Burcu Kosar

Research Scientist

The Catholic University of America - Washington, D.C.

January 2018 - Present

Postdoctoral Scientist

New Mexico Consortium - Los Alamos, NM

December 2015 - December 2017

Plasma Discharge Physics, Computational Electromagnetics, Transient Luminous Events, Lightning, Ionospheric Physics, STEVE, Citizen Science, Data Science, Ion Outflow, SciCom and Outreach, Space Physics

I have diverse research interests; however, I am an atmospheric physicist by training, and I have studied the electrical coupling between thunderstorms and the Earth’s middle and upper atmosphere through computational modeling. Of particular interest to me are sprites, which are brief optical emissions associated with the electrical activity of thunderstorm systems. My research work focused on the theoretical study of sprite initiation in the lower ionosphere and the role played by ionospheric inhomogeneities in this initiation process. I have developed an advanced physics-based model to simulate the formation and propagation of sprites and their associated optical emissions.

Spritacular

Earth's Ionosphere

Spritacular is a citizen science project that aims to collect observations of sprites and other optical phenomena occurring above the thunderstorms - collectively known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). The database generated from these observations will lay the groundwork for first-ever event catalog of TLEs that will greatly contribute to advancement of scientific studies.

Over the last two decades, good quality cameras have become increasingly affordable which allowed more people than ever before to have access to the tools capable of documenting these powerful atmospheric events. Because of this, Spritacular project strives to establish a collaborative bridge among communities that are actively engaged in chasing these elusive phenomena, newcomers looking to learn more, and the researchers of atmospheric and space electricity.

With this project, we will build an event database of TLEs that will significantly complement current and future science missions by providing ground-based observational data. Not only that, scientific community will be presented and benefit from the exceptional imagery of sprites/TLEs captured by our community. This database will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers allowing them to find interesting cases, perform studies in conjunction with other scientific data, and conduct broad statistical studies.

GDC Misson

Atmospheric Dynamics

Currently involved with the Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC), NASA’s next Living With a Star (LWS) mission, that will revolutionize our understanding of the upper atmosphere (300-400km altitudes). This critical region of geospace is where energy inputs from the Sun, Earth’s magnetosphere, and lower atmosphere couple to create a complex and dynamic behavior. GDC’s constellation design in Low-Earth orbit will allow observations of the global and regional responses of the upper atmosphere to aforementioned energy inputs. Currently in Phase A, GDC is planned to launch in 2027. 

Data Science at NASA GSFC

Space Weather

I continuously support efforts to demonstrate the utility of machine learning and artificial intelligence (data science) techniques to advance scientific knowledge using data/models as a part of Science Data Analytics and Machine Learning for NASA Science Mission Data Task Group (Helioanalytics). I also serve as a mentor in internal task groups/IRAD projects focused on data science. 

Alumni of NASA Frontier Development Lab (FDL), an 8-week intensive data science research accelerator program. I was specifically involved with Solar-Terrestrial Interactions (STI) team working on improving our understanding of the solar influence on Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere.

I have helped organizing the first NASA GSFC Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Helio Hackweek 2020. I intend to continue working on the application of data science to the wealth of scientific data collected by various NASA missions led by Heliophysics, Earth and Planetary Science divisions. 

Ion Outflow

Earth's Ionosphere

Effort to demonstrate effects of various types of auroral precipitation on atmospheric ion outflow using a state-of-the-art numerical model, Polar Wind Outflow Model (PWOM).

Heliophysics Science Division SESI Program Coordinator

Since 2018, I have been leading summer internship activities of Heliophysics Science Division through CUA’s Scientific and Engineering Student Internship (SESI) program.

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

2009 - Present

Sigma Pi Sigma

2007 - Present