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Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Lan Jian

(Deputy Project Scientist)

Lan Jian's Contact Card & Information.
Email: lan.jian@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.3309
Org Code: 672
Address:
NASA/GSFC
 Mail Code 672
 Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Missions & Projects

Brief Bio

Lan Jian works in the Heliospheric Physics Laboratory (Code 672) at NASA/GSFC. Her research topics include solar and solar wind activities, particle acceleration and wave-particle interaction, solar-terrestrial relation, space weather prediction, outer heliosphere and local interstellar medium. She has worked on the analysis and interpretation of various solar wind structures, from macroscale to microscale. She has done extensive validation for the prediction of solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) using multiple coronal and heliospheric models. She has processed and calibrated magnetometer data for NASA missions.

Lan Jian has been the Deputy Project Scientist (DPS) of the Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) since mid 2019. She is the DPS of the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) mission, the Deputy PI of Voyager magnetometer team, and a Co-Investigator of the HelioSwarm mission. She has published more than 160 papers (most listed at ORCID: 0000-0002-6849-5527, Web of Science Research ID: B-4053-2010, and Google Scholar), 23 as the first author. She has given nearly 200 first-authored presentations in meetings, including more than 40 invited talks. She has given about 30 seminars or colloquia at multiple universities and institutes. She has mentored five summer interns, one graduate student, and three postdocs at GSFC.

Research Interests

Macroscale structures in the solar wind, including interplanetary coronal mass ejections, fast-slow stream interactions, shocks, heliospheric current sheets and plasma sheets

Heliophysics: Inner Heliosphere


Microscale structures in the solar wind, including ion cyclotron waves, magnetosonic/whistler waves, mirror mode waves, etc., and their interaction with solar wind particles

Heliophysics: Inner Heliosphere


Solar cycle variation of solar activity and solar wind structures

Heliophysics: Solar Cycle


Coronal and heliospheric models, space weather prediction

Heliophysics: Space Weather


Voyager magnetometer data processing, studies of outer heliosphere and interstellar medium

Positions/Employment

Research Astrophysicist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

April 2018 - Present

Associate Research Scientist

Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) - MD, USA

July 2016 - March 2018

Assistant Researcher Scientist

Department of Astronomy, UMCP - MD, USA

July 2012 - June 2016

Visiting Assistant Research Scientist

Department of Astronomy, UMCP - MD, USA

April 2012 - June 2012


Assistant Research Geophysicist

Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - CA, USA

May 2009 - March 2012


Post-doctoral Researcher

IGPP, UCLA - CA, USA

December 2008 - April 2009


Education

Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2008.

 

Professional Societies

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

2004 - Present

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)

2006 - Present

International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)

2011 - Present

American Astronomical Society (AAS)

2009 - 2010

Professional Service

  • Convener or Co-convener of meeting sections in 30 national and international conferences
  • Referee of NASA and NSF research and mission support proposals, served in NASA and NSF proposal review panels
  • Referee of more than 10 professional journals and 2 books
  • AGU SPA Scarf Award Committee, AGU SPA Fellows Committee
  • International Heliophysics Data Environment Alliance (IHDEA) Executive Committee
  • Program Committee of NASA SMD Open Source Science Data Repositories Workshop, held in Boulder, CO in September 2023
  • NASA TOPS (Transform to Open Science) Champion for Code 670: October 2022 - September 2023
  • Organizing Committee of the Workshop on Heliophysics Infrastructure, held in May 2021
  • IGPP Seminar Committee at UCLA: academic years of 2009 – 2011, Chair for academic year of 2010 – 2011
  • Judge and Liaison for Outstanding Student Paper Award at Fall AGU Meetings and Triennial Earth-Sun Summit (TESS)
  • Review panel for Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) Student Research Contest

Awards

NASA GSFC Heliophysics Science Division Peer Award, 2022

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Zeldovich Medal, 2016

American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fred Scarf Award, 2009

UCLA Eugene Waggoner Scholarship, 2008

UCLA University Fellowship: Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2006, Winter 2008

Grants

Systematic Evaluation of the Coronal and Heliospheric Models Installed at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center

Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment - National Science Foundation (NSF) - Awarded: 2011-03-21


Dates: 2011-04-01  - 2015-09-30

Long-Period Investigation of Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Solar Wind in the Inner Heliosphere

