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Vahe Peroomian

Professor (Teaching) of Physics and Astronomy
Vahe Peroomian
Email peroomia@usc.edu Office SHS 360 Office Phone (213) 740-2386

Biography

     Vahé Peroomian has been teaching physics and astronomy for over 25 years, with a teaching philosophy centered on the success of not just a select few students in each class, but each and every student that is enrolled in the courses he teaches.

     Vahé has 25 years of research experience in space science (specializing in geomagnetic storms and their societal impacts) with funding from NASA and the National Science Foundation.

     In addition to his passion for astronomy, Vahé is an avid photographer and an author on the Serway and Jewett series of physics textbooks. He has also published two books of essays and photographs, A Photographic Journey of my Homeland, Armenia (2014) and Ode to the Eastern Sierra (2022)

     From 2005 to 2020, Vahé served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Glendale Community College (GCC) in Glendale, California, a city-wise elected position to which he was reelected three times. For over a decade he has also served on the board of Glendale Youth Alliance, a nonprofit organization with a mission to prepare underprivileged youth for employment. 

Education

  • Ph.D. Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1994
  • M.S. Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990
  • B.S. Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1987
    • National Research Council Associateship, The Aerospace Corp., 06/1994 – 11/1996

  • Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

    • Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, 2015-01-01-
    • Full Adjunct Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, 2013-2014
    • Research Geophysicist, University of California, Los Angeles, 2009-2014
    • Associate Research Geophysicist, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002-2009
    • Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles, 1999-2013
    • Assistant Research Geophysicist, University of California, Los Angeles, 1996-2002

  • Journal Article

    • Peroomian, V., Garg, S., El-Alaoui, M. (2014). An MHD simulation study of the dynamics of the 8 – 9 March 2008 CIR/HSS driven geomagnetic storm. Journal of Geophysical Research – Space Physics. Vol. 119, pp. 2990–3001.
    • Kronberg, E. A., Ashour-Abdalla, M., Dandouras, I., Delcourt, D. C., Grigorenko, E. E., Kistler, L. M., Kuzichev, I. V., Liao, J., Maggiolo, R., Malova, H. V., Orlova, K. G., Peroomian, V., Shklyar, D. R., Shpritz, Y. Y., Welling, D. T., Zelenyi, L. M. (2014). Circulation of Heavy Ions and Their Dynamical Effects in the Magnetosphere: Recent Observations and Models. Space Science Reviews. pp. doi: 10.1007/s11214-014-0104-0.
    • Peroomian, V., El-Alaoui, M., Brandt, P. C. (2011). The ion population of the magnetotail during the 17 April 2002 magnetic storm: Large-scale kinetic simulations and IMAGE/HENA observations. Journal of Geophysical Research – Space Physics. (116), pp. A05214.
    • Peroomian, V., El-Alaoui, M. (2008). The storm-time access of solar wind ions to the nightside ring current and plasma sheet. Journal of Geophysical Research – Space Physics. Vol. 113 (A06215), pp. doi:10.1029/2007JA012872.

    Monograph

    • Peroomian, V., El-Alaoui, M. (2011). The Storm-time injection of ions into the inner magnetosphere: large-scale kinetic simulations and IMAGE/HENA observations. AIP.
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2013-2014
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2012-2013
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2011-2012
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2010-2011
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2009-2010
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2008-2009
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2007-2008
    • NASA Group Achievement Award for Theory Investigation Team/UCLA Global Geoscience (GGS) Investigations Team, 2005-2006
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2004-2005
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2003-2004
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2002-2003
    • Outstanding Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2001-2002
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