Faculty & Research Interests
• Dr. Joe Dufek
My planetary research focuses on the fluid dynamics of
melt in the subsurface and eruption dynamics.
Currently we are working on melt intrusion in the
Martian crust, eruption dynamics on the surface
of Mars, plume dynamics on Enceladus, and magma
dynamics on Io. This work complements our terrestrial
numerical, experimental and fieldwork on multiphase
flow.
Overview
The field of Planetary and Space
Physics is fundamentally
interdisciplinary, and requires a depth
and breadth of expertise impossible to
house in a single department. At
Georgia Tech, our group spans several
schools on campus to reflect this
crucial diversity of expertise. You’ll
find planetary scientists housed in
Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, in
Chemistry, in Physics, and in Electrical
Engineering, complemented by a
NASA Astrobiology Institute team in
Biology and several Aerospace
Engineering groups pursuing planetary
mission design. Scientific research
spans from planetary interiors to
surfaces and atmospheres, all the way
out to the ‘edge’ of a planet’s near
space environment. We employ a
broad range of methods, from physical
and geochemical modeling to
laboratory and field work to analysis of
data from ongoing space missions, such
as the Cassini mission to Saturn and the
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
• Dr. Thom Orlando
Our group is primarily a surface chemistry and
physics group focusing on the use of high-powered
pulsed lasers, low-energy electron scattering, microplasmas, mass spectrometry and ultrahigh vacuum
surface science techniques. Current planetary
interests include Mercury’s exosphere, water on the
Moon, Saturn’s rings, comets, and prebiotic chemistry
on Titan and in the interstellar medium.
• Dr. Carol Paty
Our research encompasses the interactions of charged
particles in electric and magnetic fields; this includes
research related to planetary magnetospheres, icy
moon-magnetosphere interactions, ion-neutral
interactions, aurora, plasma dynamic simulations, and
atmospheric electrodynamics.
• Dr. James Sowell
Main pursuits include naked-eye phenomena,
such as the motion of the sunset, the phases of the
Moon, and the planetary positions amongst the stars,
along with public education.
• Dr. Paul Steffes
Our group is conducting laboratory measurements to
support microwave remote sensing of planetary
atmospheres, and is involved in the execution of
spacecraft-based radio occultation measurements and
Earth- and space-based radio astronomical
measurements. We’re currently involved with NASA’s
Juno mission.
• Dr. James Wray
Spacecraft images and spectra reveal the morphology
and composition of planetary surfaces, which we use to
infer past or present geologic processes, especially
those that bear on planetary habitability. We focus on
Mars and on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn that may
have liquid oceans.
Other EAS Research Areas
• Atmospheric Chemistry, Aerosols &
Clouds
• Paleoclimate
• Geochemistry
• Dynamics of Weather and Climate
• Geophysics
• Oceanography and Climate
• Remote Sensing
Research Scientists
Dr. Gregory Grieves
Dr. Jason McLain
Dr. Jeremy Riousset
Graduate Students
Michele Dawley
Kiruthika Devaraj
Chuanfei Dong
Danny Duong
Katie Milway
Alexia Payan
Michael Poston
Ashok Rajendar
Jenn Telling
Degree Requirements
M.S. Students
• Course: 30 Credit Hours
• Thesis or Non-Thesis
Ph.D. Students
• EAS Course: 15 Credit Hours
• Minor Course: 9 Credit Hours
• Academic Breadth
• Comprehensive Exam
• Doctoral Examination
Related Courses (each student takes
a subset based on specific interests)
• Aqueous Geochemistry
• Atmospheric Radiative Transfer
• Earth System Modeling
• Geochemical Kinetics
• Geochemical Thermodynamics
• Geodynamics
• Geofluids
• Introduction to Geophysics
• Introduction to Space Physics and
Space Instrumentation
• Isotope Geochemistry
• Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere
and Oceans
• Physical Hydrology
• Physical Volcanology
• Physics of Planets
Application Requirements
• B.S. or M.S. in any field of geophysical,
physical or environmental science
• GPA: 3.0/4.0 & Higher
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
• TOEFL > 79 (International Students)
School of Earth &
Atmospheric Science
Application Materials
•
•
•
•
•
Application Form (Online)
Personal Statement
Recommendation Letters (3)
Official Transcripts (each school)
Test Scores (GRE and/or TOEFL)
Financial Assistance
•
•
•
•
Graduate Assistantships (RA/TA)
Full Tuition Payment
National and Local Fellowships
Professional Conferences
EAS Opportunities
•
•
•
•
•
Research field missions
State-of-the-art laboratories
Local environmental monitoring
Broad range of computing resources
Interdisciplinary seminar series
Application Target
January 15
Admissions: Dr. Kim Cobb
kim.cobb@eas.gatech.edu
Information: Kathy Plummer
plummer@eas.gatech.edu
Planetary
and Space
Physics