NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Volcanology and Petrology
Location: Houston, TX
Education: PhD, University of Cambridge
Research Interests:
As a planetary volcanologist, I study how life-essential elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur drive magmatic processes that help form atmospheres, maintain climate, and create chemical disequilibria that life can exploit. These dynamics directly inform the Drake Equation’s ne and fl: how many planets can support life, and how many actually do. Within my field, I am known for developing novel techniques to address big problems, and for bridging disciplines to create purpose-built open-source tools for the benefit of the community and public.
My research tackles such questions as: What mechanisms govern the evolutionary trajectories of planetary bodies in the Solar System? How efficient is magmatism in global element cycling? How, when, and why do volcanoes erupt? Bodies like Mercury, the Moon, and Mars along with our vast collection of meteorites provide windows into the earliest moments of our Solar System. Unravelling the clues locked within these ancient time capsules provides critical context for understanding our planet and its place in the cosmos. The same processes that drive planetary formation and evolution become tangible on modern Earth. An estimated 800 million people live within 100 km of an active volcano in 86 countries. Perhaps inspired by the unconstrained nature of the elements I study, I can’t help but see the potential of magmatic volatile research to understand our place in the world and live in concert with it.