1. Winston Frias Pombo
Contact
Information
University of Saskatchewan +1 (306) 371-2660
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics winston.frias@usask.ca
116 Science Place linkedin.com/in/winston-frias-pombo-5622b011
Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2
Canada
Summary and
Objectives
I am a physicist with experience studying diverse phenomena ranging from electro-
magnetic wave propagation to electric propulsion devices using both a theoretical and
computational approach. The results I have obtained have been published and cited in
several of the leading international scientific journals, as well as presented at the most
important conferences in the areas of plasma physics, electric propulsion and electro-
magnetism. My goal is to obtain a research position where I can increase my knowledge
and experience in computational science with applications to solving real life physical
problems.
Research
Interests
Theoretical and computational physics. Plasma physics, electromagnetism, wave prop-
agation, fluid dynamics computational physics.
Education Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Physics
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK Canada 2016
The goal of my doctoral research was to study some types of instabilities present in
a Hall thruster. It has sought to gain insight into the mechanisms that give rise to
these instabilities and into how these instabilities can affect the performance of the
Hall thruster. My doctoral research resulted in developing a new model for (density,
magnetic field and temperature) gradient drift instabilities in Hall thruster. Addition-
ally, a new class of instabilities in Hall thrusters due to the excitation of negative energy
ion sound type modes driven by the ExB drift was proposed. Finally, a nonlinear fluid
model for the plasma discharge in a Hall thruster was developed and computer simula-
tions of the electron transport in a Hall thruster based on this model were performed.
Anomalous transport from these computer simulations was observed.
Areas of focus: Theoretical and computational plasma physics, computational fluid
dynamics, numerical analysis, computer simulations.
Master’s of Science (M.Sc.), Physics
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK Canada 2011
During my Master’s degree I did research on two selected problems which are of great
interest for the newly emerging fields of metamaterials and plasmonics, namely the
energy flow and the momentum balance in multi-layer structures involving tunneling
barriers. It was shown that the energy propagation velocity is best suitable to de-
scribe energy transport due to evanescent waves in surface wave resonant structures.
I The problem of the radiation pressure on multilayered dielectric structures was also
studied. The forces on dielectric bodies of different configurations were calculated. It
is shown that the average of the microscopic Lorentz force results in the macroscopic
Lorentz force expression with charge and current density defined by the macroscopic
polarization and magnetization vectors.
Areas of focus: Electromagnetic theory, optics, wave propagation, numerical modelling.
Curriculum Vitae, Winston Frias Pombo 1

2. Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Physics
People’s Friendship University of Russia, Moscow Russia 2008
I was awarded an Undergraduate Scholarship by the Ministry of Education of the
Russian Federation to pursue undergraduate studies in physics. I was assigned to the
People’s Friendship University of Russia where I did research in the area of plasma
physics and did practices at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, the largest
organization in Russia dedicated to the areas of atomic and fusion energy.
Area of focus: Plasma physics, electromagnetism.
Publications Small scale fluctuations and anomalous electron current in Hall plasmas
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, I. Romadanov, I.D. Kaganovich, Y. Raitses
IEPC International Electric Propulsion Conference, IEPC2015-371, 2015
Wall current closure effects on plasma and sheath fluctuations in Hall thrusters
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, I.D. Kaganovich, Y. Raitses
Physics of Plasmas, 21 (6), 062113, 2014
Sheath-Induced Instabilities in Plasmas with E0 × B0 Drift
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, I.D. Kaganovich, Y. Raitses
Physical Review letters 111 (11), 115002, 2013
Long wavelength gradient drift instability in Hall plasma devices. II. Applications
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, I.D. Kaganovich, Y. Raitses
Physics of Plasmas 20 (5), 052108, 2013
Long wavelength gradient drift instability in Hall plasma devices. I. Fluid theory
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, I.D. Kaganovich, Y. Raitses
Physics of Plasmas 19 (7), 072112, 2012
Electromagnetic forces and internal stresses in dielectric media
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov
Physical Review E 85 (4), 046606, 2012
Non-local energy transport in tunneling and plasmonic structures
W. Frias, A.I. Smolyakov, A. Hirose
Optics Express 19 (16), 15281-15296, 2011
h-index:5; i10-index:4. From http://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=
LyJG_GIAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Teaching
Experience
Term II, 2015 Lecturer, Physics 155: Intro to Electricity and Magnetism
Term II 2009 – 2012 Marker and teaching assistant Phys 812: Plasma Physics
Term I 2009 – 2012 Marker and teaching assistant Phys 861: Electromagnetic Theory
Term II 2012 Teaching assistant Phys 127: Modern Physics
Term II 2010 Teaching assistant EP 421: Optics
Curriculum Vitae, Winston Frias Pombo 2

3. Honors and
Awards
Dr. Gerhard Herzberg Memorial Scholarship in Physics
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
September, 2011
Awarded to outstanding graduate student in the Department of Physics and Eng.
Physics. Most prestigious award given by the Physics department at the University of
Saskatchewan. One award given every school year.
Dr. Gerhard Herzberg Memorial Scholarship in Physics
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
September, 2012
Awarded to outstanding graduate student in the Department of Physics and Eng.
Physics. Most prestigious award given by the Physics department at the University of
Saskatchewan. One award given every school year.
Doctoral Teaching Fellowship
College of Graduate Studies & Research, University of Saskatchewan
September, 2014
Award given to outstanding PhD students interested in a developmental sequence of
teaching experiences. One of the requirements of the award is that the students will be
in full charge of teaching a class at the University of Saskatchewan under the guidance
and mentorship of experienced faculty members. I was in charge of teaching PHYSICS
155: Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, a first-year class mandatory to all
students at the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan.
Graduate Scholarship
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
September, 2008
Award given to graduate students on good academic standing at the Physics depart-
ment of the University of Saskatchewan. Award given on a yearly basis. I received this
award in the academic years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011.
Graduate Scholarship
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
September, 2013
Award given to graduate students on good academic standing at the Physics depart-
ment of the University of Saskatchewan. Award given on a yearly basis. I received this
award in the academic years 2013-2014, 2015-2016.
Ishwar Gupta Dissertation Prize in Physics & Engineering Physics
Department of Physics & Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan
May, 2016
Award recognizes the graduate student judged to have the top dissertation in physics in
the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan.
Nominee, The University of Saskatchewan Doctoral Thesis Award and Governor Gen-
eral’s Gold medal award
University of Saskatchewan
May, 2016
Nomination for the top award conceded to the best doctoral student graduating from
the University of Saskatchewan every academic year. Nomination in the area of Natural
Science.
Curriculum Vitae, Winston Frias Pombo 3

4. Relevant
Skills
Technical skills:
• Physics: plasma physics, electromagnetic theory, wave propagation, fluid me-
chanics.
• Mathematics: calculus, linear algebra, ODE, PDE, numerical methods, statistics,
probability.
Computer skills:
• Operating systems: UNIX, Linux, Mac OSX, MS Windows
• Programming: Python, Matlab, BASH, C/C++
• Packages: MS Office, LaTeX, Adobe Illustrator
Language skills:
• Native Spanish speaker, fluent in English and Russian, good knowledge of Por-
tuguese and some French
References Available upon request.
Curriculum Vitae, Winston Frias Pombo 4