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People

The faculty, staff and graduate students of NAU’s Department Astronomy & Planetary Science

From current, adjunct, and emeritus faculty to staff and graduate students, find out more about their backgrounds and career highlights.

Faculty Accordion Closed

Devon Burr

Professor
Email: Devon.Burr@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-7063
Web Page

Dr Burr’s primary interest are the landforms that result from fluid flow. Fluid flow includes flow by water that formed ancient rivers deposits on Mars, as well as flow in current rivers of liquid nitrogen on Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. Dr Burr also studies the deposits formed by the flow of air, or wind, on Mars and Titan. In addition, Dr. Burr studies lava flows on Mars and the tectonic landforms on icy satellites of the outer Solar System.


Lisa Chien

Lecturer
Email: Lisa.Chien@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-0422

Dr. Chien is devoted to teaching astronomy, astrophysics, and indigenous astronomy at all levels. She enjoys learning new effective teaching methods and implementing them into her learner-centered classes. Dr. Chien is also a strong supporter of women and diversity in the STEM field. Her research focuses on starbursts, star formation history, and dynamics of interacting and merging galaxies, through the use of spectroscopy and imaging of newly-formed clusters, as well as simulations of galaxy interactions.


Christopher Edwards

Associate Professor,
Director NAU/NASA Space Grant
Email: Christopher.Edwards@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-7234
Web Page

Dr. Edwards is a planetary geologist and instrument developer. His research focuses on constraining early solar system processes by using the composition, physical properties and processes, and morphology of planetary surfaces. He is a participating scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover, and has works actively with numerous other NASA Mars missions including the 2001 Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System, Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars.


Joshua Emery

Professor
Email: Joshua.Emery@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-6495

Dr. Emery applies the techniques of astronomical reflection and emission spectroscopy and spectrophotometry of primitive and icy bodies in the near- (0.8 to 5.0 microns) and mid-infrared (5 to 50 microns) to investigate the formation and evolution of the Solar System and the distribution of organic material.  The Jupiter Trojan asteroids have been a strong focus of his research, and he also regularly observes Kuiper Belt objects, icy satellites, and other asteroid groups to understand the state of their surfaces as related to these topics.  Along with telescopic observations, he contributes to Solar System exploration as a science team member on the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, the Lucy Trojan asteroid flyby mission, and the NEO Surveyor Mission infrared telescope mission.


Mark Loeffler

Associate Professor
Email: Mark.Loeffler@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-0369
Web Page

Dr. Loeffler uses laboratory experiments to simulate processes that occur in extraterrestrial environments. These studies typically focus on how radiation and thermal processes can alter the physical and chemical properties of the surface with the goal of trying to understand how these environments evolve over time.


Mark Salvatore

Associate Professor,
Associate Department Chair
Email: Mark.Salvatore@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-0324
Web Page

Dr. Salvatore studies the evolution of planetary surfaces and landscapes. His research has focused primarily on Antarctica and Mars, where cold and dry conditions dominate the surface and result in unique geologic processes. His work uses a combination of satellite image analyses, laboratory analyses, and field work. Dr. Salvatore is also a member of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover team.


Stephen Tegler

Professor
Email: Stephen.Tegler@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-9382
Web Page

Dr. Tegler uses ground-based telescopes to study the physical and chemical properties of Kuiper belt objects at the edge of the Solar System. In addition, he conducts laboratory experiments to study the physical and chemical properties of ices important to understanding processes on the surfaces of outer Solar System objects. The overarching goal of Dr. Tegler’s research is to better understand the origin and evolution of the Solar System.


Cristina Thomas

Assistant Professor
Email: Cristina.Thomas@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-0294

Dr. Thomas uses ground and space-based telescopes to study near-Earth, Main Belt, and Trojan asteroids. Her research focuses on using spectroscopy to study the composition and physical properties of the surfaces of asteroids. She is also performs observations in support of spacecraft missions and works with the science team for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.


