Alumni

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2009

Travis graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary science in December 2009. He is a graduate of the Missouri Southern State University with a bachelor's degree in biology. He is an alumnus of the space center 2004 REU program. Travis' thesis title was, "Experimental Study of the Stability and Activity of Brines on Mars." His mentor was Dr. Tim Kral.

Masters of Science
Class of 2009

Lisa graduated with a M.S. in space and planetary sciences in May 2007. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Tulsa with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Lisa's primary research interests were the use of instruments and engineering for possible use on Mars. Her thesis title was, "The Formation of Gullies on Mars." Lisa's mentor was Dr. Larry Roe.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2011

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2009

Shelly graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary science in May 2009. She is a graduate of Southern Oregon University with a bachelor's degree in physics. Shelly's thesis title was, "Two Multicolor Surveys for Quasars at Redshifts Greater than 4.5." Her mentor was Dr. Julia Kennefick.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2008

Katie graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary science in December 2008. She is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in physics/astronomy. Katie's thesis title was, "Experimental Study of the Stability of Volatiles on Mars." Her mentor was Dr. Derek Sears.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2007

Julie graduated with a Ph.D. in chemistry in May 2007. She is a graduate of Arkansas State University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Julie's thesis title was, "Investigation of the effect of dissolved salts, soil layers, and wind on the evaporation rate of water on Mars." Her mentor was Dr. Derek Sears.

Ben is a graduate of Pittsburg State University. He has a bachelor's degree in Math and Physics. Ben entered the graduate program in space and planetary science in Fall 2008. As a research assistant with AGES, Ben's area of study is concerned with environmental effects on spiral galaxy structure, focusing on using two-dimensional fast fourier transform decompositions to measure galactic logarithmic spiral arm pitch angles.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2015

Amira is a PhD student in the Centre of Space and Planetary Science at the University of Arkansas. She graduated from Cairo University with a bachelor's degree in Biological/ Chemistry. She entered the graduate the program in spring 2010. Her research interest is about chemistry of planetary bodies.

Master of Science
Class of 2019

Holly graduated with a MS in Space and Planetary Science Spring 2019. She entered the Space and Planetary Sciences program in Fall 2012. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Physics from Albion College and is an alumna of the Space Center REU Program 2011. Holly conducted field work in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert, Chile to study microbe survivability through deliquescence-driven brine formation. Her mentor was Dr. Vincent Chevrier.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2019

Michael graduated from Colgate University in 2013 with a B.A. in Astrogeophysics. He entered the graduate program in Space and Planetary Sciences in autumn, 2013. Michael worked with the Arkansas Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES) collaboration. Within this group, his research was centered on the morphology of spiral galaxies, and focused on selection effects and biases in measuring the galactic logarithmic spiral arm pitch angles. His mentor was Dr. Julia Kennifict.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2009

Kathy graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary science in May 2009. She is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in physics education. She also has a Master's degree in math from SMSU. Kathy's thesis title was, "Target Selection for Asteroid Rendezvous and Sample Return." Her mentor was Dr. Claud Lacy.

Masters of Science
Class of 2016

Julia was a graduate student in the Space and Planetary Science at the University of Arkansas. She got her Bachelor of Science in Earth and Space Science with a Geology Option at the University of Washington in Spring 2014. Her research interests are with planetary geology, specifically studying fluvial geomorphology of gullies, recurring slope lineae (RSLs) and other fluvial formation features on surface of Mars. She was has been a member of S.P.A.C.E. Hogs since Fall 2014. She enjoys field work and good Mexican food.

Masters of Science
Class of 2015

Adam is a graduate of Henderson State University with a bachelor of science degree in Physics. He has has worked as an intern with the Radio Science Systems Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Adam entered the graduate program in Fall 2007. He is a member of the Arkansas Galaxy Evolution Survey at the University. His research interest are in Spiral Active Galactic Nuclei Galaxies and the Supermassive Black Holes that power them.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2006

Melissa graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary sciences in May 2006. Melissa is a graduate of Loras College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. Melissa's research project focused on the investigation of surface processes on asteroids through laboratory and mission analyses and the development of sample collectors for asteroid sample return. Her thesis title was, "Investigation of Surface Processes on Asteroids Through Laboratory & Mission Analyses." Melissa's mentor was Dr. Derek Sears

Doctorate of Philosophy
Class of 2009

Obadiah graduated with a Ph.D. in 2009 (Interdisciplinary Research – Space and Planetary Science and Electrical Engineering). He is a graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Control and Instrumentation Electronics Design (Summa Cum Laude). He also has a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Texas Pan American. Obadiah's dissertation title was, "Design and Verification of Integrated Reconfigurable Driver and Current Sensor for Extreme Space Environments." His dissertation director was Dr. Alan Mantooth, among an interdisciplinary committee of six mentors/professors.