Solar and Heliospheric Supporting Research and Technology - NASA (NNH12ZDA001N-SHP) - Awarded: 2013-04-01


Dates: 2013-04-01  - 2018-03-31

Integrated Real-Time Modeling System for Heliospheric Space Weather Forecasting

Living with a Star Targeted Research and Technology NASA/NSF Partnership for Collaborative Space Weather Modeling - NASA and NSF (NNH11ZDA001N-LWSCSW) - Awarded: 2013-04-15


Dates: 2013-04-15  - 2018-03-31

Understanding Multi-spacecraft Observations of Solar Energetic Particle Events in Terms of Global Disturbances in the Solar Corona and Heliospheric Magnetic Field Connection

Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment - NSF - Awarded: 2013-08-15


Dates: 2013-08-15  - 2018-01-31

Understanding Wave-Particle Interactions between Solar Wind Plasma Waves and Heavy Ions

Heliophysics Living With a Star Science - NASA (NNH14ZDA001N-LWS) - Awarded: 2015-01-01


Dates:  - 

A Systematic Study of the Physics of Energetic Storm Particle Events near Earth Orbit

Heliophysics Supporting Research - NASA (NNH16ZDA001N-HSR) - Awarded: 2017-05-01


Dates:  - 

The Global State of the Solar Atmosphere and Inner Heliosphere during Cycles 23 and 24

Heliophysics Living With a Star Science - NASA (NNH16ZDA001N-LWS) - Awarded: 2017-05-01


Dates:  - 

Anisotropy and Particle Injection at Localized Enhancements of Supra-thermal Particles at Oblique Collisionless Shocks at 1 AU

Heliophysics Supporting Research - NASA (NNH17ZDA001N-HSR) - Awarded: 2018-07-01


Dates:  - 

Investigating the Interaction between Solar Wind Ions and Electromagnetic Waves Using New Observations and Hybrid Simulations

NASA Living with a Star Program - NASA (NNH18ZDA001N-LWS) - Awarded: 2020-01-01


Dates:  - 

Heliospheric Distributed In-situ Constellation (HelioDISC)

NASA Heliophysics Mission Concept Studies - NASA (NNH21ZDA001N-HMCS) - Awarded: 2021-10-01


Dates: 2021-10-01  - 2022-09-30

CME-CME Interactions: An Investigation into Their Dynamics and Consequences

NASA Heliophysics Guest Investigator - Open - NASA (NNH22ZDA001N-HGIO) - Awarded: 2023-03-01


Dates:  - 

Other Professional Information

Selected Publications

Refereed

2025. "Modeling Hot, Anisotropic Ion Beams in the Solar Wind Motivated by the Parker Solar Probe Observations near Perihelia.", The Astrophysical Journal, 984 (2): 174 [10.3847/1538-4357/adc812] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Radial Evolution of Interplanetary Shock Properties with Heliospheric Distance: Observations from Parker Solar Probe.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 979 (1): L10 [10.3847/2041-8213/ada558] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Automatic Detection of Large-scale Flux Ropes and Their Geoeffectiveness with a Machine-learning Approach.", The Astrophysical Journal, 972 (1): 94 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad54c3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "The Solar Magnetic Hump, Heliopause, and the Very Local Interstellar Medium.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 971 (1): L17 [10.3847/2041-8213/ad6397] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Earth's Alfvén Wings Driven by the April 2023 Coronal Mass Ejection.", Geophysical Research Letters, 51 (14): [10.1029/2024gl108894] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "Intermittency in the Magnetic Hump in the VLISM.", The Astrophysical Journal, 964 (1): 41 [10.3847/1538-4357/ad150d] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "The Martian Ionospheric Response to the Co‐Rotating Interaction Region That Caused the Disappearing Solar Wind Event at Mars.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 129 (3): [10.1029/2023ja032181] [Journal Article/Letter]

