I joined Caltech in June of 2008 as a research assistant in planetary geology. My research includes working on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) team, currently preparing for surface operations, which will begin after the rover lands in August 2012. I worked on the analyses of the potential Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) landing sites, as well as on the HiRISE team (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), which is a high-resolution camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Other research projects include characterizing sedimentary layers in HiRISE images over a global scale.

 

I received my Bachelors and Masters degrees at Washington University in St. Louis, where my research focused mainly on geomorphic and spectral mapping of Meridiani Planum, Mars using data sets from various Mars orbiters and landers. During my time there I worked on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), Phoenix Scout Mission, and targeting for the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) onboard MRO. After grad school I moved to Washington, DC and worked at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for two years. There I worked with HiRISE data assisting in targeting, data analysis, and making maps to be used for geologic and geomorphic analyses for the Martian surface. I was also involved with landing site analysis for the MSL mission.

 

In my free time I love traveling, exploring, photography, baking, and football (Go Dolphins!). I love adventure and would gladly spend my weekends doing six hour belly crawls deep inside a cave, parasailing, hiking or sailing to Catalina. I've done 7 marathons and Hood to Coast, although I'm retired for the time being (until I get a chance to do the Antarctica Marathon!). I’m also perpetually attempting to climb Mt. Whitney.