Curriculum Vitae
Downloadable version: pdf
Education
Ph.D. Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, Dec. 2009
B.A. Astronomy, Cornell University, 2004
Experience
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, Goddard Space Flight Center, 2011-current
Advisor: Dr. Amy Simon-Miller
Investigating planetary atmospheric dynamics through data analysis and numerical modeling.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona, 2010-2011
Advisor: Prof. Adam Showman
Analyzed Cassini and New Horizons imaging data of Jupiter and Saturn, as well as investigating Jupiter's 5-micron hotspots through data analysis and numerical modeling.
Adjunct Instructor, University of Arizona, Fall 2010
Instructor of record for NATS 102, a general education natural science course in planetary science/astronomy (enrollment: ~100). Composed and delivered lectures, created and graded assignments and exams, tutored students during office hours.
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona, 2005-2009
Advisor: Prof. Adam Showman
Developed an automated cloud tracker and applied it to various data sets. Analyzed Cassini/VIMS near-infrared data of Saturn's atmosphere. Investigated Oval BA's changing dynamics over a multi-mission time span. Gathered evidence for an inverse energy cascade within Jupiter's atmosphere.
Graduate Teaching Assistant for 3 semesters, University of Arizona, 2005-2007
Tutored students during office hours, gave occasional lectures, graded assignments.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Cornell University, 2001-2004
Advisor: Prof. Peter Gierasch
Created mosaics of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, investigated Voyager IRIS spectral data, deployed microbarometers in the Greater Ithaca area, helped create an automated feature tracker for the purpose of measuring winds.
Referreed Publications
Choi, D.S. and C.M. Dundas (2011) "HiRISE wind measurements of Martian dust devils"
ADS Link | doi: TBD | pdf [coming soon]
Choi, D.S. and A.P. Showman (2011) "Power Spectral Analysis of Jupiter's Clouds and Kinetic Energy from Cassini"
ADS Link | doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2011.10.001 | pdf (2.8 MB)
Simon-Miller, A.A., J.H. Rogers, P.J. Gierasch, D.S. Choi, and G. Adamoli (2011) "Longitudinal Variation and Waves in Jupiter’s South Equatorial Belt."
Choi, D.S., A.P. Showman, and A.R. Vasavada (2010) "The Evolving Flow
of Jupiter's White Ovals and Adjacent Cyclones"
ADS Link | doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2009.10.013 | pdf (2.1 MB)
Penny, A., A.P. Showman, and D.S. Choi (2010) "The Suppression of the
Rhines Effect and the Location of Vortices on Saturn."
ADS Link | doi: 10.1029/2009JE00384 | pdf (290 K)
Choi, D. S., Showman, A. P., Brown, R. (2009) "Cloud Features and Zonal Wind Measurements of Saturn's Atmosphere as Observed by Cassini/VIMS"
ADS Link | doi: 10.1029/2008JE003254 | pdf (9.1 MB)
Choi, D. S., Banfield, D., Gierasch, P., Showman, A. P. (2007) "Velocity and Vorticity Measurements of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Using Automated Cloud Feature Tracking"
ADS Link | doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2006.10.037 | pdf (1.2 MB)
Honors and Awards
University of Arizona Department of Planetary Sciences Gerard P. Kuiper Award, 2010
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship, 2008-2010
University of Arizona TRIF Imaging Fellowship, 2008-2009
University of Arizona College of Science Galileo Circle Scholar, 2007, 2009
Cornell University Department of Astronomy Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award, 2004
Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, 2000-2004
Professional Activities
DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee Member, 2011-current
Reviewer for
Review panel member for NASA OPR and MFRP
External Reviewer for NASA OPR and CDAP
Student Member, DPS Federal Relations Subcommittee, 2009
NASA/JPL Planetary Science Summer School, 2008
Research Interests
Planetary Atmospheric Dynamics and Meteorology
Observations and Analysis of Jovian Atmospheric Phenomena
Numerical Modeling of Jupiter's Atmosphere
Outreach
University of Arizona Student Showcase, 2008
Guest Speaker at local elementary schools
Volunteer for Arizona State Science Olympiad Competition, Spring 2007
Conference Presentations
Choi, D. S., and Dundas, C. M. ``Wind Measurements of Martian Dust Devils from HiRISE'' Oral Presentation. DPS Meeting, October 2011, Nantes, France.
Choi, D. S., Showman, A. P., and Vasavada, A. R.,. ``Meteorology of Jupiter's Equatorial Hotspots and Plumes from Cassini Imagery'' Poster Presentation. DPS Meeting, October 2011, Nantes, France.
Choi, D. S., and Dundas, C. M. “Wind Measurements of Martian Dust Devils from HiRISE” Poster Presentation. LPSC Meeting, March 2011, Houston, TX.
Choi, D. S., and Showman, A. P. “Power Spectral Analysis of Jupiter’s Clouds and Kinetic Energy from Cassini” Oral Presentation. DPS Meeting, Fall 2010, Pasadena, CA.
Choi, D. S., Inverse Energy Cascades in Terrestrial, Jovian, and Exoplanetary Atmo- spheres. Oral Presentation, Exoclimes: Exploring the Diversity of Planetary Atmo- spheres, September 2010, Exeter, UK
Choi, D. S., and Showman, A. P. “The Meteorology of Giant Planets Revealed through Automated Cloud Feature Tracking” Poster. CPS International School of Planetary Science, Jan 2010, Kobe, Japan.
Choi, D. S., and Showman, A. P. "Power Spectra of Jupiter's Cloud Albedos and Kinetic Energy from Cassini" Oral Presentation. DPS Meeting, Fall 2009, Fajardo, PR.
Choi, D. S., Showman, A. P., and Vasavada, A. "New Measurements of the Evolving Flow of Oval BA" Poster. AGU Meeting, Fall 2008, San Francisco, CA.
Penny, A., Choi, D. S., Showman, A. P. "The Suppression of the Rhines Effect and the Location of Vortices on Saturn" Poster. AGU Meeting, Fall 2008, San Francisco, CA.
Choi, D. S., Showman, A. P., and Brown, R. H. "Cloud Features and Zonal Wind Measurements of Saturn's Atmosphere as Observed by Cassini/VIMS" Oral Presentation. DPS Meeting, Fall 2008, Ithaca, NY.
Choi, D. S., Showman, A., Dowling, T., Palotai, C. "Numerical Modeling of Jupiter's 5-Micron Hot Spots" Poster. DPS Meeting, Fall 2007, Orlando, FL.
Choi, D. S., Gierasch, P., Banfield, D., Showman, A. P. "Velocity and Vorticity Measurements of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Using Automated Cloud Feature Trackers" DPS Meeting, Fall 2006, Pasadena, CA.
Choi, D. S., Gierasch, P., Banfield, D., Showman, A. P. "Velocity and Vorticity Measurements of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Using Automated Cloud Feature Trackers" Poster. 2005 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Professional Affiliations
Division for Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society
American Geophysical Union