2024. "The multiview observatory for solar terrestrial science (MOST).", Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 254 106165 [10.1016/j.jastp.2023.106165] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "HelioSwarm: A Multipoint, Multiscale Mission to Characterize Turbulence.", Space Science Reviews, 219 (8): 74 [10.1007/s11214-023-01019-0] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Investigating a Solar Wind Stream Interaction Region using Interplanetary Spacecraft Radio Signals: A Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation Study.", The Astrophysical Journal, 955 (2): 90 [10.3847/1538-4357/acedac] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Observations and Modeling of Unstable Proton and α Particle Velocity Distributions in Sub-Alfvénic Solar Wind at Parker Solar Probe Perihelia.", The Astrophysical Journal, 954 (2): 109 [10.3847/1538-4357/acea7e] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "CME Propagation Through the Heliosphere: Status and Future of Observations and Model Development.", Advances in Space Research, [10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.003] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Small-scale Magnetic Flux Ropes in Stream Interaction Regions from Parker Solar Probe and Wind Spacecraft Observations.", The Astrophysical Journal, 943 (1): 33 [10.3847/1538-4357/aca894] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Interplanetary mesoscale observatory (InterMeso): A mission to untangle dynamic mesoscale structures throughout the heliosphere.", Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 9 1002273 [10.3389/fspas.2022.1002273] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Solar Cycle Variability in Coronal Holes and Their Effects on Solar Wind Sources.", Space Weather, 20 (10): [10.1029/2022sw003110] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Validation and Interpretation of a Three-dimensional Configuration of a Magnetic Cloud Flux Rope.", The Astrophysical Journal, 934 (1): 50 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac7803] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "The Solar Wind at (16) Psyche: Predictions for a Metal World.", The Astrophysical Journal, 927 (2): 202 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac51d7] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Modeling Ion Beams, Kinetic Instabilities, and Waves Observed by the Parker Solar Probe near Perihelia.", The Astrophysical Journal, 926 (2): 185 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac402c] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Categorization of Coronal Mass Ejection-driven Sheath Regions: Characteristics of STEREO Events.", The Astrophysical Journal, 921 (1): 57 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac11f3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "A Comparison of the CIR‐ and CME‐ Induced Geomagnetic Activity Effects on Mesosphere and Lower Thermospheric Temperature.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, [10.1029/2020ja029029] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Radial Evolution of a CIR: Observations From a Nearly Radially Aligned Event Between Parker Solar Probe and STEREO‐A.", Geophysical Research Letters, 48 (3): [10.1029/2020gl091376] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Magnetic Fields Observed by Voyager 2 in the Heliosheath.", The Astrophysical Journal, 906 (2): 119 [10.3847/1538-4357/abccd1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "Predictive Capabilities and Limitations of Stream Interaction Region Observations at Different Solar Longitudes.", Space Weather, 18 (4): [10.1029/2019sw002437] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "ICME Evolution in the Inner Heliosphere.", Solar Physics, 295 (4): 61 [10.1007/s11207-020-01624-0] [Journal Article/Letter]

2020. "FIDO‐SIT: The First Forward Model for the In Situ Magnetic Field of CME‐Driven Sheaths.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 125 (2): [10.1029/2019ja027423] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Magnetic field and particle measurements made by Voyager 2 at and near the heliopause.", Nature Astronomy, 3 (11): 1007-1012 [10.1038/s41550-019-0920-y] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Unraveling the Internal Magnetic Field Structure of the Earth-directed Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections During 1995 – 2015.", Solar Physics, 294 (7): 89 [10.1007/s11207-019-1477-8] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Observations of Stream Interaction Regions in 2007 – 2016: Relationship with Heliospheric Current Sheets, Solar Cycle Variations, and Dual Observations.", Solar Physics, 294 (3): 31 [10.1007/s11207-019-1416-8] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Assessing the Quality of Models of the Ambient Solar Wind.", Space Weather, 16 (11): 1644-1667 [10.1029/2018sw002040] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Verification of real-time WSA−ENLIL+Cone simulations of CME arrival-time at the CCMC from 2010 to 2016.", Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, 8 A17 [10.1051/swsc/2018005] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "STEREO Observations of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections in 2007–2016.", The Astrophysical Journal, 855 (2): 114 [10.3847/1538-4357/aab189] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Multi-spacecraft Analysis of Energetic Heavy Ion and Interplanetary Shock Properties in Energetic Storm Particle Events near 1 AU.", The Astrophysical Journal, 831 (2): 153 [10.3847/0004-637x/831/2/153] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Validation for global solar wind prediction using Ulysses comparison: Multiple coronal and heliospheric models installed at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center.", Space Weather, 14 (8): 592-611 [10.1002/2016sw001435] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Solar Wind.", Keiling/Low-Frequency Waves in Space Plasmas, 253-267 [10.1002/9781119055006.ch15] [Article in Book]

