Yuri Litvinenko is a Research Assistant Professor in the UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, where he is a member of the UNH Solar-Terrestrial Theory Group. Prior to that, he completed his dissertation entitled "Aspects of Particle Acceleration in Solar Flares" and held postdoctoral and Research Scientist positions at UNH. Dr. Litvinenko's research interests are in the areas of theoretical space plasma physics, including investigations of energy release, magnetohydrodynamic motions, and particle acceleration in space. While dreaming of retirement in Costa Rica, he has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications that primarily address flares and other active phenomena on the Sun and flare stars. This work is supported by various grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Current research projects also involve collaboration with scientists at other institutions, including the Department of Mathematics at the University of Waikato (New Zealand) and the Research Centre for Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Sydney (Australia).