Christine Coverdale

Summary

Christine Anne Coverdale is an American plasma physicist at Sandia National Laboratories, where she is a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff.[1]

Education and career edit

Coverdale earned a Ph.D. in plasma physics from the University of California, Davis, in 1995, based on research performed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.[2]

After working briefly for Physics International,[2] she joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1997,[1] initially working on the Z Pulsed Power Facility.[3] Her research at Sandia also involves the certification of nuclear weapons and radiation detection of X-rays from plasma Z-pinch confinement. She was named a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia in 2011.[1][4]

Coverdale has written over 120 papers in her career, and she continues to regularly present at conferences. In addition to this, Coverdale stays actively involved in her community by serving as a judge to science fairs at local elementary schools.[5]

Recognition edit

Coverdale was elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) in 2008, after a nomination from the APS Division of Plasma Physics, "for exceptional experimental achievements in both laser and z-pinch plasma physics, dedicated service to the professional community, and leadership in promoting laboratory and university collaborations".[6] She became an IEEE Fellow in 2010, "for contributions to the development of neutron sources".[7] In the IEEE, Coverdale served three terms on the Executive Committee of the IEEE Plasma Science and Applications Committee. In addition, she also served as technical program chair for the IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2015. Coverdale also served one four-year term for the IEEE Nuclear Plasma Sciences Society Administrative Committee. Now, she is senior editor for High Energy Density Physics for IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.[5].

IEEE Plasma Science and Applications Committee Award, becoming the first woman to win this award.[1] The Prism Award honors a woman who has charted her own path throughout her career, providing leadership in technology fields and professional organizations along the way." In order to win the Prism Award, the recipient must have 15-20 years of experience in the field and must have a clear understanding of how her career path has ultimately led to her achievements.[5] She became the first woman to win a 28-year-old international award for outstanding contributions to the field of plasma science through research, teaching, and professional service to the scientific community.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Salem, Nancy (1 September 2016), "Trailblazer: Sandia physicist Christine Coverdale is first woman to win 28-year-old IEEE award", Sandia Lab News, Sandia National Laboratories, retrieved 2021-09-06
  2. ^ a b "Plenary speakers", IEEE ICOPS 2016, University of Alberta, 19–23 June 2016, retrieved 2021-09-06
  3. ^ Sandia Researchers push Z machine to new limits to test radiation effects, Sandia National Laboratories, 17 June 1999, retrieved 2021-09-06 – via Science Daily
  4. ^ Salem, Nancy (18 August 2016), "Prism Award goes to Sandia physicist", Sandia Lab News, Sandia National Laboratories, retrieved 2021-09-06
  5. ^ a b c Prism Award goes to Sandia physicist, Sandia LabNews, 18 August 2016, retrieved 2024-01-15
  6. ^ "Fellows nominated in 2008 by the Division of Plasma Physics", APS Fellows archive, American Physical Society, retrieved 2021-09-06
  7. ^ IEEE Fellows directory, IEEE, retrieved 2021-09-06
  8. ^ "Nuclear Enterprise Superwomen". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-20.