Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Thompson (2016), promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. Michelle is interested in understanding the alteration of planetary materials after their formation, specifically the evolution of airless body surfaces. She studies these phenomena using a combination of experimental techniques and returned sample analyses. Michelle uses advanced transmission electron microscopy methods, including experimental in situ techniques to answer her research questions. This work is directly applicable to samples already returned by the Apollo and Hayabusa missions, and is relevant for the upcoming OSIRIS-REx sample return.

Kudos to Dr. Molly Simon (2019), recipient of the Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Science Teaching Award! 

Molly's current research focuses on utilizing citizen science to bring authentic data-rich experiences to undergraduate students both in person and online. She uses a mixed-methods approach to measure the efficacy of new active learning strategies developed to increase student learning on a variety of topics taught in college-level astronomy and planetary science courses.