2006-2007 Fountain Ft Carson High School Fountain, CO
Math Teacher
Taught grades 9-12. Primary subjects included algebra and honors geometry (9th & 10th grade), remedial geometry and consumer mathematics (11th & 12th grade).
2005-2006 Air Academy High School USAF Academy, CO
Physics & Earth Science
Taught grades 9-12. Subjects included AP Physics (calculus based), Honors Physics (grades 11 & 12), Earth & Space Science (9th grade) with a focus on geology, astronomy, weather, and earth science.
2002-2005 General William Mitchell High School Colorado Springs, CO
Physics, Astronomy and General Science Teacher
Taught grades 9-12. Subjects included Physics (11th & 12th grade), Astronomy (11th & 12th grade), and general science (9th grade).
Meredith K Elrod
(RESEARCH ASSOCIATE)
Org Code: 699
NASA/GSFCMail Code: 699
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: UNIV OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK
Current Projects
Mars Atmosphere and Volatiles EvolutioN (MAVEN)
Mars
Primarily focused on the upper atmosphere of Mars using teh in-situ observations from teh Neutral Gas and Ion Spectrometer (NGIMS)
MAVEN , launched in 2013 began science observation in 2014 and continues the major science mission through end of 2020. Some changes to the science mission will occur at the end of 2020 when the periapsis targeting will change
Positions/Employment
Research Associate
University Maryland College Park - NASA Goddard
February 2014 - Present
MAVEN NGIMS Scientist and operations.
Postdoc Researcher
University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
February 2013 - February 2014
Primary Field of Research: Seasonal variations of the plasma in Saturn’s inner magnetosphere between the main rings and Enceladus through analysis of Cassini Plasma Spectrometer data. Assist with teaching duties of the applied mathematics course Ordinary Differential Equations, including teaching once a week quiz and review section, and hold 4 hours a week for student support.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
August 2007 - February 2013
Advisor: Robert E. Johnson. Primary Field of Research: Seasonal variations of the plasma in Saturn’s inner magnetosphere between the main rings and Enceladus through analysis of Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) data. My graduate work used the CAPS instrument; starting with the raw data converting it to numeric form, and using MATLAB to determine plasma parameters (density, temperature and velocity. In doing so I worked primarily on some of the noisiest features in Saturn’s magnetosphere, the region between the main rings and Enceladus. Assisted with teaching duties of the applied mathematics course Ordinary Differential Equations, including teaching once a week quiz and review section, and holding 4 hours a week for student support.
Teaching Experience
Education
PhD-Engineering Physics (Planetary Science)
University Of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA(2007 – 2012)
MA-Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education)
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(2002 – 2006)
Professional Teaching Certification (Secondary Mathematics & Science)
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(2001-2002)
BA & BS Physics & Mathematics
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(1996 -2001)
University Of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA(2007 – 2012)
MA-Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education)
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(2002 – 2006)
Professional Teaching Certification (Secondary Mathematics & Science)
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(2001-2002)
BA & BS Physics & Mathematics
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO(1996 -2001)
Publications
Refereed
Stone, S. W., R. V. Yelle, M. Benna, M. K. Elrod, and P. R. Mahaffy. 2018. Thermal Structure of the Martian Upper Atmosphere From MAVEN NGIMS Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 123 (11): 2842-2867 [10.1029/2018je005559]
Elrod, M. K., S. Bougher, J. Bell, et al. P. R. Mahaffy, M. Benna, S. Stone, R. Yelle, and B. Jakosky. 2017. He bulge revealed: He and CO2 diurnal and seasonal variations in the upper atmosphere of Mars as detected by MAVEN NGIMS Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 122 (2): 2564-2573 [10.1002/2016ja023482]
Elrod, M. K., W.-L. Tseng, A. Woodson, and R. Johnson. 2014. Seasonal and radial trends in Saturn’s thermal plasma between the main rings and Enceladus Icarus 242 130-137 [doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.07.020]
Elrod, M. K., H. T. Smith, R. E. Johnson, M. H. Burger, and E. C. Sittler. 2007. Modeling the Sources of H2+ and O2+ in Saturn's Magnetosphere AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 700-