Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Joseph Robinson

(Research Analyst, NASA Pandora Project)

Joseph Robinson's Contact Card & Information.
Email: joseph.robinson@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.614.6913
Org Code: 614
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 614
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE CO

Brief Bio


Joe is a recent May 2017 graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Biology and Envrionmental Science. He was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and has had an interest in nature and its processes since he was young. Outside of NASA, his interests include hiking and backpacking in America's National Parks and travelling.

Research Interests


Air Quality

Earth Science: Pollution

Use of ground-based and in-situ measurements to monitor tropospheric composition as it relates to pollution, specifically in urban areas and near pollution sources.


Atmospheric Composition and Chemistry

Earth Science: Atmospheric Chemistry

Use of measurements from ground-based, in-situ and satellite instruments to monitor the composition of Earth's atmosphere and how gases interact with each other through chemical processes.


Atmospheric Dynamics

Earth Science: Atmospheric Dynamics

Investigating how small and large scale atmospheric processes and circulations affect atmospheric composition and chemistry. Use of ground-based instruments to monitor changes in trace gas concentrations tied to atmospheric circulation.


Modeling and Ground-based Measurements

Earth Science: Theory & Modeling

Using models and ground-based observations of atmospheric composition to provide insight into how well models and observations agree, particularly tied to atmospheric circulations.

Current Projects


Trace Gases Tied to Shipping

Atmospheric Chemistry

Large shipping vessels burn fuel that results in emissions high in NO2. These emissions deplete the O3 in the vicinity of the plume. Using ground-based instrumentation such as Tropospheric Ozone Lidars and Pandora Sun Spectrometers, these plumes and titration events can be studied in high shipping areas, such as the Chesapeake Bay.

Positions/Employment


Research Analyst

University of Maryland Baltimore County - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

June 2017 - Present

Aid in data processing and analysis for the NASA Pandora Project. Work closely with members from other NASA instrument groups as well as collaborators outside the government to provide scientific context to Pandora and other observations.

Education


B.S. in Biology and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA

Professional Societies


American Geophysical Union

2015 - Present


American Chemical Society

2017 - Present

Professional Service


Organized logistics for, and facilitated, an intensive two-day operational workshop for users of the Pandora Sun Spectrometer instrument. Goals of the workshop were also to further foster relationships for continued collaboration between the NASA Pandora Project and government and university members.

Special Experience


Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Volunteer

Talks, Presentations and Posters


Invited

NASA Ozone Water-Land Environmental Transition Study Science Team Meeting

November 17, 2017

Presented preliminary research on Chesapeake Bay water-land trace gas and pollution gradients seen by Pandora Sun Spectrometers during the 2017 NASA OWLETS campaign.


Other

Surface layer climatological analysis of meteorological data at the VCU Rice Center

June 12, 2017

Presented research to the environmental and life sciences research community on development and applications of a short-term surface layer climatology for the VCU Rice Center, VCU's field research station.


National Conference on Undergraduate Research

May 6, 2017

Presented research on developing a short-term surface layer climatology for the VCU Rice Rivers Center at the 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Memphis.