People

CPS

Thinking of postgraduate study?

MSc in Planetary Science

People

In addition to the CPS members listed below, the current CPS Board members are:

Dr. Joanna Fabbri (Scientific Officer)

Add @ucl.ac.uk to all email addresses, unless stated otherwise.

Academic Staff
Research Staff
Technical staff
Postgraduate students

Academic Staff

Name and Position	Research Interests	Department	Email
Dr. Nick Achilleos, Lecturer	Modelling and observation of the ionospheres and magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn; Solar Wind - Atmosphere Interaction (non-magnetized planets); Solar Wind - Magnetosphere Interaction (magnetized planets).	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	nicholas.achilleos
Prof. Dario Alfe, Professor of Physics	Condensed Matter Physics / Mineral Physics	Earth Sciences, UCL	d.alfe
Dr. Anasuya Aruliah, Senior Lecturer	Thermosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions; Fabry-Perot Interferometers and all-sky interferometers; Neutral wind dynamo; Meso-scale structure and dynamics in the high-latitude upper atmosphere.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	a.aruliah
Prof. Alan Aylward, Reader, Emeritus Professor of Atmospheric Physics	(Terrestrial) thermospheric and ionospheric physics; Incoherent Scatter Radar; Planetary upper atmospheres and ionospheres; Modelling of terrestrial and planetary atmospheres.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	a.aylward
Prof. Paul Bown, Professor of Micropalaentology	Various aspects of calcareous nannoplankton which have an abundant and long fossil record and are principally used in sediment dating/correlation and palaeoceanography, with more recent applications in palaeobiology, evolution and biomineralisation studies.	Earth Sciences, UCL	p.bown
Prof. Donald Braben, Honorary Professor		Earth Sciences, UCL	d.braben
Prof. Graziella Branduardi-Raymont, Professor of Space Astronomy	Planets; X-ray spectroscopy; Space missions; Instrumentation.	Astrophysics, MSSL, UCL	g.branduardi-raymont
Dr. Charlie Bristow, Head of Dept. Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	Sedimentology	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	c.bristow
Prof. John Brodholt, Professor of Mineral Physics	Geophysics and Mineral Physic.	Earth Sciences, UCL	j.brodholt
Prof. Andrew Coates, Head of Planetary Science, MSSL	Planetary magnetospheres; Plasma interaction with comets, Mars, Venus, Titan, Enceladus; Planetary surface imaging; Space weather.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	a.coates
Prof. Ian Crawford, Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology	Lunar Science; Planetary Exploration; Astrobiology.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	i.crawford{at}bbk.ac.uk
Dr. Francisco Diego, Senior Research Fellow	Public outreach; Optical instrumentation.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	fd{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Prof. David Dobson, Reader of Earth Materials	High-pressure experiments on deep Earth materials; Synthesis and properties of new Fe-alloy phases relevant to the core; Transport properties of mantle mineral rocks and minerals; Deep seismicity.	Earth Sciences, UCL	d.dobson
Prof. Hilary Downes, Professor of Geochemistry	Origin and evolution of the Earth’s continental lower crust and the lithospheric upper mantle.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	h.downes
Prof. Andrew Fazakerley, Professor of Space Plasma Physics	Space Plasma Physics/Magnetospheric Physics; Investigating magnetospheric phenomena using co-ordinated multi-spacecraft datasets; Inter-experiment in-flight cross-calibration.	Space Plasma Physics, MSSL, UCL	anf{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Kevin Fong, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Physiology	Extreme environment physiology; Long-duration human space flight; Aerospace medicine.	Centre for Anaethesia, UCL	k.fong
Dr. A. Dominic Fortes, Lecturer	Icy satellites of the Gas Giant planets and their constituent ice and hydrate phases.	Earth Sciences, UCL / Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	andrew.fortes
Dr. Steve Fossey, Research Fellow	Extrasolar planets; Interstellar medium; Molecular astrophysics; Diffuse Interstellar Bands.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	sjf{at}ulo.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Peter Grindrod, Lecturer	Surface-atmosphere exchange and the history of water on Mars.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	p.grindrod
Prof. Louise Harra, Professor of Solar Physics	The trigger for solar flares and coronal mass ejections; The formation of the solar wind; The Sun-Earth connection.	Solar Physics, MSSL, UCL	l.harra
Dr. Karen Hudson-Edwards, Reader in Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy	Processes and products of the biogeochemical cycling of contaminants and nutrients in mine wastes, waters, dusts and contaminated land.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	k.hudson-edwards{at}bbk.ac.uk
Dr. Adrian P. Jones, Reader in Petrology	Igneous Petrology	Earth Sciences, UCL	adrian.jones
Dr. Geraint Jones, Lecturer	Planetary magnetospheres and interactions with rings and moons; Cometary science; Heliospheric physics.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	g.h.jones
