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Melissa Ugelow

Photo of MELISSA UGELOW

Melissa Ugelow

  • POST DOC
  • 301.286.2963
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 693
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

    • Brief Bio

    Melissa Ugelow is an analytical chemist interested in studying the complex chemistry that occurs in planetary atmospheres.  During her Ph.D. work, she primarily studied the optical and chemical properties of planetary organic hazes.  While she is still very interested in organic hazes, as a NASA postdoctoral fellow, she is currently studying the nitrile ices in Titan's stratosphere.  Melissa's goals are to simulate planetary atmospheres in the laboratory in order to study specific properties of distant worlds here on Earth.

    Education

    2012 - B.S., Chemistry, Muhlenberg College

    2018 - Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder

    • Dissertation "Laboratory Studies of Planetary Atmospheres and Organic Hazes"
    • Adviser: Margaret Tolbert

    Awards

    2018: NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowship; "Laboratories Studies of UV-Irradiated Titan Stratospheric Ices Spanning 0.85 to 200 µm"

    2017: NASA OSSI Internship; "Stable Isotope Fractionation in Titan Aerosol Formation"

    2014-2017: NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship; "Understanding the Role of Benzene in the Composition and Formation of Titan's Haze"

    2012-2013: Teaching Excellence Award; Chemistry Department, University of Colorado Boulder 

    Grants

    07/01/2020 - 06/30/2021 FLARE Internal Scientist work package, NASA GSFC, NASA NRA #: ISFM

    Investigating the Optical Properties of Coupled Aerosol and Ice Cloud Particles in Titan's Stratosphere

    ; Science PI
    01/01/2021 - 12/31/2023 ROSES Cassini Data Analysis Program (CDAP), NASA HQ, NASA NRA #: NNH20ZDA001N

    Laboratory Studies on the Chemical, Optical, and Physical Properties of Titan’s Cassini CIRS-Observed Stratospheric Ice Clouds

    ; Science PI

    Publications

    Refereed

    Ugelow, M. S., J. L. Berry, E. C. Browne, and M. A. Tolbert. 2020. "The Impact of Molecular Oxygen on Anion Composition in a Hazy Archean Earth Atmosphere." Astrobiology, 20 (5): 658-669 [10.1089/ast.2019.2145]

    Berry, J. L., M. S. Ugelow, M. A. Tolbert, and E. C. Browne. 2019. "The Influence of Gas-phase Chemistry on Organic Haze Formation." The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 885 (1): L6 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab4b5b]

    Berry, J. L., M. S. Ugelow, M. A. Tolbert, and E. C. Browne. 2019. "Chemical Composition of Gas-Phase Positive Ions during Laboratory Simulations of Titan’s Haze Formation." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 3 (2): 202-211 [10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00139]

    Howell, S. M., L. Chou, M. Thompson, et al. M. C. Bouchard, S. Cusson, M. L. Marcus, H. B. Smith, S. Bhattaru, J. J. Blalock, S. Brueshaber, S. Eggl, E. R. Jawin, K. Miller, M. Rizzo, K. Steakley, N. H. Thomas, K. R. Trent, M. Ugelow, C. J. Budney, K. L. Mitchell, and L. Lowes. 2018. "Camilla: A centaur reconnaissance and impact mission concept." Planetary and Space Science, 164: 184-193 [10.1016/j.pss.2018.07.008]

    Ugelow, M. S., D. O. Haan, S. M. Hörst, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "The Effect of Oxygen on Organic Haze Properties." The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 859 (1): L2 [10.3847/2041-8213/aac2c7]

    Hörst, S. M., C. He, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. M. Jellinek, R. T. Pierrehumbert, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "Exploring the Atmosphere of Neoproterozoic Earth: The Effect of O2 on Haze Formation and Composition." The Astrophysical Journal, 858 (2): 119 [10.3847/1538-4357/aabd7d]

