Name: Charles (Charlie) Bowers

Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow

E-Mail:  cbowers@cp.dias.ie

Address: School of Cosmic Physics, DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin 15, Ireland.

Biographical Sketch:

Charlie’s research interests involve solar wind interactions with planetary magnetospheres, particularly with respect to the effects of the energetic reassignment of magnetic fields through the ubiquitous process of magnetic reconnection. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2023. Through an analysis of data obtained by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft, his thesis titled  “The Local and Global Effects of Magnetic Reconnection at Mars” highlights the fascinating relationship between the solar wind and the pockets of magnetism that comprise Mars’ crustal magnetic fields. His work demonstrates that these crustal magnetic fields undergo complex processes as they interact with the solar wind analogous to planets with large-scale intrinsic magnetic fields and provides further evidence for the multitude of fascinating effects that result from these processes. He joined DIAS in 2023 to work with Prof. Caitriona Jackman, and has turned his attention toward the magnetosphere of Mercury using data from the MESSENGER spacecraft. His work at DIAS will focus on using machine-learning techniques to analyze annual variability in Mercury’s magnetosphere and it’s response to changes in external conditions.

Funding: Irish Research Council