Mark Koepke, Robert C. Byrd Professor of Physics in the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy, was chosen as chair-elect of the American Physical Society's subdivision, the Gaseous Electronics Conference.
The GEC promotes ideas on the physical, chemical, and dynamical processes taking place in partially ionized, collisional plasma and occurring between the atoms, molecules, charged particles, photons, waves and fields.
“I am honored to serve in the GEC leadership role. I dedicate my experience and perspective to supporting this organization, its members, and our collective efforts to elevate advocacy for the interdisciplinary, innovative, and pioneering advances made possible by individual, public, and private investments of time, talent, and tenacity," states Koepke.
The GEC has a long leadership history of presenting foundational science and engineering contributions on plasma sources, measurement-enabling diagnostics, numerical or computational simulation, plasma-enhanced chemistry, fundamental-discovery phenomena, and atomic and molecular processes, as well as innovative improvements in semiconductor manufacturing practices.
In recent years, GEC has also been a leading venue for reporting on emergent areas of plasma-biotechnology, plasma medicine, multiphase plasmas, environmental applications, and atmospheric-pressure plasma behavior. GEC represents well over 5,000 university faculty and students, private-sector scientists, and researchers from over 30 different countries.
Koepke will serve as chair-elect for one year (2023-2024), as chair for two years (2024-2026), and as past-chair for one year (2026-2027). He has served on the APS-GEC executive committee since June 2015.
His research in partially ionized laboratory plasma science is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
Koepke has served APS and DOE extensively in the past, leading plasma-science divisions in both organizations, and looks forward to leading the GEC’s expanding international membership in its technical representation and outreach while furthering its professional values.