Philippa Browning | |
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Born | Philippa K. Browning |
Education | Millfield [1] |
Alma mater | University of Cambridge (BA) University of St Andrews (PhD) |
Awards | Chapman Medal (2016) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astrophysics Solar physics |
Institutions | University of Manchester University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
Thesis | Inhomogeneous magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere |
Doctoral advisor | Eric Priest [2] |
Website | www |
Philippa K. Browning FInstP is a Professor of Astrophysics in the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. [3] She specialises in the mathematical modelling of fusion and solar plasmas. [4]
Browning was educated at Millfield [1] and studied the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1979. [5] She completed Part III of the Mathematical Tripos in 1980. [6] She was inspired by Yuri Gagarin to work in astrophysics. [7] [8] For her graduate studies Browning joined the University of St Andrews working with Eric Priest. [9] [10] She submitted her thesis on Inhomogeneous Magnetic Fields in the Solar Atmosphere in 1984. [2]
After completing her PhD Browning worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Eric Priest. [9] She studied coronal loops, finding they were a balance of magnetic tension forces, buoyancy and pressure gradients. [11] Her work covered the fundamentals of flux tubes. [12] Browning was appointed a lecturer at University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1985.[ citation needed ] She joined the University of Manchester in 2004, where she works on the interactions between plasmas and magnetic fields. [3] She is particularly interested in solar flares. [13] [14] [15] In 2009, Browning was promoted to professor at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. [4] She served as editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research from 2010 to 2013. [16] She contributed to the book Multi-scale Dynamical Processes in Space and Astrophysical Plasmas. [17] She continues to study coronal heating. [18] [19]
In 2013 Browning was made chair of the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Committee and the Solar Physics Council. [20] Through the Solar Physics Council, Browning is a mentor for young solar physicists. [21] In 2014 Browning arranged two-day meeting to discuss coronal heating at the Royal Society. [22]
As of 2018 [update] Browning is working on the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe. [7] Browning has appeared at the Bluedot Festival. She discussed her work on solar flares and their interaction with the earth. [23] She has taken part in the Manchester Science Festival. [24] Browning serves on the Institute of Physics Women in Physics advisory panel. [25]
Browning was awarded the Chapman Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society in 2016. [26] [27] The medal recognised her "pioneering work on energy release by magnetic relaxation in stressed coronal magnetic fields". [28] In 2017 she was awarded a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) research grant to explore particle acceleration in twisted magnetic fields. [29] She was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).[ when? ]