Dr. Yaireska (Yari) Collado-Vega’s is originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico. She received her PhD in Space Physics from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC with honors in January 2013. She received both her BS and MS in theoretical physics from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in 2004 and 2007, respectively, and a second MS from The Catholic University of America on May 2010. She is the director of NASA's Moon to Mars (M2M) Space Weather Analysis Office and the former lead of the experimental Space Weather Forecasting Team at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC). The M2M Office supports NASA’s Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) with human space exploration activities by providing novel capabilities to characterize the space radiation environment. The M2M Office also provides real-time analysis of the space environment and their probable impacts for NASA missions. Collado-Vega's research focuses on the solar wind interaction with the Earth's magnetic environment, solar energetic particle events, and space weather real time analysis. She also works on the validation of solar and magnetospheric models and the current developments on machine learning capabilities to improve space weather analysis and forecasting. She also conducts education and public outreach for NASA and the Heliophysics Science Division including social media events and live tv/radio interviews to increase the awareness on Heliophysics Science and space weather. She has presented at many international and national scientific conferences. She has been part of the NASA family for 18 years.
Yaireska M Collado-Vega
(Project Scientist)
| Email: | yaireska.m.colladovega@nasa.gov |
| Org Code: | 490 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 674 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | NOAA |
Brief Bio
Education
• M.S. Theoretical Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, 2004-2007
• M.S. Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 2007-2010
• Ph.D. Space Physics, (Honors) The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 2007-Jan 2013
Research Interests
Space weather analysis and real time validation; Solar Wind-Magnetosphere interaction instabilities and transient events; Data analysis with multi-spacecraft observations and Magnetohydrodynamic simulations; Dayside-Magnetopause magnetic reconnection and standoff position changes due to solar wind conditions; Soft X-ray imager of the magnetosphere; Education and public outreach.
Positions/Employment
Founder and Director of the Moon to Mars (M2M) Space Weather Analysis Office
NASA - GSFC
July 2020 - Present
The Moon to Mars Space Weather Office (M2M) is established to support NASA’s Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) with human space exploration activities by providing expert based analysis of the space radiation environment. M2M analyzes real-time space weather conditions with state-of-the-art models and tools to deliver space weather assessments to SRAG console operators. These assessments are used to evaluate the likelihood, intensity, and duration of space radiation events that could impact human exploration missions to the Moon, and subsequently, to Mars. M2M will also continue to support NASA robotic missions with space weather notifications and anomaly analysis support as a secondary function.
Research Astrophysicist
NASA GSFC - Heliophysics Science Division
September 2019 - June 2020
Part of the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) team, senior space weather forecaster and the lead for the Space Weather Forecasting team. She conducts space weather analysis for the support of NASA's robotic missions. She is also involved in the validation of space weather models specified on the Earth's magnetosphere and how magnetic storms develop from the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction. She also leads the prototyping effort of new space weather models and software tools. She also conducts education and public outreach for the CCMC and the Heliophysics Science Division including live tv/radio interviews and social media events. She is the space weather lead and CCMC representative on the NASA Space Science Education Consortium for NASA GSFC. Her research experience focuses on solar wind-magnetosphere interaction instabilities and transient events. It includes data analysis of multi-spacecraft observations from different missions including Cluster, THEMIS, Van Allen Probes and currently the MMS mission, and analysis of Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. Also interested in dayside-magnetopause magnetic reconnection, magnetopause standoff position changes and soft X-ray imaging of the magnetosphere. She has been a Co-Investigator in several funded Science Innovation Fund proposals on a data mining tool development for vortices on the Earth's magnetopause and in correlation analysis of Auroras with the Day and Night band signal and space weather models.
Physical Scientist
NASA GSFC - Greenbelt, MD
May 2013 - September 2019
Collado-Vega was a space weather senior forecaster, the space weather forecasting acting team lead for the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) and an E/PO specialist.
Graduate Student Trainee
NASA GSFC - Greenbelt, MD
August 2004 - May 2013
Collado-Vega was part of the Graduate Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) at GSFC doing research on magnetospheric Physics, specially Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and Flux Transfer Events.
Teaching Experience
• August 2004 to May 2013-Graduate Student Trainee at NASA GSFC, Geospace Physics Laboratory, code 673.
•August 2007 to May 2009- Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Catholic University of America-Physics Department
• January 2004 to May 2007- Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR.-Physics Department
Professional Societies
New and Developing Professionals (NDP) Advisory Committee at GSFC
600 Rep (2011-2013); Co-Chair (2013-2015); 600 Rep (2015-present)
2011 - Present
Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Science and Exploration Directorate at GSFC
2012 - Present
American Geophysical Union
2004 - Present
Latin American Association for Space Geophysics (ALAGE)
2010 - Present
National Society of Hispanics Physicists
2012 - Present
Sigma Pi Sigma
2007 - Present
Society of Physics Students
1999 - Present
Women in Aerospace
Member
2022 - Present
Awards
• NASA Robert H. Goddard Award, Individual Mission and Enabling Support, NASA GSFC, June 2021.
