University of Alaska Southeast Personnel

Matt Heavner , Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Physics

Work:796-6403

Fax: 796-6406

Email: matt.heavner@uas.alaska.edu

Website: http://uas.alaska.edu/pub/heavner/

Faculty: Arts and Sciences - Natural Sciences - Environmental Sciences /
Campus: Juneau
Office: Soboleff Annex 108

Education:

Ph.D. Physics 2000, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Doctoral Dissertation: Optical Spectroscopic Observations of Sprites, Blue Jets, and Elves: Inferred Microphysical Processes and their Macrophysical Implications. (PDF|8632Kb)

B.S.
B.A.

Curriculum vitae (PDF|50Kb)

Research:

Dr. Heavner is managing the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute Magnetometer Array (an array of magnetometers across Alaska for space weather studies).
His postdoctoral research and ongoing collaboration at Los Alamos National Laboratory is focused on the scientific and operational management of the Los Alamos Sferic Array--11 electric field change meters operating in the LF/VLF range spaced ~200 km apart for the detection, geolocation, classification and analysis of lightning transients.
Dr. Heavner is currently supported by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for bioacoustic studies of bats in Southeast Alaska.

These apparently diverse projects illustrate Dr. Heavner's fundamental interest in sensor networks as applied to answering specific scientific questions. Dr. Heavner selects research questions that are interesting to both undergraduate students and the general public in order to actively engage those audiences in understanding the developing scientific methods of sensor networks in addition to the scientific studies and findings.

Publications: Selected Publications

Courses Taught:

Lower Division:

PHYS 103 – College Physics I
PHYS 104 – College Physics II
PHYS 211 – General Physics I
PHYS 212 – General Physics II

Upper Division:

ENVS 420 – Atmospheric Science
ENVS 493 – Independent Study: Solar Radiation
ENVS 493 – Independent Study: Relational Databases
ENVS 493 – Undergraduate Research Seminar
ENVS 493 – Independent Study: Bioacoustics
ENVS 497 – (new number soon) Planetary Science