David Trilling

Professor,
Department Chair
Email: David.Trilling@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-5505
Web Page

Dr. Trilling studies the small bodies in our Solar System to understand how our planetary system formed and evolved. He uses telescopes all over the world and in space, as well as archival data and, soon, data from LSST.


Chad Trujillo

Associate Professor
Email: Chad.Trujillo@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-6007
Web Page

Dr. Trujillo searches for new dwarf planets and minor planets on the outer edge of our solar system. He has been involved in the discovery and characterization of Kuiper Belt Objects, Centaurs, Comets and Active Asteroids including seven of the ten largest dwarf planets in our solar system. He is very interested in data-intensive science and is currently looking for the presence of a possible giant planet undiscovered in our own solar system.

Visiting faculty / research associates Accordion Closed

Jennifer Hanley

Visiting Professor (Lowell Observatory)
Email: JHanley@lowell.edu
Phone: 928-523-5595

Dr. Hanley is a Lowell Observatory astronomer working in collaboration with the NAU Astrophysical Ice Lab to investigate the stability and spectral properties of ices at low temperatures and pressures with relevance to the outer solar system, especially Pluto and Titan. Current work includes determining spectral properties of ethane+methane+nitrogen mixtures for determining the compositions of Titan’s lakes, as well as their freezing temperatures. Other research interests include the stability of water on Mars and Europa in the presence of chlorine salts (chlorides, perchlorates and chlorates). She is currently working on new techniques to determine the distribution of chlorine salts on Mars via remote sensing, as well as using DCT to identify chlorine salts on Europa.


Alicia Rutledge

Assistant Research Professor
Email: Alicia.Rutledge@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-5236

Alicia earned her BS in Aerospace Engineering and her MS in Forestry from Texas A&M University in 2004 and 2006. She earned her PhD in Geological Sciences from Arizona State University in 2015. Alicia’s research integrates remote sensing, field work, and laboratory measurements to better understand planetary surface processes and the role of climate in alteration processes. She is especially interested in using geochemistry and mineralogy to investigate cryosphere-bedrock interactions on Earth and Mars. Her work in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science focuses on investigating the composition and origin of weathering products at Mars analog field sites such as the Cascades Range, Oregon, USA, and the summit glaciers of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Alicia is a team member on the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) aboard NASA’s Mars Odyssey.


Kezman Saboi

Data Scientist,
Edwards Research Group
Email: Kezman.Saboi@nau.edu

Nathan Smith

Research Specialist, Sr.,
Edwards Research Group
Email: Nathan.Smith@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-7575

Postdoctoral Scholars Accordion Closed

Laura Fackrell

Email: Laura.Fackrell@nau.edu

Planetary Science


Chris Haberle

Email: Christopher.Haberle@nau.edu

Planetary Science


Andrew McNeill

Email: Andrew.McNeill@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-1536

Dr. McNeill uses photometry from large surveys to study the shape and spin properties of Main Belt Asteroids and Near Earth Objects. Aside from this, his main research focus is the identification and classification of ‘extreme asteroids’, objects with unusual shapes and rotation periods. Study of these objects can be used to give insight into the composition and internal structure of asteroids and tell us more about the evolution of these populations in our Solar System.


Cong Pan

Email: Cong.Pan@nau.edu

Planetary Science


Valerie Payre

Email: Valerie.Payre@nau.edu
Web Page
Google Scholar

Valerie is a planetary geologist with a strong interest in understanding the magmatic evolution of planetary bodies, with an emphasis on Mars. Her work crosses several disciplines including igneous petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and sedimentology to assess the surface and interior evolution of Mars. She uses various methods including observational rover and orbital visible/near infrared and thermal infrared data, modeling, and experimental petrology.