• NASA Agency Honor Award, Group Achievement Award, The Community Coordinated Modeling Center, June 2018.
• NASA Robert H. Goddard Award (Individual Outreach), 2018
• NASA Agency Silver Achievement Team Medal (2017 Total Solar Eclipse), 2018
• NASA Robert H. Goddard Award (Individual Customer Service), 2016
• Heliophysics Science Division Peer Award, 2016
• NASA Robert H. Goddard Award (Exceptional Achievement for Science Team), 2016
• NASA Group Achievement Award, 2016
• Special Act Award by the AETD Directorate, 2016
• NASA Robert H. Goddard Award (Customer Service Team) , 2015
• Heliophysics Science Division Peer Award at GSFC, 2012
• NASA GSFC NDP Advisory Committee Spearhead of the Year Award, 2012.
• Special Act Award by the Heliophysics Science Division at GSFC, 2012
• Special Act Award by the Heliophysics Science Division at GSFC, 2010
• NASA Group Achievement Award in Education, 2010
• Performance Award by the Heliophysics Science Division at GSFC, 2007
• Best UPRM’s Co-op Student Award Nomination, 2006
• Hispanic College Fund-National Hispanic Explorers Scholarship 2003
• Student Prominent Award from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, 2003
• Student Honor Recognition Awards at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 2001-2003
Grants
Synergy between DNB observations and Sun-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere coupling during geomagnetic storms
NASA GSFC Science Innovation Fund - NASA GSFC - Awarded: 2016-09-28
Dates: -
Heliophysics Education Consortium; Through the Eyes of NASA to the Heart and Minds of the Nation
Heliophysics Education Consortium - NASA - Awarded: 2015-09-25
Dates: -
Detection and Characterization of Vortices in Earth's Magnetosphere
NASA GSFC Science Innovation Fund - NASA GSFC - Awarded: 2015-09-28
Dates: -
Data-mining for Vortices in Earth’s Magnetosphere
NASA GSFC Mini-Science Innovation Fund selection - NASA GSFC - Awarded: 2015-04-30
Dates: -
Publications
Refereed
2023. "Aurora Detection From Nighttime Lights for Earth and Space Science Applications." Earth and Space Science 10 (1): [10.1029/2022ea002513] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Solitary Magnetic Structures Developed From Gyro‐Resonance With Solar Wind Ions at Mars and Earth." Geophysical Research Letters 49 (3): [10.1029/2021gl097600] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "OSPREI: A Coupled Approach to Modeling CME‐Driven Space Weather With Automatically Generated, User‐Friendly Outputs." Space Weather 20 (4): [10.1029/2021sw002914] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Soft X‐ray and ENA Imaging of the Earth's Dayside Magnetosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 126 (3): [10.1029/2020ja028816] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "Data mining for vortices on the Earth's magnetosphere – algorithm application for detection and analysis." Annales Geophysicae 36 (4): 1117-1129 [10.5194/angeo-36-1117-2018] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "Imaging Plasma Density Structures in the Soft X-Rays Generated by Solar Wind Charge Exchange with Neutrals." Space Science Reviews 214 (4): 79 [10.1007/s11214-018-0504-7] [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "Wide field-of-view soft X-ray imaging for solar wind-magnetosphere interactions." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 121 (4): 3353-3361 [10.1002/2016ja022348] [Journal Article/Letter]
2015. "THE SOLAR WIND CHARGE-EXCHANGE PRODUCTION FACTOR FOR HYDROGEN." The Astrophysical Journal 808 (2): 143 [10.1088/0004-637x/808/2/143] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Comparison between vortices created and evolving during fixed and dynamic solar wind conditions." ANNALES GEOPHYSICAE 31 1463-1483 [10.5194/angeo-31-1463-2013] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "The DXL and STORM Sounding Rocket Mission." UV; X-RAY; AND GAMMA-RAY SPACE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY XVIII 8859 [10.1117/12.2024438] [Journal Article/Letter]
2013. "Comparison between vortices created and evolving during fixed and dynamic solar wind conditions." Ann. Geophys. 31 (8): 1463-1483 [10.5194/angeo-31-1463-2013] [Journal Article/Letter]
2007. "MHD flow visualization of magnetopause boundary region vortices observed during high-speed streams." JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS 112 (A6): [Full Text] [10.1029/2006JA012104] [Journal Article/Letter]
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
The Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office; A Capability Needed in Support of Human Space Exploration Beyond LEO Orbit
2022
2022 AMS Annual Meeting, 2022 SWW, 2022 JpGU
Space Weather Research Analysis – Forecasting for NASA’s Robotic Missions
August 3, 2019
Invited Talk, Towards Future Research on Space Weather Drivers, San Juan, Argentina
