• Melting and differentiation of planets in the early solar system


• Primitive achondrite petrology and bulk composition


• Gas-mixing, partial melting experiments, particular of CK, R and CR chondrites

• Ph. D. in Planetary Sciences (Aug 2005 – Present): University of Arizona, Department of Planetary Sciences, Tucson, USA


• B.S. in Geology, Summa cum Laude (May 2005): University of Oklahoma, School of Geology and Geophysics, Norman, Oklahoma, USA

• Research Associate (2006-2010), Advisor: Dante Lauretta. Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ


• Research Assistant (Fall 2005), Advisor: Michael Drake. Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ


• Research Intern (2003-2004), Advisor: Doug Elmore. Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK


• Research Intern (Summer 2004), Advisor: Joe Nuth. NASA Academy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD


• Research Intern (Summer 2003), Advisor: David Mittlefehldt. Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX


• Research Intern (Fall 2002), Advisor: Joe Nuth. NASA Academy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD


• Intern (Summer 2002), Advisor: Chris Clear. Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Corporation, Houston, TX


• Intern (Summer 2001), Advisor: Lee Chin. Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, Tulsa, OK

• NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (2009-2011)


• Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship for Native Americans (2005-2010)


• Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Outstanding Mentor/Teaching Assistant (2010)


• University of Arizona Foundation Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant (2010)


• Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Graduate Teaching Excellence Award (2006)


• Arizona Space Grant Graduate Fellowship (2005-2006)


• Outstanding Senior, College of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma (2005)


• Barry M. Goldwater Scholar (2004-2005)


• Oklahoma Space Grant Undergraduate Fellowship (2004-2005)


• Universities Space Research Association Scholarship (2004-2005)


• PE-ET Top 10 Seniors Honor Society, University of Oklahoma (2004-2005)


• Big Woman on Campus, University of Oklahoma (2004-2005)

K. G. Gardner-Vandy, D. S. Lauretta, R. C. Greenwood, T. J. McCoy, M. Killgore. 2011. The Tafassasset Primitive Achondrite: Insights into Initial Stages of Planetary Differentiation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (In Revision).

K. G. Gardner-Vandy, D. H. Hill, D. S. Lauretta, J. S. Goreva, K. J. Domanik, I. A. Franchi, R. C. Greenwood, M. Killgore. 2011. Petrology and Geochemistry of the Northwest Africa 3368 Eucrite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 46, 1052-1070.

F. T. Ferguson, K. G. Gardner, and J. A. Nuth, III. 2006. Vapor Pressure of Palladium from 1473 K to 1973 K. Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data 51, 1509-1515.

K. G. Gardner-Vandy and D. S. Lauretta. 2011. Experimental Partial Melting of the MacAlpine Hills 02453 (CK5) Chondrite. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XLII #1935.

K. G. Gardner-Vandy, T. J. McCoy, and D. S. Lauretta. 2009. Formation Conditions of FeO-Rich Primitive Achondrites. Lunar and Planetary Science XL, #2520.

K. G. Gardner-Vandy, D. S. Lauretta, J. S. Goreva, M. Killgore, T. J. McCoy. 2008. Relationships Among Ungrouped Primitive Achondrites and Type-7 Ordinary Chondrites. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 43, A46.

K. G. Gardner-Vandy, D. S. Lauretta, M. Killgore, I.A. Franchi, and R.C. Greenwood. 2008. Tafassasset: The Saga Continues. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX #2307.

K. Gardner-Vandy, D. S. Lauretta, Y. Goreva, D. Hill, M. Killgore. 2008. Melting on Asteroids in the Early Solar System: A Look at Primitive Achondrite Meteorites. American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Annual Convention and Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, April 20-23, 2008.

K. G. Gardner, D. S. Lauretta, and M. Killgore. 2007. Petrology of ungrouped achondrites RBT 04239 and Tafassasset: A Comparison to Divnoe and the Brachinites. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVIII #2086.

K. G. Gardner, D. S. Lauretta, D. H. Hill, and M. Killgore. 2007. Petrology of the metal-rich LL6 NWA 1396. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 42, A54.

K. G. Gardner, D. S. Lauretta, D. H. Hill, J. S. Goreva, K. J. Domanik, I. A. Franchi, and M. J. Drake. 2006. Petrology and geochemistry of the NWA 3368 Eucrite. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII #2389.

K. G. Gardner, D. S. Lauretta, D. H. Hill, J. S. Goreva, K. J. Domanik, I. A. Franchi, and M. J. Drake. 2006. Petrology and geochemistry of the NWA 3368 Eucrite. 70th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society #5152.

K. G. Gardner, F. T. Ferguson, and J. A. Nuth, III. 2005. The Vapor Pressure of Palladium at Temperatures up to 1973K. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI #2240.

S. A. Dulin, R. D. Elmore, and K. G. Gardner. 2005. Impacts in Carbonate Target Rocks: A Paleomagnetic Study of the Weaubleau-Osceola and Alamo Breccia Impact Structures. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI #1371.

K. G. Gardner and D. W. Mittlefehldt. 2004. Petrology of New Stannern-trend Eucrites and Eucrite Genesis. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV #1349.

K. G. Gardner, J. Li, J. Dworkin, G. D. Cody, N. Johnson, and J. A. Nuth, III. 2003. A First Attempt to Simulate the Natural Formation of Meteoritic Organics. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV #1613.