2016. "Interplanetary shocks and foreshocks observed by STEREO during 2007-2010.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (2): 992-1008 [10.1002/2015ja021645] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Ion-driven instabilities in the solar wind: Wind observations of 19 March 2005.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (1): 30-41 [10.1002/2015ja021935] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Electromagnetic cyclotron waves in the solar wind: Wind observation and wave dispersion analysis.", American Institute of Physics, [10.1063/1.4943818] [Proceedings]

2015. "MESSENGER survey of in situ low frequency wave storms between 0.3 and 0.7 AU.", Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120 (12): 10,207-10,220 [10.1002/2015ja021506] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Validation for solar wind prediction at Earth: Comparison of coronal and heliospheric models installed at the CCMC.", Space Weather, 13 (5): 316-338 [Full Text] [10.1002/2015SW001174] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "Ensemble Modeling of CMEs Using the WSA–ENLIL+Cone Model.", Sol Phys, 290 (6): 1775-1814 [10.1007/s11207-015-0692-1] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Electromagnetic Waves near the Proton Cyclotron Frequency: STEREO Observations.", The Astrophysical Journal, 786 (2): 123 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-637X/786/2/123] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Solar wind observations at STEREO: 2007 - 2011.", AIP Conference Proceedings, 1539 191-194 [Full Text] [10.1063/1.4811020] [Proceedings]

2013. "Burst Mode Trigger of STEREO In Situ Measurements.", AIP Conference Proceedings, 1539 195-198 [Full Text] [10.1063/1.4811021] [Proceedings]

2011. "Comparing Solar Minimum 23/24 with Historical Solar Wind Records at 1 AU.", Solar Physics, 274 (1-2): 321-344 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-011-9737-2] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Comparison of Observations at ACE and Ulysses with Enlil Model Results: Stream Interaction Regions During Carrington Rotations 2016 – 2018.", Solar Physics, 273 (1): 179-203 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-011-9858-7] [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Observations of Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Solar Wind near 0.3 AU.", Journal of Geophysical Research, 115 A12115 [Full Text] [10.1029/2010JA015737] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Solar Wind Observed by STEREO near 1 AU.", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 701 (2): L105 [Full Text] [10.1088/0004-637X/701/2/L105] [Journal Article/Letter]

2009. "Multi-Spacecraft Observations: Stream Interactions and Associated Structures.", Solar Physics, 259 (1-2): 345-360 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-009-9445-3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Evolution of Solar Wind Structures from 0.72 to 1 AU.", Advances in Space Research, 41 259-266 [Full Text] [10.1016/j.asr.2007.03.023] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Stream Interactions and Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections at 0.72 AU.", Solar Physics, 249 (1): 85-101 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-008-9161-4] [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Stream Interactions and Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections at 5.3 AU near the Solar Ecliptic Plane.", Solar Physics, 250 (2): 375-402 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-008-9204-x] [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "Properties of Stream Interactions at One AU During 1995 – 2004.", Solar Physics, 239 (1-2): 337-392 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-006-0132-3] [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "Properties of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections at One AU During 1995 – 2004.", Solar Physics, 239 (1-2): 393-436 [Full Text] [10.1007/s11207-006-0133-2] [Journal Article/Letter]

Selected Public Outreach

Give a talk titled "STEREO Mission" to public at the University of Maryland Observatory Open House

May 2015 - May 2015

Serve as a subject matter expert of "improved forecast models of the solar wind and coronal mass ejections" in the second National Earth Observations Assessment

June 2016 - June 2016

Give a lecture to CCMC space weather forecasters and summer interns

June 2016 - June 2016

Give a lecture at CCMC Space Weather Research, Education and Development Initiative (REDI) Bootcamp

June 2017 - June 2017

Organize the activity of Heliospheric Physics Lab for the NASA/GSFC Science Jamboree

July 2018 - July 2018

Give talks on Career Day at an elementary school

March 2019 - March 2019

Give a talk "The Space Physics Data Facility" to NASA/GSFC summer interns

June 2019 - June 2019

SPACEPOD "The Solar Wind with Dr. Jian"

March 2021 - March 2021

Give a talk on Career Day at an elementary school

March 2023 - March 2023

Contact Us

For general inquiries about the Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

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Project Support Specialist

301-286-6066 jocelyn.m.lynch@nasa.gov
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Project Support Specialist

301-286-6066 ellie.jeffries@nasa.gov
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