Paul Withers, PhD

Dr. Paul Withers is a Professor, Astronomy Department Chair, and Associate Director of the Center for Space Physics at Boston University. 

Professor Withers’ research focus is planetary science. His research interests focus on the ionospheres of planets. The properties of an ionosphere are determined by chemistry, energetics, dynamics, coupling to the lower atmosphere below, and coupling to the solar wind and magnetosphere above. These regions are scientifically important as they form the interface between a gravitationally-structured planet and the surrounding magnetically-structured plasma environment of the solar wind/magnetosphere. The overarching scientific goal that motivates Withers’ research is simple: How do planetary ionospheres work? We do not yet understand these regions well enough to have a complete, high-level picture of their chemistry, energetics, dynamics, and electrodynamics. Nor can we fully describe their interactions with the solar wind above and the lower atmosphere below. Withers makes progress towards this overarching scientific goal by leading a series of experiments on spacecraft missions.

Withers received a B.A. degree in Physics and a M.S. degree in Physics from Cambridge University, Great Britain. He received a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from University of Arizona.