Rate My Professor Fred Menk

Emeritus Professor Fred Menk is affiliated with the Physics discipline in the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle. He holds a PhD and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from La Trobe University. His career at the University of Newcastle began in 1984 as a Research Associate, advancing to Lecturer (fixed term, 1990-1993; tenured, 1993-1994), Senior Lecturer (1995-2000), Associate Professor (2001-2008), Professor of Physics (2008 onwards), and Emeritus Professor (2018-present). Prior roles include Upper Atmosphere Physicist with the Australian Antarctic Division (1981-1983). Menk has occupied prominent leadership positions such as interim Head of School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (2015-2016), Deputy Head of Faculty (Deputy Executive Dean) of Science and IT (2007-2012), Acting Deputy Head of Faculty (2005-2006), Assistant Dean (International, 2006; Teaching and Learning, 2003-2006), and Deputy Head of School (2002-2003). He has been a Visiting Research Fellow at La Trobe University (2014), University of Alberta (2002 onwards), British Antarctic Survey (2001-2012), and University of York (1997, 2001).

Professor Menk specializes in space physics, focusing on magnetospheric and ionospheric physics, geomagnetism, plasma waves, and remote sensing of near-Earth space using ground-based techniques, including ultra-low frequency waves observed via global magnetometer arrays. Key contributions include studies on field line resonances, cavity modes, plasmaspheric density variations, and ULF wave effects on the ionosphere. He authored the book Magnetoseismology: Ground-Based Remote Sensing of Earth's Magnetosphere (2013), chapters like 'Monitoring Magnetospheric Waves from the Ground' (2016), and papers such as 'Magnetospheric ULF waves: A review' (2011) and 'Remote Sensing the Magnetosphere Using Ground-Based Observations of ULF Waves' (2006). With about 150 refereed publications, an h-index of 28, over $7.4 million in competitive grants, supervision of 30 PhD/MSc students (one-third women), and more than 40 keynote/invited presentations, his innovations like the cross-phase technique have shaped global magnetometer networks and space weather research. Awards include Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics, Engineers Australia National Excellence Awards for TIGER radar (2014) and FedSat microsatellite (2003). Menk chairs the Australian Academy of Science National Committee on Space and Radio Science (2017-present), served as national representative for COSPAR (2010-2020), and convened seven international conferences.