Dr. Nick Lane, Senior Lecturer	Evolutionary biochemistry and bioenergetics.	Genetics, Evolution & Environment, Div. of Biosciences, UCL	nick.lane
Dr. Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni, Reader in Geophysics	Geophysics and Geodynamics: the connection between the dynamics of Earth's interior and their surface expression, including the influence of dynamics on surface deformation and topography.	Earth Sciences, UCL	c.lithgow-bertelloni
Prof. Steve Miller, Professor of Planetary Science and Science Communication	Chemistry and dynamics of the atmospheres of the Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Titan; Chemistry and dynamics of extra-solar planets; Using H₃⁺ to investigate planetary atmospheres and the early Universe.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	s.miller
Prof. Jan-Peter Muller, Professor of Image Understanding and remote Sensing, Head of Imaging Group, MSSL	Life detection on other planets (in our solar system & beyond); Comparative morphology for understanding surface processes using 3D terrain; Highly turbulent flow and how Giant Planets' banded structure and long-lived storms can persist; Sub-surface imaging systems from space.	Imaging, MSSL, UCL	jpm{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Prof. Christopher Owen, Professor of Physics	Space plasma physics and Magnetospheric physics.	Space Plasma Physics, MSSL, UCL	cjo{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Prof. Kevin Pickering, Professor of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy	Earth surface processes (particularly all aspects of deep-marine sedimentology, stratigraphy and tectonics); Surface processes on Venus; Global environmental issues; Stratigraphy, tectonics and sedimentation; Sediment geochemistry and clay mineralogy, particularly relating to deep-marine environments.	Earth Sciences, UCL	kt.pickering
Prof. David Price, Vice Provost (Research)	CMR; Earth History; Earth's core; Earth's mantle; Computational science; Flood basalts; Impacts; Mass extinction; Mineral physics; Molecular dynamics; Quantum mechanics.	Earth Sciences, UCL	d.price
Dr. Gerald Roberts, Reader in Earthquake Geology	The growth of active normal faults and how their slip-rates and growth control earthquake recurrence and seismic hazards.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	gerald.roberts
Prof. Peter Sammonds, Professor of Geophysics	Rock & Ice Physics: Mechanics of the Earth's crust and ice sheets by studying the fundamental physics and mechanics of geological materials; Impacts of climate change and natural hazards.	Earth Sciences, UCL	p.sammonds
Dr. Joanne Santini, Senior Lecturer	The study of microorganisms that metabolise toxic metals/semi-metals such as arsenic.	Structural & Molecular Biology, Div. of Biosciences, UCL	j.santini
Prof. Alan Smith, Professor of Detector Physics, Head of Dept.	Space technologies; Systems engineering with an enterprise context; Technology planning.	MSSL	as{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Prof. Lars Stixrude, Professor of Geophysics	Large-scale planetary processes through investigations of the fundamental atomic-scale physics of Earth- and planet-forming materials; Mineral physics; Earth and planetary liquids and fluids; Condensed matter physics; High pressure physics; Planetary structure and evolution.	Earth Sciences, UCL	l.stixrude
Dr. Ellen Stofan, Honorary Professor	Geology of Venus, Mars, Titan, and Earth.	Earth Sciences, UCL	ellen{at}proxemy.com
Prof. Jonathan Tennyson, Professor of Physics	Theory of small molecules. In particular, computing spectra of these molecules (e.g. water) and colliding electrons (and occasionally positrons) with them, to investigate the astrophysical, atmospheric, plasma-related and other consequences of these processes.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	j.tennyson
Dr. Giovanna Tinetti, Reader in Astrophysics	Exoplanets characterisation; Atmospheric and Planetary science; Radiative Transfer modelling.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	g.tinetti
Prof. Serena Viti, Professor of Astrophysics	Astrochemistry	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	sv{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Prof. Lidunka Vocadlo, Professor of Mineral Physics	Ab initio simulation of the thermoelastic, melting and dynamic properties of planetary forming materials; Cryogenic-high T /high P experiments on planetary-forming materials; Ab initio simulation of the high P/T properties of metals.	Earth Sciences, UCL	l.vocadlo
Prof. John Ward, Professor of Molecular Microbiology	The use of bacteria, enzymes and phages to develop new chemicals, pathways and active entities.	Structural & Molecular Biology, Div. of Biosciences, UCL	j.ward
Prof. Duncan Wingham, Head of Dept., Earth Sciences	The flow and mass exchange of the Earth's ice sheets through the use of ultra-precise measurements from Earth orbiting satellites.	Earth Sciences, UCL	djw{at}cpom.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Ian Wood, Senior Lecturer	Crystallography; X-ray and neutron powder diffraction; High pressure and high/low temperature diffraction experiments; Clay minerals; Planetary ices.	Earth Sciences, UCL	ian.wood
Dr. Jeremy Yates, Senior Research Associate	Star formation and photon-driven astrochemistry.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	jyates{at}star.ucl.ac.uk

