January 17, 1997

Dr. J.S. Murphree, Head

Department of Physics and Astronomy

University of Calgary

2500 University Drive N.W.

Calgary, Alberta

T2N 1N4

Fax: 403-289-3331

Dear Sandy:

I wish to apply for the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. My résumé and statement of teaching and research interests follow this letter, but I would like here to set out some of my qualifications for this position.

As you know, during my initial postdoctoral work at the University of Calgary, I managed the development of a new airglow imager, from specification and design to calibration and installation. I led the mechanical and optical design efforts and coordinated a team of technical and scientific personnel. The imager has performed well under harsh conditions and has acquired data of high quality on the polar atmosphere and ionosphere. While managing the ongoing operation of the imager, I have carried forward the analysis of the data, with one manuscript published and several other studies in progress.

On the strength of the above work the Canadian Space Agency awarded me a contract to study polar ionospheric and atmospheric processes as they relate to the space and terrestrial environments. The contract was renewed in March 1996 after a review of my progress. NSERC have also awarded me a two-year research grant at $10K/year for the study of diffuse auroras at high latitudes.

Over the last four months I led an interdisciplinary team of graduate students, scientists, engineers, and management personnel drawn from several units of the University of Saskatchewan and SCI-TEC Instruments, Inc., a local high-technology company, in developing a proposal for the Small Payloads Program of the Canadian Space Agency. The majority of the proposal was researched and written by graduate students in the context of special-topics graduate courses. Our proposal for a rocket-borne experiment combines important science, potential economic and social benefits, and innovative graduate training.

In addition to my involvement in this aspect of graduate education, I have given two lecture-based courses, at both the introductory and upper-year undergraduate levels, with positive evaluations. I have a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, and to contributing to undergraduate and graduate education in physics.

I look forward to hearing from you and the selection committee in the next few weeks.

Yours truly,

David P. Steele, Ph.D.

Encls .

Teaching Interests

Of the Physics courses listed on the Department of Physics and Astronomy's World Wide Web page, I would be prepared to teach one of the following:

PHYS 215 - Concepts of Modern Physics	PHYS 217 - Force and Energy

PHYS 317 - Rotations, Oscillations, and Waves	PHYS 355 - Electricity and Magnetism

PHYS 433 - Intermediate Mechanics

If required, I could teach one of the following:

PHYS 325 - Modern Physics	PHYS 333 - Mathematical Methods of Physics I

PHYS 409 - Senior Laboratory II	PHYS 443 - Quantum Mechanics I

PHYS 447 - Thermodynamics	PHYS 449 - Statistical Mechanics

PHYS 455 - Electromagnetic Theory I	PHYS 509 - Plasma Physics

PHYS 533 - Mathematical Methods of Physics II	PHYS 543 - Quantum Mechanics II

PHYS 555 - Electromagnetic Theory II

During the winter 1996 term I taught a half-course on Fluid and System Dynamics to 3rd -year Engineering Physics students at the University of Saskatchewan. I would be prepared to develop a half- course in fluid mechanics for the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as I note there is no instruction in the properties of fluids beyond those of an ideal fluid in PHYS 217.

Research Interests

My research interests lie primarily in the use of optical means to investigate the properties of the upper atmosphere, ranging from the base of the stratospheric ozone layer to the ionospheric F region, and including the embedded aurora. I have published or contributed to investigations in the following areas: relations between auroral spectral intensity ratios and the characteristic energy of the exciting particle precipitation, in both the visible and the vacuum ultraviolet; the investigation of polar ionospheric convection by imaging the motion of F region patches; the properties of soft particle precipitation in the dayside cusp; the latitudinal motions of electron and proton precipitation boundaries as deduced from auroral emissions. I am currently responsible for the ongoing operation of a sensitive all-sky imager for auroral and airglow studies at an observatory near the north geomagnetic pole (Eureka, NWT). In addition, I am currently Principal Investigator for a proposal to measure stratospheric and upper tropospheric ozone using a slitless imaging spectrograph.

David P. Steele

Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies

University of Saskatchewan

116 Science Place

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

CANADA S7N 5E2

Tel: (306) 966-6447

Fax: (306) 966-6400

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Sas
katchewan, since April 1995.

