In this research opportunity we are interested in general nonlinear plasma physics processes with empsasis on the kinetic nature of plasmas including nonlinear coherent wave processes (nonlinear wave-particle interactions) and plasma turbulence (both strong and weak turbulence).  We are interested in extending existing analytical formulations of these processes, developing computationally efficient numerical methods to model these processes, observing these phenomenon in nature (space plasmas and laboraotry plasmas), performing first-principles kinetic simulations to understanding competing nonlinear processes, and applying these theoretical ideas to understanding complex geophysical and laboratory plasmas on global scales.  Potential application areas include ionospheric wave propagation, the Earth's Radiation Belts, solar wind plasmas, laser plasma interactions, beam plasma instabilities, space weather models and dynamics,  and dusty plasma applications in the solar corona and in laboratory plasmas.