Research Staff

Name and Position	Research Interests	Department	Email
Dr. Chris Arridge, Royal Society University Research Fellow	Planetary magnetospheres; Robotic exploration of the solar system; Astrophysical magnetospheres.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	c.arridge
Dr. Bob Barber, Research Associate	The optical properties of water; Water in comets.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	rjb{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Roberto Bugiolacchi, Leverhulme Fellow	MoonZoo	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	roberto.bugiolacchi
Dr. Claire Cousins, Leverhulme Fellow	Subglacial volcanoes as a habitat for life, applied to the search for life on Mars.	Earth Sciences, UCL	c.cousins
Dr. Lewis Dartnell, Institute of Origins Fellow	Astrobiology	MSSL, UCL	l.dartnell
Dr. Joanna Fabbri, CPS Scientific Officer	Europlanet RI NA1 Matrix	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	jfabbri{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Colin Forsyth, Research Associate	Space plasma physics; Magnetospheric physics; Auroral physics.	Space Plasma Physics, MSSL, UCL	cfo{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Andrew D. Griffiths, Senior Research Associate	Project Manager for the ExoMars PanCam instrument; Imaging the Martian surface and atmospheric phenomena; Determining landing site morphology from stereo images; Determining the altitude distribution of water vapour in the Martian atmosphere via solar spectral line absorption measurements.	Imaging, MSSL, UCL	andrew.griffiths
Dr. Patrick Guio, Research Fellow	Space plasma physics - Nonlinear waves and turbulence; Incoherent scattering - Theory and observation (EISCAT); High-performance computing - Plasma and planetary modelling.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	p.guio
Dr. Terence Hackwill	Lunar Geology	Earth Sciences, UCL	t.hackwill
Dr. Eero Holmstrom, Research Associate	Computational Mineral Physics	Earth Sciences, UCL	e.holmstrom
Dr. Caitriona Jackman, Research Fellow	Solar wind - magnetosphere coupling; Magnetotail dynamics (Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter, Earth.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	caitriona.jackman
Dr. Licia Ray, Research Fellow	Comparative planetary magnetospheres (Jupiter and Saturn); Planetary auroral processes; Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling; Magnetospheric dynamics; Planetary ionospheres.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	licia.ray
Dr. Tim Spain, Research Associate	Planetary atmospheres	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	tim{at}apl.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Ingo Waldmann, Research Associate	High resolution atmospheric spectra of exoplanets; Modelling of planetary atmospheres; Photometry of transiting extrasolar planets; Detecting extrasolar planets using radial velocity and microlensing techniques.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	ingo{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Anne Wellbrock, Research Assistant	Titan's upper atmosphere and its interaction with Saturn's Magnetosphere.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	a.wellbrock
Dr. Japheth Yates, Research Associate	Exoplanets; Super Earths; Atmosphere-magnetosphere coupling; Planetary Atmospheres.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	japheth.yates.09

