Biography

Kletzing held the Donald A. and Marie B. Gurnett Chair in physics and astronomy. He joined the UI faculty in 1996 and his research interests were in experimental space plasma physics, particularly measuring electric and magnetic wave fields in Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts. He was the principal investigator for the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) and a $115 million contract award from NASA, announced in June 2019, the largest single award in UI history.

He was the principal and co-investigator on several sounding rockets and spacecraft instruments. He was also the principal investigator of a laboratory plasma experiment collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles, to uncover more about how the auroras transfer energy. Kletzing served on the National Research Council’s Committee on Space and Solar Physics; NASA’s Sounding Rocket Working Group; the Geospace Electrodynamic Connections Science and Technology Definition Team; and NASA’s 2005 Sun-Solar System Connection Roadmap Committee. He authored or co-authored more than 290 peer-reviewed publications.

Curriculum Vitae

Higher Education

1989 PhD, Physics, University of California, San Diego
1983 MS, Physics, University of California, San Diego
1981 BA, Physics, Departmental Honors, University of California, Berkeley

Professional and Academic Positions

2005 - 2023 Professor, University of Iowa
1996 - 2005 Associate Professor, University of Iowa
1995 - 1996 Research Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire
1989 - 1995 Research Assistant Professor, University of New Hampshire
1993 - 1994 Visiting Scientist, Max-Planck-Institut fiir extraterrestrische Physik Garching
1988 - 1989 Research Associate, University of Alabama
1989 Assistant Research Professor, University of Alabama
1987 - 1988 NASA Graduate Student Researcher, University of California

Honors and Awards

2022 - Named Fellow of the American Physical Society
2019 - Donald A. and Marie B. Gurnett Chair
2016 - Distinguished Lecturer, American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics
2011 - 2019 F. Wendell Miller Professor
2008 - International Visiting Research Fellowship, University of Sydney
2008 - Regent's Award for Faculty Excellence
2007 -  President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence
2006 - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teaching Award 
2002 - 2003 - Faculty Scholar, University of Iowa
1999 -  Project Kaleidoscope Faculty for the 21st Century
1997 -  Editor's Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, Geophysical Research Letters

Personal

Born in Sacramento, California, USA, 1958

Music was a constant passion in Craig’s life. Together with his wife, Jeanette Welch, he played in many Iowa City bands throughout his life including Hold My Llama, Bipolar, Brace for Blast, House of Escher, Truffle Pig. Most recently,  he played electric and acoustic guitar in a Grateful Dead-inspired band, called Fork in the Road, that jammed throughout Iowa City. Jeanette is a professional musician and a bass teacher at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City and Kirkwood Community College.

  • Guitars: 2000 Gary Jacobs handmade electric (#43), '89 Fender Strat Plus & '77 Gibson SG Standard
  • Amp: '61 Fender Concert 4x10, Mesa Boogie Subway Blues
  • Effects: GSP2101 by Digitech
Kletzing playing guitar with Fork in the Road
Kletzing playing guitar at festival
Craig Kletzing playing a guitar
Craig Kletzing with a guitar