Professional Research Associate, Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, University of Saskatchewan, since April 1995

Research Associate with Canadian Network for Space Research (CNSR) at University of Calgary, April 1991 - March 1995

Ph.D. (Physics), University of Saskatchewan, May 1991 (thesis: Comparison of Viking Ultraviolet Images with Low-Altitude Particle Precipitation).

M.Sc. (Physics), University of Saskatchewan, May 1988 (thesis: Coordinated Ground-
Satellite Auroral Studies).

B.Sc. (Mathematics; High Honours), Honours Certificate (Physics), University of Saskatchewan, 1982.

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

NSERC Doctoral Prize Nominee, University of Saskatchewan, 1991

B. W. Currie Graduate Scholarship, 1989-1990.

University of Saskatchewan Graduate Scholarships, 1985-1990.

Head of class in Physics Comprehensive Examination, June 1985.

University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Scholarships, 1980-1982.

Proctor and Gamble Bursary, 1979-1980.

Leonard Foundation Scholarships, 1976-1977; 1978-1982.

Mathematics Prize, Grade 12, Tisdale Unit Composite School, Tisdale, SK.

RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

NSERC Research Grant, April 1996: 2 years, $20,000;

Canadian Space Agency CNSR Transition Program Contract, April 1995; renewed April 1996.

RECENT REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

R.A. Doe, J.D. Kelly, J.L. Semeter, and D.P. Steele, Tomographic reconstruction of 630.0 nm emission structure for a polar cap arc, submitted to Geophys. Res. Lett., December 1996.

D.P. Steele and L.L. Cogger, Polar patches and the "tongue of ionization", Radio Science, 31, 667-677, 1996.

D.P. Steele, D.J. McEwen and J.S. Murphree, A comparison of Viking UVI auroral observations and model calculations of camera responses, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 3657-
3668, 1995.

D.P. Steele, D.J. McEwen and J.S. Murphree, On the possibility of auroral remote sensing with the Viking ultraviolet imager, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 2845-2862, 1992.

D.P. Steele and D.J. McEwen, Auroral Excitation Efficiencies and Intensity Ratios, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 10321-10336, 1990.

RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

•	R.A. Doe, J.D. Kelly, J.L. Semeter, D.P. Steele, Q. Wu, T.L. Killeen, and J. MacDougall, Multistation Imaging of Polar Cap Arcs, AGU Spring Meeting, May 20-24, 1996, Baltimore, MD.

•	D.P. Steele and I. Oznovich, Single-Point Stereoscopy for Ground Based Space Research, AGU Fall Meeting, December 11-15, 1995, San Francisco, CA.

•	D.P. Steele, Observations of diffuse auroras at the geomagnetic pole, XXI General Assembly of the IUGG, Boulder, CO, July 2-14, 1995.

•	D.P. Steele, L.L. Cogger, E.J. Weber, and R. Sheehan, Observations of diffuse aurora over the geomagnetic pole, Polar Science Workshop, Windermere House, London, ON, May 25-26, 1995.

•	D.P. Steele and L.L. Cogger, Optical Characterization of an F-Layer Polar Arc, DASP Winter Workshop, February 19-22, 1995, Banff, AB.

•	P. Prikryl, I.F. Grant, J.W. MacDougall, G.J. Sofko, D. Andre, R.A. Greenwald and D.P. Steele, Observations of F-Region Irregularity Patches Associated with Poleward Drifting E-Region Irregularity Bands, DASP Winter Workshop, January 19-22, 1995, Banff, AB.

•	D.P. Steele and L.L. Cogger, F-layer Patches Observed at the Geomagnetic Pole, Second Joint Workshop for CEDAR HLPS/STEP GAPS, June 26-29, 1994, Peaceful Valley Conference Center, Lyons, CO.

•	D.P. Steele, Polar Airglow and Auroras: First Results from the CNSR/University of Calgary Polar Camera, AGU Fall Meeting, December 6-10, 1993, San Francisco, CA.

•	D.P. Steele, L.B. Murdock, D.C. van der Schee, J.R. Sharber, J.D. Winningham, and R.A. Frahm,, Optical Remote Sensing of Auroral Particle Fluxes with Supporting Satellite Measurements, CEDAR Workshop, June 21-25, 1993, Boulder, CO, USA.

