Dr. William Coles

Biography

William Coles is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego. His research primarily focuses on radio science and engineering, particularly the propagation of radio waves through turbulent media, with a specific emphasis on applications in solar wind physics and radio astronomy. Professor Coles studies astrophysical plasmas such as the solar wind and interstellar media, where he measures how turbulent plasmas scatter radio waves. These radio waves are commonly sourced from distant cosmic radio sources and scattered by intervening turbulent plasma, which is investigated using radio telescopes. His research includes studying the origin of solar wind and making direct measurements with spacecraft. His work encompasses interstellar plasma dynamics and pulsars, especially degenerate stars that emit radio waves in a highly regular pattern. Coles received his B.A.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in 1963 and an M. Eng. from McGill University in Montreal in 1965. He began his PhD at UC Berkeley in 1965 and completed it at UC San Diego in 1969, and has been a faculty member at UCSD ever since, also holding visiting scientist positions at various prominent institutions worldwide.

Research Interests

Awards