Jacob Bortnik

Current

• Researcher at UCLA
• Consultant at QuakeFinder, LLC.

Past

• Research associate at Stanford University
• Ph.D. Student at Stanford University
• Professional assistant at University of the Witwatersrand

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Education

• Stanford University
• University of the Witwatersrand

Connections

48 connections

Industry

Research

Websites

• My Website

Jacob Bortnik’s Summary

Research scientist doing modeling of VLF wave propagation and wave-particle interactions in the near-Earth space environment. My background is in Electrical engineering, M.Sc. focus in high-voltage transmission lines, and Ph.D. focus on basic electromagnetic theory and space physics. I also act as a consultant on various projects ranging from Earthquake forecasting to electric vehicle technology.

Jacob Bortnik’s Specialties:

Numerical/computational modeling
Statistical data analysis
Electromagnetic theory and applications
Grant/proposal writing

Jacob Bortnik’s Experience

• Researcher

  UCLA

  (Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Research industry)

  September 2004 — Present (4 years 11 months)

  I do research into waves and wave-particle interactions that take place in the near-Earth space environment. My focus is on Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves in the so-called 'whistler' mode of propagation, and interactions with the high energy (100 keV and above) electrons that constitute the Earth's (Van Allen) radiation belts.
  
  My typical year involves writing computer code (Matlab/C/Unix) to:
  1. solve numerical equations and model physical phenomena
  2. analyze data recorded on ground-based instruments and spacecraft
  I write up my results in journal papers, which get peer-reviewed and published in the open literature, I present my work at conferences all over the world (a nice perk!), and write proposals to agencies like NASA, NSF, and occasionally Defense labs to keep the work funded.
  
  One of our ultimate aims is to understanding this system sufficiently to predict, or even control some of the phenomena associated with radiation-belt or wave physics.

• Consultant

  QuakeFinder, LLC.

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Research industry)

  July 2004 — Present (5 years 1 month)

  QuakeFinder, LLC. is a small company based in Palo Alto, CA. that is investigating the potential of search-coil magnetometers to detect subtle magnetic precursors to large Earthquakes. Currently, QuakeFinder has over 70 magnetometers deployed throughout California (mostly straddling the San Andreas fault) and is actively monitoring for atypical pulsations.

• Research associate

  Stanford University

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Research industry)

  September 1998 — August 2004 (6 years)

  I was a research associate while studying for my Ph.D. at Stanford University.

• Ph.D. Student

  Stanford University

  (Research industry)

  1998 — 2004 (6 years)

• Professional assistant

  University of the Witwatersrand

  (Research industry)

  1997 — 1998 (1 year)

Jacob Bortnik’s Education

• Stanford University

  Ph.D. , Electrical Engineering , 1998 — 2004

  I studied in the Very Low Frequency (VLF) group in the Electrical Engineering Department at Stanford University, under Prof. Umran S. Inan. My theis dealt with the propagation, and wave-particle interaction of lighthning-generated magnetospherically reflected whistler waves.

  Activities and Societies:

  Squash club

• University of the Witwatersrand

  B.Sc., M.Sc. , Electrical engineering , 1993 — 1998

Additional Information

Jacob Bortnik’s Websites:

• My Website

Jacob Bortnik’s Groups:

•    Society of Postdoctoral Scholars at UCLA

Jacob Bortnik’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch