Team Bios

C. Alex Young, Ph.D. (Creator and Editor in Chief)

Alex is a Solar Astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center with ADNET Systems Inc and the SOHO/STEREO science team.

A little bit country, a little bit rockin roll. Well not so much country but a lotta bit geek. Alex started this fan page because he has a passion for sharing his little bit of knowledge with all. He has some classic tendencies of sci-fi fan/crazy cat guy. From an early age, Alex was tinkering with his parents stuff taking things apart to figure out how they worked. This curiousity continued on into high school where he built his first laser with which he won an award an international science competition. Alex received an undergraduate degree at Florida State University while working for the now defunct Super Conducting Super Collider. After taking time off to work in the mountains of New Hampshire he went to the University of New Hampshire to study Quantum Chaos Theory. Somehow he instead ended up receiving a Master and PhD in high-energy astrophysics studying cosmic gamma-ray bursts and solar gamma-ray flares. In his spare time he enjoys building a kayak in his garage. He also enjoys running, traveling, watching movies and playing video games.

Alex is available for interviews and speaking. (Topics and Experience, Photo)

Ryan O. Milligan, Ph.D. (Contributor)

Ryan is a solar physicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center working on solar flare observations as part of the RHESSI science team.

Originally from the small fishing village of Ardglass in Northern Ireland, Ryan is very much a country boy. With an intense love of music, Ryan played drums in various rock bands for most of his teenage years. After high school he tried his hand at everything from recording engineering to delivering coal and driving tractor-trailers for his father’s fish business. It was his skills as a truck driver that allowed him to return to college and pursue a degree in astrophysics, which eventually led him to work at NASA. Ryan joined this project because he enjoys sharing his work and love of the Sun and astronomy with the public through education and outreach. When he’s not traveling around the world for work, or chasing solar eclipses, he spends most of his spare time mountain biking and soaking up music at concerts and festivals.