Jeffrey Asher
PhD in Astronautical Engineering
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Before coming to USC I was working full-time at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. I
recall having just graduated from undergrad and being pulled into several working groups with
senior staff. I was usually quite shy in these meetings and rarely spoke up. One day one my
manager took me aside and told me “Jeff, you’re invited to these meetings because we want to
know what YOU think. You need to make sure your voice and opinions are heard.” I feel like I
really needed to hear that in that moment and really respected my manager for it. It’s
something I keep in mind.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
I think once I finish this degree, I’ll consider it my greatest accomplishment, but until then, I’d
have to say my work designing and building a CubeSat during undergrad. The spacecraft was
called ELFIN, which stood for Electron Losses and Fields Investigation. I was the lead thermal
engineer and lead systems engineer. Working with the small team of students and faculty on
that project really gave me my start in the space industry. Working on that project got me my
job after undergrad, and I’m sure it helped with my application to USC. It was amazing to be
witness this spacecraft slowly come together over the years. The big culmination was when we
all drove up to watch it launch out of Vandenberg Air Force Base. As of today the spacecraft are
still healthy and providing critical scientific data.
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
I bought a DIY mechanical watch making kit. The funny part is that it was 100% a specifically
targeted Facebook advertisement that got me to buy it. I’m sure the advertiser was like: 20-
something, male, engineer? – CHECK. Anyways, I really enjoyed assembling it and its still one of
my favorite watches.
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
My research is investigating the plume dynamics of a new type of spacecraft electric propulsion. These thrusters are called ionic electrospray thrusters, and what makes them special is that they offer a small, low power, and clean means of propulsion. This enables small spacecraft, like CubeSats, to maneuver while on-orbit. The plume that these thrusters generate consists of complex molecular ions of varying sizes and composition. This technology has little flight heritage currently, but several companies are beginning to invest more into it which is exciting.
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
I’m assuming for this question that I’ll have to forego the space industry as well. In that case, I’ll say something like a board game designer. We are currently in a golden age of board games, and I think it would be fun to try and make a fun and interesting game. Maybe it can be space related?
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
I’m local to Los Angeles, so pursuing my degree somewhere close to family was a big factor. I chose USC specifically due to its unique Astronautical Engineering Department. Most schools do not have a dedicated department for space. The thought of a department of coursework and expertise just dedicated to spacecraft engineering really excited me.
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
- Yosemite National Park – I’m big into the outdoors and hiking and cannot recommend Yosemite enough. It is beautiful.
- Griffith Observatory – A great place to hike, gaze out at the city, and learn some cool science!
- Simply Pho Noodle House in Orange, CA – My fiancé and I love pho. We have sampled a lot across LA and both agree this place is the best. A close second is Pho Show in Culver City.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
I will forever cherish the opportunity to present my final project to Buzz Aldrin. As part of my ASTE-527 final we had to pitch an innovative or disruptive concept for the future exploration of the Moon and Artemis missions. Little did I know that we would be having a special guest for the final! Being able to interact with such a meaningful figure in my career field is definitely something that will be with me for the rest of my life.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I’m an avid runner. I’ve trained for and competed in 3 marathons in: Chicago, Huntington Beach, and Washington, D.C. Running in the LA marathon is still on my list.
What are your plans after graduation?
After a long vacation, I plan to go back to full-time employment at my current job with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, supporting the US Space Force at LA Air Force Base. In addition, I hope to pursue opportunities for guest lecturing at USC within the ASTE department or other local colleges and universities.
Hometown (city, country):
Valencia, California, USA (just north of LA near Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Personal Website (if any):
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-asher-923497134/
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Joe Wang