•	D.P. Steele, K.R. Forrester, E.P. King, L.B. Murdock and T.S. Trondsen, An Air
glow/Auroral Imager for the CNSR Polar Observatory, AGU Spring Meeting, 12-16 May 1992, Montreal, P.Q., Canada.

RECENT SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE

•	Inferred polar cap auroral emission heights from single-station multispectral image data, with confirmation by precipitating particle observations from simultaneous DMSP satellite overflight (Steele and Oznovich, 1995);

•	Determined polar cap ionospheric convection velocities from ground-based images, and created first optical montage view of the polar F layer tongue of ionization (Steele and Cogger, 1996);

•	Managed scientific and technical development of the CNSR/University of Calgary Polar Camera, a CCD-based airglow/auroral imager for the CNSR Polar Observatory, from concept to completion; installed Polar Camera at Eureka, NWT, in October 1993, and operated it since then (Steele and Cogger, 1996);

•	Performed a detailed quantitative analysis of FUV auroral images obtained by Viking satellite (Steele et al., 1992);

•	Calculated FUV auroral emissions excited by electron spectra measured in Viking imager field of view (using the Strickland auroral code and Gladstone 1-d resonance radiation code); compared expected signal with Viking measurements (Steele et al., 1995);

•	Maintained, processed, and interpreted an extensive set of HiLat and DMSP satellite measurements of high latitude electron precipitation (Steele et al., 1992; 1995);

•	Studied auroral excitation efficiency and intensity ratio variations with geophysical conditions (Ap, F10.7) using the MSIS-86 neutral thermosphere model (Steele and McEwen, 1990);

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Served as Principal Investigator and Project Leader for Physics 893, Special Topics in Physics and Engineering Physics, in which graduate students were key participants in preparing a proposal for the Canadian Space Agency under the Small Payloads Program;

•	Taught E.P. 324.3 (Mechanics IV: fluid and system dynamics) to 3rd-year Engineering Physics students in University of Saskatchewan, Winter 1996;

•	Lectured Physics 233 (honours introductory mechanics) part-time with Prof. L. L. Cogger in University of Calgary, Fall1994;

•	Taught Physics 203 (non-calculus survey course) in University of Calgary, Summer 1994, achieving an exceptionally high rating in student evaluation;

•	Lectured occasionally in honours introductory physics course in University of Saskatchewan, 1988-1990;

•	Guided junior graduate students in auroral physics and data analysis;

•	Taught a well-received weekly tutorial for first year honours physics students 1985-1991;

•	Demonstrated introductory undergraduate laboratory 1980-1984.

TRAINING OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

•	Supervised NSERC Summer Research student Todd Oliynyk during summer 1994, in work related to Polar Camera data quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, and acquisition of skills with a widely used data analysis software system;

•	Supervised University of Calgary Physics Co-op student David van der Schee during summer 1993, in work on Polar Camera calibration, field testing, data analysis tool development,and acquisition of skills with a widely used data analysis software system; this experience led directly to an extended work term with the Canadian Space Agency;

•	Supervised Ph.D. candidate Kevin Forrester during development phase of Polar Camera, in work related to science background of instrument mission and software development for camera control and data acquisition;

•	Supervised NSERC Summer Research student Zeljko Pavic during summer 1991, in work related to on-orbit assessment of Viking UVI instrumental gain and data quality.

OTHER

•	Chaired session SA21A, Dynamics of the Polar Mesosphere (oral presentations) at AGU Fall Meeting, December 6-10, 1993, San Francisco, CA;

SKILLS

•	Fluent in IDL, Pascal and FORTRAN;

•	Extensive experience in MS-Windows, VAX-VMS, and UNIX environments;

•	Exceptional writing and speaking skills.

REFERENCES

Prof. D.J. McEwen

Department of Physics and Engineering Physics

University of Saskatchewan

Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2

Fax: (306) 966-6400

Tel: (306) 966-6440

Prof. E.J. (Ted) Llewellyn

Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies

University of Saskatchewan

116 Science Place

Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2

Fax: (306) 966-6400

Tel: (306) 966-6441

Prof. L.L. Cogger

Department of Physics and Astronomy

University of Calgary

2500 University Drive N.W.

Calgary, AB T2N 1N4

Fax: (403) 282-5016

Tel: (403) 220-5386