Invited Keynote Speaker for the JHU/APL Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Colloquium Series, 2018
November 5, 2018
Forecasting and educational capabilities at the NASA Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)
October 18, 2018
Invited Talk, Space Weather Science Towards Improved Forecasting COSPAR Capacity Building Workshop, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil
Space Weather Forecasting Capabilities at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)
May 20, 2018
Invited talk at the Latin American Conference of Space Geophysicists (COLAGE XI) in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Magnetopause standoff position and response time changes due to solar wind conditions: Models and Observations
2015
Mini GEM oral presentation
Calculating the motion and direction of Flux Transfer Events with Cluster
November 2012
3rd Cluster-Themis Workshop, Boulder, CO
Calculating the motion and direction of Flux Transfer Events with Cluster
2011
AGU Fall Meeting, Oral Presentation
Other
Space Weather Research and Forecasting Capabilities at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)
March 28, 2018
Talk at the Deep Space Gateway Workshop
Magnetopause standoff position and Geosynchronous Orbit Crossings: Models and Observations
11, 2017
Oral presentation in a special panel session at the AGU Fall Meeting
The New Space Weather Action Center; the Next Level on Space Weather Education
2016
AGU Fall Meeting, Poster
Data Mining for Vortices on the Earth's Magnetosphere
2016
AGU Fall Meeting and at the GEM Workshop in June, 2016, Poster
Determining the motion of flux transfer events on the dayside magnetopause
July 2013
GEM meeting, Oral presentation
Multi-spacecraft analysis to determine the motion of flux transfer events (FTEs)
2012
Fall AGU Meeting, Poster
Comparison between vortices created and evolving during fixed and dynamic solar wind conditions
July 2012
GEM Meeting, Oral Presentation
Revisiting theoretical predictions of the motion and direction of FTE's
May 2011
COLAGE Meeting, Costa Rica
Concerning theoretical predictions for the motion and direction of FTE's
2010
AGU Fall Meeting, Poster
Statistical study of magnetopause boundary region vortices observed during modeled solar wind conditions
August 2009
9th International School for Space Simulations, France, July 2009.
Statistical study of magnetopause boundary region vortices observed during modeled solar wind conditions
2008
AGU Fall Meeting, Poster
Selected Public Outreach
NASA Science Day at Capitol Hill
July 2016 - July 2016
Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC
Women in STEM
August 2016 - August 2016
Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC
USA Science and Engineering Festival; Awesome Com
May 2016 - Present
NASA Exhibition, Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC
Live Shots/Social media events in English and Spanish
June 2013 - Present
2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Mercury transit event, 2016 Total Solar Eclipse, Mission anniversaries, Facebook Live events to Spanish language tv shows
Career Panel Events
October 2016 - Present
Panels at UMD College Park; Opportunities in Federal Government Panel and panels across GSFC events like STEM Girls Night.
NASA Women in Action
April 2016 - April 2016
High school students invited to learn from NASA women, tour a GSFC facility, and hear from a panel that included Dr. Dava Newman, Dr. Ellen Stofan, and Dr. Ellen Ochoa.
Tours to Visitors of the CCMC Lab
June 2013 - Present
Visitors include students from different universities: University of Puerto Rico RockSat team, 2016 summer graduate interns across the center, aerospace and computer engineering students from different universities, and high school students visits. Also presentations to different organizations like DARPA, Aerospace Corp., and celebrities like Kaya Jones.
Hyperwall Presentations
August 2016 - Present
Science and Engineering Festival, NASA GSFC Science Jamboree and VIP GSFC visitors
MD STEM Fest
December 2016 - December 2016
Remote space weather presentation using the Digital Learning Network at GSFC
Co-host of the main NASA Live TV show for the Total Solar Eclipse Event, August 2017 "Eclipse Across America Through the eyes of NASA" in Charleston, SC.
July 2017 - September 2017
https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive
Invited Panelist at the Broadcast Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in NASA HQ "Latinos STEM Up!", 2017
November 2017 - November 2017
Parker Solar Probe Mission Interviews in English and Spanish, Facebook Live Video in Spanish, NASA TV studios and launching site at Cape Canaveral, Florida, 2018
August 2018 - September 2018
National Geographic Documentary: "Mission to the Sun"
September 2018 - September 2018