Technical staff

Name and Position	Research Interests	Department	Email
Ms. Lin Gilbert, Operations Software Specialist	Cassini operations; Flight, operational and data analysis software.	MSSL, UCL	l.gilbert
Mr. Craig Leff, PanCam Project Manager	Project management; Mission operations; Mars exploration.	MSSL, UCL	cel{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Gethyn Lewis, Senior Research Associate and Cassini Operations Manager	Spacecraft charging; Spacecraft photoelectron and potential corrections; CAPS-ELS instrument operations; Top-hat electrostatic analysers; Data visualisation software.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	g.lewis
Dr. David Linder	Cassini operations.	MSSL, UCL	drl{at}mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Neville Shane, Venus Express Operations Manager	Venus Express operations support.	MSSL, UCL	n.shane

Postgraduate students

Name and Funding	Research Interests	Department	Email
Louise Alexander	Lunar geochemistry	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	l.alexander{at}bbk.ac.uk
David Barnes, Impact/RAL		Physics and Astronomy, UCL	david{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Kim Birkett, STFC	The physics of comets	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	k.birkett.12
Camilla Danielski, Impact/Brazil	Exoplanets	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	camilla{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Abigail Calzada-Diaz, STFC	Source regions of lunar meteorites	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	acalza01{at}mail.bbk.ac.uk
Lottie Davis, NERC	Biomarkers in alkaline lakes and application to Mars.	Earth Sciences, UCL	lottie.davis
Amy Edgington, STFC	The internal structure, composition and magnetic field of Mercury	Earth Sciences, UCL	a.edgington.12
Marianna Felici	Saturn's magnetosphere	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	marianna.felici.12
Jennifer Harris, Birkbeck	The identification of spectral signatures of life and habitable environments on planetary surfaces.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	jennifer.harris{at}bbk.ac.uk
Morgan Hollis, Impact/Perren	Exoplanets; Spectroscopy and Atmospheric Modelling; Radial velocity and Bayesian techniques.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	mdjh{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Huma Irfan, Self-funded	Planetary GIS, particularly Lunar GIS studies related to lunar digital elevation models and future lunar missions.	Earth & Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck	h.irfan{at}bbk.ac.uk
Jamie Jasinski, STFC	Saturn's magnetosphere.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	jamie.jasinski
David Johnson, Impact/Met Office	Atmospheric modelling; Data assimilation techniques; Space weather; Meteorolgy.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	djohnson{at}star.ucl.ac.uk
Adam Martins, STFC	Hydrogen and Helium at conditions of Gas Giant interiors.	Earth Sciences, UCL	adam.martins.10
Tom Nordheim, UCL GRS/ORS	Moon-magnetosphere interactions at Saturn and Jupiter; Space weathering effects on un-magnetised bodies; Modelling of cosmic ray interactions in neutral atmospheres; Planetary robotics.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	tom.nordheim.10
Lucy Norman, Origins	Geofluids, Geology and Astrobiology of Titan.	Earth Sciences, UCL	lucy.norman.09
Nathan Pilkington, STFC	Magnetospheric physics	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	n.pilkington.12
Wil Poole	Mars:South Polar Cap landforms; Surface roughness. Earth: Glaciers; Polar Caps; Surface roughness.	Imaging, MSSL, UCL	william.poole.10
Yudish Ramanjooloo, STFC	Comets and their interaction with the Solar Wind.	Planetary Science, MSSL, UCL	yudish.ramanjooloo.09
Amy Ronksley, NERC	Coupling of upper and lower atmosphere; SCANDI, FPIs and EISCAT radars; Meteorology and space weather.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	a.ronksley
Aidan Ross, NERC CASE with NHM	Carbon rich ureilite meteorites and early earth processes.	Earth Sciences, UCL	aidan.ross
Gillian Sclater, Self-funded	Physics of dissociating clathrates in cryovolcanic vents: application to Titan and Enceladus.	Earth Sciences, UCL	g.sclater
Joshua Snape, STFC	Lunar meteorites and lunar regolith.	Earth Sciences, UCL	j.snape
Marcell Tessenyi, STFC	Exoplanets	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	m.tessenyi
Elizabeth Wann, STFC	The composition of the Core of terrestrial planets: the role of nickel and light elements.	Earth Sciences, UCL	elizabeth.wann.11
Dayle Woodhams, NERC	Sun-Earth connections and climate change; Atmospheric physics; Plasma density structures in the high latitude ionosphere.	Physics and Astronomy, UCL	dayle{at}star.ucl.ac.uk