Arnaud Salvadore

Email: Arnaud.Salvadore@nau.edu

Planetary Science


Aurelien Stcherbinine

Email: Aurelien.Stcherbinine@nau.edu
Web Page

Dr. Stcherbinine is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the PIXEL Research Group. His research focuses on the water ice-related story of Mars through infrared orbital observations provided by multiple probes currently orbiting the Red Planet. More specifically, he is interested in the detection and characterization of water ice clouds in the Martian atmosphere, as well as current and past surface alteration processes, especially under polar latitudes.


Cheng Ye

Email: Cheng.Ye@nau.edu

Cheng Ye studies the composition and evolution of planetary surfaces. His research focuses on using spectroscopy from visible to infrared wavelengths through a combination of laboratory measurements, remote sensing observations, and numerical models to better understand the planetary surface compositions and geologic processes.

Adjunct faculty Accordion Closed

Name Affiliation E-mail
Will Grundy, Planetary Science Lowell Observatory grundy@lowell.edu
Philip Massey, Evolution of Massive Stars Lowell Observatory Phil.Massey@lowell.edu
Maggie McAdam, Planetary Science SOFIA Science Center maggie.mcadam@nasa.gov
Lisa Prato, Young Binary Systems Lowell Observatory lprato@lowell.edu
David Schultz, Computational Astrophysics Universities Research Association david.schultz@nau.edu
Donna Weistrop, Astronomy UNLV/NAU weistrop@physics.unlv.edu

Emeritus faculty Accordion Closed

Name E-mail
Kathy Eastwood, Ph.D., Astronomy Kathy.Eastwood@nau.edu
Richard Hall, Ph.D., Photometry Richard.Hall@nau.edu
David Koerner, Ph.D., Astronomy David.Koerner@nau.edu
Barry Lutz, Ph.D., Laboratory Astrophysics Barry.Lutz@nau.edu

Graduate students Accordion Closed

Erin Aadland

Email: eca75@nau.edu
Advisor: Philip Massey (Lowell Observatory)
Research: Evolution of massive Wolf-Rayet stars.

Anna Baker

Email: aeb566@nau.edu
Advisors: TBA
Research: TBA

Lauren Biddle

Email: lib7@nau.edu
Advisor: Lisa Prato (Lowell Observatory)
Joe Llama (Lowell Observatory)
Tyler Robinson
Research: Astrophysical modeling and observation of young star lightcurves to characterize accretion signatures in young star systems.

Schuyler Borges

Email: srb558@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisor: Mark Salvatore
Research: Astrobiology: Investigating remote and in situ biosignatures on Mars and exoplanets using Antarctic analogs.

Rebecca Carmack

Email: rac566@nau.edu
Advisor: TBA
Research: TBA

Colin Orion Chandler

Email: orion@nau.edu
Advisors: Tyler Robinson, Chad Trujillo
Research: Modeling exoplanetary atmospheres; searching for solar system objects with unexpected comet-like activity.

Catherine Clark

Email: catclark@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisor: Gerard van Belle (Lowell Observatory)
Research: Low-Mass Stars; High-Resolution Imaging.

Helen Eifert

Email: he248@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisor: Mark Salvatore
Research: Using remote sensing and terrestrial analogs to characterize surface geology and mass movements on Mars.

Anna Engle

Email: aee98@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisors: Jennifer Hanley (Lowell Observatory), Will Grundy (Lowell Observatory)
Research: Experimentally and computationally determine properties of material commonly found in the outer Solar System to understand the potential for cryo-geological processes on icy worlds.

Oriel Humes

Email: oah28@nau.edu
Advisor: Cristina Thomas
Research: Spectroscopy of Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids; Small Solar System Bodies

Natalie Jones

Email: natjones@nau.edu
Advisors: TBA
Research: TBA

Ari Koeppel

Email: akoeppel@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisor: Christopher Edwards
Research: I seek to better understand past and present surface environments on Mars by improving tools for interpreting orbital datasets. This broad effort materializes in the form of statistical analysis of remote sensing data, analog field work, thermophysical modelling and laboratory thermal emission observations.

