Allison Jaynes

Allison N. Jaynes is an American experimental plasma and space physicist. Her research concerns the interaction of plasma from the Sun with Earth's magnetosphere and Van Allen radiation belt, and their effects on the atmosphere and auroras;[1][2] it includes the use of rocket-based probes to observe auroras.[3] She is an associate professor and the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa.[1][4]

Education and career

Jaynes majored in physics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), graduating in 2006.[5] Active in the Libertarian club at UNCG, Jaynes faced disciplinary action for organizing a free speech protest in front of the campus library, outside of the designated free speech zones.[6][7][8] The university later dropped the charges and established a committee to review their free speech policy.[9][6][10]

She completed a Ph.D. in physics at the University of New Hampshire in 2013, under the supervision of Marc R. Lessard.[5] After postdoctoral work as a research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics from 2013 to 2017, she joined the University of Iowa as an assistant professor in 2017. She was promoted to associate professor in 2022,[5] and given the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professorship in 2023.[1]

Recognition

Jaynes received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2020.[4] She was a 2023 recipient of the Katherine E. Weimer Award for Women in Plasma Physics of the American Physical Society[2][3] and of the James B. Macelwane Medal of the American Geophysical Union.[2][11] In the same year, she was named as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.[11] In the same year, she was named as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.[11] Jaynes served as a member of the 21-person Steering Committee for the 2024 Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey, commissioned by the National Academies to develop a comprehensive research strategy and road map for the next decade of scientific advancement in the field.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jaynes Appointed F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor, Iowa Physics and Astronomy, June 2, 2023, retrieved October 12, 2025
  2. ^ a b c Olson, Grace (October 9, 2023), "UI physicist Allison Jaynes breaks barriers, wins two prestigious awards", Daily Iowan, retrieved October 12, 2025
  3. ^ a b Chen, Sophia (December 7, 2023), "The Scientist Who Launches Rockets at the Northern Lights", APS News, American Physical Society, retrieved October 12, 2025
  4. ^ a b "Allison N. Jaynes, Ph.D.", People, Iowa Physics and Astronomy, retrieved October 12, 2025
  5. ^ a b c Curriculum vitae, retrieved October 12, 2025
  6. ^ a b Withers, Lanita (January 12, 2006), "UNCG drops speech-zone charges", Greensboro News and Record, archived from the original on December 10, 2019, retrieved February 1, 2026
  7. ^ Bobbitt, Randy W. (2017), "Speech Codes, Speech Zones, and Political Incorrectness", Free Speech on America’s K–12 and College Campuses, Lexington Books, p. 161, ISBN 978-0-7391-8647-3
  8. ^ "'Free speech zones' protested", Wilmington Star-News, Associated Press, December 16, 2005, retrieved February 1, 2026{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "UNC-Greensboro drops speech charges against students", WFMY News 2, January 17, 2006, retrieved October 12, 2025
  10. ^ "University of North Carolina at Greensboro: Punishment of Free Speech Protestors", The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, retrieved February 1, 2026
  11. ^ a b c "Allison N. Jaynes", AGU Members, American Geophysical Union, retrieved October 12, 2025
  12. ^ "Solar and Space Physics Decadal", The National Academies Press, retrieved February 15, 2026
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