Doctorate of Philosophy
Class of 2016

Erika is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in meteorology and minors in astronomy and mathematics. Erika entered the graduate program in Space and Planetary Science in Fall of 2010. Her dissertation focuses on metal condensates in planetary atmospheres, specifically looking at the source of the Venusian radar anomalies and extrasolar atmospheric chemistry. In 2013, she was a recipient of the NASA Harriet G. Jenkins graduate research fellowship and was selected as a 2014 NASA student ambassador. She also co-founded the student outreach organization, S.P.A.C.E Hogs.

Masters of Science
Class of 2016

Zachary was a graduate student with the Space and Planetary Sciences Department, graduating with a Masters in Science in the Fall of 2016. His advisor was Dr. Vincient Chevrier. He graduated from Texas A and M University with a Bachelors of Science in Geology in the Summer of 2013. His interests are planetary geology.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2017

Rebecca graduated with a PhD in Space and Planetary Science in August 2017. She was advised by Dr. Tim Kral, and her dissertation was titled “Growth and Survivability of Microorganisms at Martian Temperatures and Pressures.” Rebecca is currently conducting a postdoc at the US Naval Research Laboratory, through the American Society for Engineering Education, with Dr. Sarah Glaven. Her postdoctoral research focuses on understanding and manipulating microbial electrosynthesis and microbial electrotrophy in community and pure culture settings. Rebecca graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with bachelor’s degrees in both astrophysics and ecology and evolutionary biology. She was also an active member of the space science outreach organization, S.P.A.C.E. Hogs, since its inception at the University of Arkansas.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2005

Shauntae Moore graduated with her Ph.D. in chemistry in May 2005. The title of her thesis was, "Laboratory Studies in Planetary Science and Quantitative Analysis of Evaporation Rates Under Current Martian Conditions." She now works as an analytical chemist at Bioengineering Resources in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Masters of Science
Class of 2006

Laurie Nash graduated with her M.S. in space and planetary sciences in May 2006. Laurie Nash is a graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. She is employed at the Johnson Space Center in Houston at NASA's Mission Operations Directorate Division "Flight Design & Dynamics". Laurie's research project focused on rendezvous dynamics. Her thesis title was, "A survey of optical navigation techniques for autonomous rendezvous & a review of stratospheric ozone depletion studies due to rocket motor exhaust." Laurie's mentor was Dr. Larry Roe.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2010

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2012

Ed graduated with a Ph.D. in Space and Planetary Science in May 2012. Their thesis title was "Modeling H2O stability and transport on Mars and Iapetus: Exploring their effects on geomorphic and atmospheric processes". Ed also holds a bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics from Alfred University. While at the University of Arkansas, Ed was a Doctoral Academy Fellow and attended the NASA/JPL Planetary Science Summer Seminar. After graduating, Ed worked in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University for two years as a Postdoctoral Fellow before joining the science staff at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in the Planetary Radar Science group. Ed is currently a Staff Scientist with Universities Space Research Association at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. For more information, visit Dr. Rivera-Valentín's profile

Master of Science
Class of 2018

Maxwell is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geoscience. He entered the University of Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences in the Spring of 2016. Maxwell's research background included Holocene climate change analysis utilizing oxygen isotopes found in central Texas speleothems, and the analysis of bathymetric changes and their drivers in Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington. His mentor was Dr. Vincent Chevrier.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2016

Navita is a graduate of Patna University, India, with a bachelor's and a Master's degree in Chemistry. She has spent several years teaching at junior and high schools in India before returning to University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Navita entered the graduate program in space and planetary science in Fall 2010. Her research interests include the possibility of life on other planetary bodies, such as Mars and Enceladus.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2018

Matthew is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, focusing on Thermo and Fluid Dynamics. After serving in the US Navy Civil Engineer Corps, he returned to Texas A&M to study Computational Fluid Dynamics. Matthew entered the graduate program in Space and Planetary Sciences Fall 2011 after spending several years as a software consultant. Matthew worked on martian gullies with Dr. John Dixon.

Doctorate of Science
Class of 2009

Henry graduated with a Ph.D. in space and planetary science in December 2009. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a bachelor's degree in Geology. He also has a master's degree in Geology from the University of Arkansas. Henry's thesis title was, "Subduction Zone Dynamics in Obliquely Convergent Margins: Examples from Nicaragua and the Northern Lesser Antilles." His mentor was Dr. Glen Mattioli.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Class of 1997

John graduated from a rural Arkansas high school in 1991 in a class of 21 students. He received a scholarship from both the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Academy of Mechanical Engineers. In college, he worked three 6-month cooperative education tours at the Arkansas Nuclear One in Russelleville, Arkansas, performing licensing tasks and fuel failure analuses. John won a Porter-Stone Award for this work.

John graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1997 with a B.S.M.E. specializing in thermal and fluid system studies. He joined Swales Aerospace as a thermal systems engineer in early 1998. Projects worked on include EO-1, Triana, EOS Aura MLS instrument and flight operations for the HEAT payload on STS-IOS and EOS Aqua.