Ronald A. Fevig, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Department of Space Studies
University of North Dakota

B.A. 1992, Mathematics, North Dakota State University
M.S. 1994, Space Studies, University of North Dakota
M.S. 1996, Mathematics, University of North Dakota
Ph.D. 2006, Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona

     Dr. Fevig was born in Baudette, Minnesota and grew up in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He possesses both a Bachelors degree (North Dakota State University, 1992) and Masters degree (University of North Dakota, 1996) in Mathematics. He also earned a Masters degree (University of North Dakota, 1994) in Space Studies. Dr. Fevig completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona in December, 2006. His dissertation research focused on near-Earth asteroid spectroscopy. While working on his doctoral degree he was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities associated with the University of Arizona’s CubeSat nanosatellite program and high-altitude balloon teams. As the CubeSat Ground Station Coordinator, he specified hardware and software requirements, supervised the construction of the ground station, and worked closely with satellite hardware and software developers. He also supervised numerous undergraduate engineering and science students and acted as the Assistant to the CubeSat Program Manager. While pursuing his Ph.D. he also helped mentor two senior engineering design teams that developed payloads for high-altitude balloons.

     During the 2007-2008 Academic Year Dr. Fevig was employed as a postdoctoral research associate in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota, conducting research involving digital image processing of video frames acquired from unmanned aerial vehicles. He was also an adjunct instructor in Space Studies, teaching SpSt 500 - Introduction to Orbital Mechanics. Dr. Fevig joined the Space Studies faculty as an assistant professor beginning the Fall Semester, 2008.

     Since the Fall 2007 semester, Dr. Fevig has been serving as the faculty advisor for a student high-altitude balloon team at the University of North Dakota which designed and flew an ozone sensor payload on a NASA zero-pressure balloon in September, 2008. He continues to develop student-oriented research programs that involve spacecraft engineering at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Fevig is currently co-mentoring a student team that is developing an image-mosaicking payload that will be designed to fly onboard various platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude balloons, and satellites. He is also the lead faculty advisor for a student team that is building a gas and particle sensing payload that will likely fly on a NASA sounding rocket in June, 2009. Dr. Fevig’s close ties to members of the UND School of Engineering and Mines and the College of Arts & Sciences will allow him to further develop inter-departmental relationships and collaborative efforts within the University of North Dakota.

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