Derek Schaeffer, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, has been named a Cottrell Scholar in honor of his research and academic leadership.
The Cottrell Scholars program helps to develop early-career teacher-scholars who are recognized by their scientific communities for quality and innovation in their research. Schaeffer will receive a $120,000 award for his project “Discovering Fundamentals of Magnetic Reconnection in Mini-Magnetospheres Through AI-Accelerated Experiments.” He is the third recipient from the department of physics and astronomy, following Eric Hudson and Alvine Kamaha, a 2025 scholar.
Schaeffer specializes in optical, X-ray and particle diagnostics, with research focusing on experiments and numerical simulations in astrophysics that explore the behavior of magnetized plasma. He leads research programs that investigate how collisionless shocks form, how magnetic fields reconnect and accelerate particles and how plasma flows create and sustain ion-scale magnetospheres. These initiatives can help scientists better understand the complex processes within space and astrophysics, including astrophysical phenomena, particle acceleration and inertial fusion energy. Schaeffer, who works with facilities such as the Omega Laser Facility at the University of Rochester and the Large Plasma Device at UCLA, is working on his own laser lab software that is thematically inspired by “Star Trek.”
The award is granted by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a foundation that funds innovative scientific research.
