Dr. Avi M Mandell

Dr. Avi M Mandell

  • RESEARCH AST, PLANETARY STUDIES
  • 301.286.6293
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 667
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: NASA
  • Brief Bio

    Dr. Avi Mandell is an exoplanet scientist in the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard; his research focuses on the characterization of extrasolar planets and the formation and evolution of planetary systems, with the specific goal of understanding factors that determine whether a planetary system can form habitable planets and what the characteristics of these planets will be. He works on analyzing observations of transiting and directly imaged exoplanets and circumstellar disks, including modeling spectra of planetary atmospheres as well as the dynamical evolution of planets and planetesimals during the formation of planetary systems, and he is the co-founder of the GSFC Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration.

    Research Interests

    Exoplanet Formation & Characterization

    The study of planet formation and extra-solar planets utilizing Vis and IR spectroscopy of exoplanets and circumstellar disks, including new instrument and mission development as well as relevant theoretical simulations of planetary structure, formation and evolution.  

    Positions/Employment

    6/2010 - Present

    Research Scientist

    NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD

    Research on the formation of planetary systems and the characterization of extrasolar planets from both an observational and theoretical perspective. Planning and operations for current and future instrumentation for space and ground-based telescopes.

    9/2007 - 6/2010

    NASA Post-Doctoral Fellow

    NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD

    Near-IR spectroscopy of gas in circumstellar disks; NIR spectroscopic observations of exo-planet atmospheres; simulations of terrestrial planet formation in diverse system architectures 

    Education

    Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 2007

          Astronomy and Astrophysics, Dual Title in Astrobiology

    - Thesis: “Effects Of Circumstellar Gas On Terrestrial Planet Formation: 

                                  Theory And Observation”

       Advisors: Prof. Steinn Sigurðsson, Dr. Michael Mumma


    B.A., Vassar College, Physics and Astronomy, 1999

              - Senior thesis advisor: Prof. Debra Elmegreen

    Professional Service

    Editorial Board of Universe Journal, “Planetary Sciences” Section (invited), 2021

    Team Lead, JWST Rocky Planet Emission Initiative, 2020

    SOC & LOC Chair, GSFC SEEC Symposium, 2019

    Director, GSFC Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration, 2017-2021

    P.I., GSFC Exoplanet Modeling & Analysis Cente, 2017-Pres.

    Lead & Member, LUVOIR Science Support Analysis Team, 2015-2019

    Deputy P.I., Roman S.T. Science Investigation Team (P.I. Turnbull), 2015-2021

    Team Lead, GSFC ATLAST Exoplanet Science Working Group, 2014-2017

    Participant, JWST Transit Observing Planning Workshop, 2014

    Member, NASA Headquarters Challenge Working Group: Are We Alone, 2013

    Member, Red Team Review Panel, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, 2012

    Local Organizing Committee Member, GSFC Signposts of Planets Conference, 2010

    Contributing Author, Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, 2010

    Panel Member, GSFC Internal Research & Development Review Panel, 2010

    Panel Member, NASA & NSF Program Review Panels, 2010-Pres.

    Member, SOC, NASA Astrobiology Inst. FAR Seminar Series, 2008

    Session Chair, Astrobiology Science Conference 2008

    Member, Astrobiology Society Founding & Early Career Committees, 2007 – 2010

    Chair, Organizing Committee, Astrobiology Graduate Conference, 2007

    Special Experience

    Previous or Current Missions and Instruments                                                             

    Space Missions

          - WFIRST CGI Integral Field Spectrograph – Instrument Scientist

    High-Altitude Balloon Missions

          - Observatory for Planetary Investigations from the Stratosphere (OPIS) - Co-P.I.

          - Gondola for High Altitude Planetary Science (GHAPS) – Deputy Project Scientist


    Previous or Current Observing Campaigns

    SOFIA Observatory (NASA)

          - Searches for exoplanet atmospheric signatures (P.I., Co-I.)                                     

    Hubble Space Telescope (NASA)

          - Characterization of transiting exoplanet atmospheres (Co-I.)

    Very Large Telescope Observatory (ESO)

          - Survey for organics in circumstellar disks (P.I.)                                                     

    W.M. Keck Observatory (NASA/Caltech)

          - Multi-object spectroscopy of extrasolar planet atmospheres (P.I.)

          - Surveys for molecules in circumstellar disks (P.I., Co-I.)                                        

    Hobby-Eberly Telescope (Penn State)

          - Spectroscopic search for signatures of exo-planets (P.I.)


    Mission and Instrument Proposals or Studies                                                                

    Large UV Optical InfraRed (LUVOIR) Surveyor – GSFC Science Team Lead, Member

          - Supported the development of the LUVOIR science case and study report

    Transiting Explanet Explorer Balloon (TEEBall) – P.I.

          - Proposed to the Astrophysics Research and Analysis opportunity

    Lunar Water Distribution (LWaDi) CubeSat - Institutional Lead

          - Proposed to the Small, Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration opportunity

    Near Infrared Multi-Band Ultraprecise Spectrophotometer (NIMBUS) - Deputy P.I.

    - Proposed as a 2nd generation instrument for the SOFIA Observatory

    Brief Bio

    Dr. Avi Mandell is an exoplanet scientist in the Planetary Systems Laboratory at NASA Goddard; his research focuses on the characterization of extrasolar planets and the formation and evolution of planetary systems, with the specific goal of understanding factors that determine whether a planetary system can form habitable planets and what the characteristics of these planets will be. He works on analyzing observations of transiting and directly imaged exoplanets and circumstellar disks, including modeling spectra of planetary atmospheres as well as the dynamical evolution of planets and planetesimals during the formation of planetary systems, and he is the co-founder of the GSFC Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration.

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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