Andy Lopez-Oquendo

Email: al2987@nau.edu
Advisor: David Trilling
Research: I seek to understand the physical properties of small bodies in the Solar System, specifically near-Earth asteroids. I use as many observational techniques as possible, including the Arecibo Observatory, the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope, and the Discovery Channel Telescope.

Audrey Martin

Email: acm586@nau.edu
Advisor: Josh Emery
Research: Mid-IR Spectroscopy of Jovian Trojan asteroids.

Anthony Maue

Email: maue@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisor: Devon Burr
Research: Cassini radar analyses of Titan’s sedimentary features supported by laboratory and field studies of Titan-analogous sediment.

Lucas McClure

Email: ltm87@nau.edu
Advisors: Josh Emery
Research: Small-Bodies; Observation and thermophysical modeling of small (≤1-km) Main Belt Asteroids; Asteroid-meteorite connections through spectral band parameter analysis.

Lauren McGraw

Email: lem366@nau.edu
Advisor: Josh Emery
Research: OH/H2O characterization of near-Earth Asteroids.

Will Oldroyd

Email: wjo22@nau.edu
Advisor: Chad Trujillo
Research: Computational Orbital Dynamics; Outer Solar System Observations; Small Solar System Bodies; Planet X.

Lori Pigue

Email: lpigue@nau.edu
Advisors: Kristen Bennett, Christopher Edwards
Research: Lunar volcanology.

Shaelyn Raposa

Email: smr676@nau.edu
Advisors: Stephen Tegler, Will Grundy
Research: Studying volatile materials on Pluto and other outer solar system bodies.

Ryder Strauss

Email: rhs72@nau.edu
Advisor: David Trilling
Research: Individual and bulk characterization of outer solar system objects using different observational techniques.

Christian Tai Udovicic

Email: cjtu@nau.edu
Web Page
My Coding Text Book
LinkedIn
Advisor: Christopher Edwards
Research: Lunar remote sensing and modeling of space weathering, thermal emission, and polar ice. Member of the PIXEL Research Group. Open source advocate.

Shih-Yun Tang

Email: sytang@nau.edu
Web Page
Advisors: Lisa Prato (Lowell Observatory), Tyler Robinson
Research: TBD

Cece Thieberger

Email: cece@nau.edu
Advisors: TBA
Research: TBA

Patrick Tribbett

Email: pdt43@nau.edu
Advisor: Mark Loeffler
Research: Chemical and physical alteration of astrophysical ices.

Aaron Weintraub

Email: arw366@nau.edu
Advisor: Christopher Edwards
Research: TBD

James Windsor

Email: jdw472@nau.edu
Advisor: Ty Robinson
Research: Modeling of Exoplanetary Atmospheres.

Christopher Wolfe

Email: cw997@nau.edu
Advisors: Christopher Edwards, Ty Robinson
Research: Characterization of planetary atmospheres via remote sensing and modeling.

Amber Young

Email: Amber_Young86@nau.edu
Advisor: Ty Robinson
Research: Characterize terrestrial planet atmospheres using photochemical modeling and evaluating disequilibrium biosignatures.

Staff Accordion Closed

Ed Anderson

Laboratory/Research Facility Administration Manager;
Staff Astronomer, NURO
Email: Ed.Anderson@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-7096

Paloma Davidson

Senior Academic Program Coordinator, NAU NASA Space Grant
Email: Paloma.Davidson@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-8067

Alix Ford

Grant and Project Support Coordinator, Senior
Email: Alix.Ford@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-5147

Mary Lara

AIMER Coordinator
Email: Mary.Lara@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-8067

In Memoriam

Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science
Location
Room 209 Building 19
Physical Sciences
527 S. Beaver St.
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6010
Mailing Address
NAU Box 6010
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6010
Email
astro@nau.edu
Phone
928-523-2661
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