Address: University of Southern California Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Los Angeles, California 90089-1191 Office: RRB 222 Tel. (213) 740-7184 Fax. (213) 740-7774 email: dons@hippolyta.usc.edu website: http://ame-www.usc.edu/bio/dons

Academic rank: Professor, full-time

Education:

1965 Ph.D., Upper Atmospheric Physics, University of Saskatchewan

USC Academic Positions:

1990-: Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering

Other Professional Positions:

None

Research Interests:

Astrophysics, space science, surface phenomena

Selected Publications:

X. Liu, D. E. Shemansky, H. Abgrall, E. Roueff, D. Dziczek, D. L. Hansen, and J. M. Ajello, ''Time-resolved electron impact study of excitation of H2 singlet-gerade states from cascade emission in the vacuum ultraviolet region,'' Astrophys. J. Supp. 138, pp. 229-246, 2002.
J. M. Ajello, D. E. Shemansky, W. R. Pryor, A. Stewart, K. E. Simmons, T. Majeed, J. H. Waite, G. R. Gladstone, and D. Grodent, ''Spectroscopic evidence for high altitude aurora at Jupiter from Galileo Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Hopkins Ultraviolet telescope observations,'' Icarus 152, pp. 151-171, 2001.
X. Liu, D. E. Shemansky, J. M. Ajello, D. L. Hansen, C. Jonin, and G. K. James, ''High-resolution electron emissions spectrum of H2, 760A-900A,'' Astrophys. J. Supp. 129, pp. 267-280, 2000.
X. Liu amd D. E. Shemansky, S. M. Ahmed, G. K. James, and J. M. Ajello, ''Electron-impact excitation and emission cross sections of the H2 Lyman and Werner systems,'' J. Geophys. Res. 103, pp. 26739-26758, 1998.

Professional Societies:

American Geophysical Union

Honors and Awards:

1998: Citation for Excellence in Refereeing: Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics
1998: Appointment as distinguished Visiting Scientist CIT/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1998: NASA Cassini UVIS Science Team Group Achievement Award
1997: Technology and Applications Program Group Achievement Award, UV Emissions Processes Team, CIT/ Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1996: Appointment as distinguished Visiting Scientist CIT/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1995: NASA Group Achievement Award: Galileo Ida Encouter/Dactyl Discovery
1993: NASA Group Achievement Award: Galileo Gaspra Encounter
1993: Appointment as distinguished Visiting Scientist CIT/Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1992: NASA Certificate of Recognition NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship
1990: NASA Group Achievement Award: Voyager Science Investigations
1986: NASA Group Achievement Award: Voyager Science Investigations
1981: NASA Group Achievement Award: Voyager Science Investigations
1981: NASA Group Achievement Award: Voyager Science Instrument Development
1981: NASA Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement

Courses Taught:

AME 150
AME 477
AME 587

Recent Professional Development Activities:

None

Back to top