Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun said Seoul will approach trade negotiations with the United States calmly and cautiously, emphasizing a strategic stance as discussions move forward. Speaking to reporters after...

Singapore Orders Meta to Block Foreign Political Posts Ahead of Election

Singapore has ordered Facebook parent Meta (NASDAQ:META) to block Singaporean users from accessing posts made by foreigners ahead of its May 3 election. Under 2023 social media rules, foreigners are barred from publishing...

Science

Kennedy Sets September Deadline to Uncover Autism Causes Amid Controversy

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a bold plan to identify the cause of autism by September 2025. Speaking at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, Kennedy declared a global...

AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Gets US Approval for Bladder Cancer Treatment

AstraZenecas drug Imfinzi (NASDAQ: AZN) has received U.S. approval to treat adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a significant advancement in cancer therapy. The approval allows Imfinzi to be used in...

Sanofi’s New Hemophilia Drug Qfitlia Gains FDA Approval with Breakthrough Bimonthly Dosing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia, a groundbreaking hemophilia treatment by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY). Designed for patients aged 12 and older with hemophilia A or B,...

FDA Vaccine Chief Peter Marks Resigns Amid Controversy Over Transparency

Peter Marks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) top vaccine official, has resigned after reportedly being forced out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The Wall Street Journal....

Museums have tons of data, and AI could make it more accessible − but standardizing and organizing it across fields won’t be easy

Ice cores in freezers, dinosaurs on display, fish in jars, birds in boxes, human remains and ancient artifacts from long gone civilizations that few people ever see museum collections are filled with all this and more....

Technology

Nintendo Unveils Switch 2 Amid Tariff Concerns and Soaring Demand

Nintendo offered fans an early hands-on experience with its new Switch 2 console at an event near Tokyo on Saturday, as concerns grow that tariffs could push prices higher. Since Mr. Trump became president, tariffs have...

Apple Plans to Shift All U.S. iPhone Production to India Amid China Trade Tensions

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is reportedly planning to shift all iPhone assembly for the U.S. market to India as early as next year, in a strategic move to reduce reliance on China amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions,...

Chinese AI Startup Behind Manus Raises $75M, Targets Global Expansion

Chinese AI startup Butterfly Effect, the creator of Manus AI, has raised $75 million in a funding round led by U.S.-based venture capital firm Benchmark, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the...

Intel Sees Surge in Older Chip Demand Amid U.S.-China Trade War Fears

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is experiencing a rise in demand for its older-generation PC and server chips as the U.S.-China trade war intensifies, executives revealed after the companys latest earnings release. Economic...

Baidu Launches Advanced Ernie AI Models to Compete in China’s Growing AI Race

Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) has launched upgraded versions of its Ernie artificial intelligence models, intensifying its push in Chinas fast-evolving AI landscape. At a developer conference held in Wuhan, CEO Robin Li introduced...