David Trang
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
1680 East-West Rd., POST 517
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808) 956-5903 (office)
dtrang@higp.hawaii.edu
Education
Ph.D.
2009-Present
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States
Geology and Geophysics (GPA – 3.89)
Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis
Committee: Dr. Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, Dr. Paul G. Lucey, Dr. B. Ray Hawke,
Dr. Scott K. Rowland, Dr. Stephen J. Freeland
B.S.
2004-2009
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States
Astronomy and Geology (GPA – 3.70)
Advisor: Dr. Kenneth A. Hon and John C. Hamilton
B.A.
2004-2009
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai‘i, United States
Physics (GPA – 3.70)
Advisor: Dr. Kenneth A. Hon and John C. Hamilton
Research Experience
2009-Present
Research Asst.
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Hawaiʻi Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
My primary work is to understand the surface of the Moon through the
integration of multiple remote sensing data sets. The completed and ongoing
projects include modeling the optical constants of olivine and pyroxene in the
near-infrared, optical constant modeling of synthetic lunar glasses in the
ultraviolet to near-infrared, understand the origin of lunar concentric craters,
and identifying volcanic vents in lunar pyroclastic deposits.
Spring 2008
and Spring 2009
Fellow
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Institute for Astronomy - Hilo
I calibrated one of the CCD cameras for the Very Young Stellar Object
Survey (VYSOS) project with Dr. Bo Reipurth. In addition, I created a
database of survey regions to optimize coverage of star formation with the
minimum amount of frames.
2007-2009
Intern
United States Geological Survey
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
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I developed the procedure in collecting and processing kinematic Global
Positioning System data (kGPS). Also, I conducted kGPS surveys on Kīlauea
and Mauna Loa in order to understand the volcanic deformation.
Summer 2006
Intern
Center for Adaptive Optics – University of California at Santa Cruz
All-Sky Survey High Resolution Air-Shower Telescope (ASHRA) Project
I assisted in assembling and calibrating a cosmic ray detector.
Publications
2013
D. Trang, Lucey, P.G., Gillis-Davis, J. J., Cahill J. T. S., Klima R. L., Isaacson P.J. (submitted),
Near-Infrared Optical Constants of NaturallyOccuring Olivine and Synthetic Pyroxene as a
Function of Mineral Chemistry, Journal of Geophysical Research.
Abstracts
2013
Lunar and
Planetary
Science
Conference
Characterization of Localized and Regional Lunar Pyroclastic Deposits
for Composition and Block Population
D. Trang, J. J. Gillis-Davis, J. T. S. Cahill, B. J. Thomson, B. R. Hawke, T. A.
Giguere, P. J. Isaacson, D. B. J. Bussey
Ultraviolet to Near-Infrared k-spectra Modeling of Synthetic Lunar
Pyroclastic Glass
D. Trang, J. J. Gillis-Davis, P. G. Lucey
Global Distribution of Radar-Bright Halos on the Moon Detected By
LRO Mini-RF
B. J. Thomson, D. B. J. Bussey, J. T. S. Cahill, C. D. Neish, R. K. Raney, D.
Trang
2012
American
Geophysical
Union
Near-Infrared Optical Constants of Olivine and Pyroxene
D. Trang, P.G. Lucey, J.J. Gillis-Davis, J.T.S. Cahill, R.L. Klima, P.J.
Isaacson
2012
Lunar and
Planetary
Science
Conference
The Geology of the Plato Region of the Moon
D. Trang, J.J. Gillis-Davis, B.R. Hawke, P.J. Isaacson, P.D. Spudis
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2011
Lunar and
Planetary
Science
Conference
The Origin of Lunar Concentric Craters
D. Trang, J.J. Gillis-Davis, B.R. Hawke, D.B.J. Bussey
2010
Geological
Society of
America
The Origin of Lunar Concentric Craters
D. Trang, J.J. Gillis-Davis, B.R.Hawke
2010
Lunar and
Planetary
Science
Conference
Using Mini-RF To Investigate the Anomalous UVVIS Spectrum In The
Apollo and Plato Region
D. Trang, J.J. Gillis-Davis, K.K. Williams, D.B.J. Bussey, P.D. Spudis, L.M.
Carter, C.D. Neish, B.J. Thomsom, G.W. Patterson
The Optical Constants of Olivine in the Near-Infrared as a Function of
Iron Content
D. Trang, P.G. Lucey, J.J. Gillis-Davis
Using Mini-RF To Improve Accuracy of Lunar TiO2 Distribution Maps
J.J. Gillis-Davis, D. Trang, D.B.J. Bussey, K.K. Williams, L.M. Carter
Silica Debris Star Systems – Spitzer Evidence for Lunar Formation
Events & Crustal Stripping or Magma Oceans & Late Heavy
Bombardments?
C.M. Lisse, C.H. Chen, M.C. Wyatt, A. Morlok, P. Thebault, G.S. Orton, L.N
Fletcher, H. Fujiwara, J.C. Bridges, L.T. Elkins-Tanton, E.J. Gaidos, D.
Trang
Awards
2009
2008
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo - Geology Department Outstanding Senior
Award
Hawai‘i NASA Space Grant
Hawai‘i NASA Space Grant
Proposals
2013
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship 2013
FeO and TiO2-Bearing Glass Synthesis: To produce a new spectral remote
sensing compositional map of pyroclastic deposits on Moon and Mercury.
Investigators: Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, David Trang
2012
NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics 2012
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Pyroxene and Olivine Synthesis: A strategy to improve spectral remote
sensing derived data products
Investigators: Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, Julia Hammer, David Trang
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship 2012
Investigating Three Lunar Red Spots: The Plato, Apollo, and Moscoviense
Regions
Investigators: Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, David Trang
2011
Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory Guest Scientist Program
Using Data from GRAIL to Investigate Upwelling Associated with the
Procellarum KREEP Terrain, to Examine Correlations Between Morphologic
Features and Igneous Intrusions, and to Determine the Lunar Intrusive to
Extrusive Ratio
Investigators: Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis, David Trang
Eugene M. Shoemaker Impact Cratering Award
Origin of Lunar Concentric Craters
David Trang
Skills
Computer:
Surveying:
Language:
Programming: IDL, MatLab, Bash, GMT, HTML, MySQL, PHP
Applications: Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; iWork: Pages,
Numbers, and Keynote; Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign;
Autodesk 3ds Max; ENVI; Isis; ERDAS IMAGINE; ArcGIS
Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
English (Fluent), Hawaiian (Basic), Cantonese (Basic), French (In progress)
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