    Hörst, S. M., Y. H. Yoon, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. H. Parker, R. Li, J. A. de Gouw, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "Laboratory investigations of Titan haze formation: In situ measurement of gas and particle composition." Icarus, 301: 136-151 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.09.039]

    Ugelow, M. S., K. J. Zarzana, D. A. Day, J. L. Jimenez, and M. A. Tolbert. 2017. "The optical and chemical properties of discharge generated organic haze using in-situ real-time techniques." Icarus, 294: 1-13 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.04.028]

    Szakal, C., M. S. Ugelow, J. M. Gorham, A. R. Konicek, and R. D. Holbrook. 2014. "Visualizing Nanoparticle Dissolution by Imaging Mass Spectrometry." Analytical Chemistry, 86 (7): 3517-3524 [10.1021/ac404153q]

    Szakal, C., J. A. McCarthy, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. R. Konicek, K. Louis, B. Yezer, A. A. Herzing, R. J. Hamers, and R. D. Holbrook. 2012. "Preparation and measurement methods for studying nanoparticle aggregate surface chemistry." Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 14 (7): 1914 [10.1039/c2em30048f]

    Brief Bio

    Melissa Ugelow is an analytical chemist interested in studying the complex chemistry that occurs in planetary atmospheres.  During her Ph.D. work, she primarily studied the optical and chemical properties of planetary organic hazes.  While she is still very interested in organic hazes, as a NASA postdoctoral fellow, she is currently studying the nitrile ices in Titan's stratosphere.  Melissa's goals are to simulate planetary atmospheres in the laboratory in order to study specific properties of distant worlds here on Earth.

    Publications

    Refereed

    Ugelow, M. S., J. L. Berry, E. C. Browne, and M. A. Tolbert. 2020. "The Impact of Molecular Oxygen on Anion Composition in a Hazy Archean Earth Atmosphere." Astrobiology 20 (5): 658-669 [10.1089/ast.2019.2145]

    Berry, J. L., M. S. Ugelow, M. A. Tolbert, and E. C. Browne. 2019. "The Influence of Gas-phase Chemistry on Organic Haze Formation." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 885 (1): L6 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab4b5b]

    Berry, J. L., M. S. Ugelow, M. A. Tolbert, and E. C. Browne. 2019. "Chemical Composition of Gas-Phase Positive Ions during Laboratory Simulations of Titan’s Haze Formation." ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 3 (2): 202-211 [10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00139]

    Howell, S. M., L. Chou, M. Thompson, et al. M. C. Bouchard, S. Cusson, M. L. Marcus, H. B. Smith, S. Bhattaru, J. J. Blalock, S. Brueshaber, S. Eggl, E. R. Jawin, K. Miller, M. Rizzo, K. Steakley, N. H. Thomas, K. R. Trent, M. Ugelow, C. J. Budney, K. L. Mitchell, and L. Lowes. 2018. "Camilla: A centaur reconnaissance and impact mission concept." Planetary and Space Science 164 184-193 [10.1016/j.pss.2018.07.008]

    Ugelow, M. S., D. O. Haan, S. M. Hörst, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "The Effect of Oxygen on Organic Haze Properties." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 859 (1): L2 [10.3847/2041-8213/aac2c7]

    Hörst, S. M., C. He, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. M. Jellinek, R. T. Pierrehumbert, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "Exploring the Atmosphere of Neoproterozoic Earth: The Effect of O2 on Haze Formation and Composition." The Astrophysical Journal 858 (2): 119 [10.3847/1538-4357/aabd7d]

    Hörst, S. M., Y. H. Yoon, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. H. Parker, R. Li, J. A. de Gouw, and M. A. Tolbert. 2018. "Laboratory investigations of Titan haze formation: In situ measurement of gas and particle composition." Icarus 301 136-151 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.09.039]

    Ugelow, M. S., K. J. Zarzana, D. A. Day, J. L. Jimenez, and M. A. Tolbert. 2017. "The optical and chemical properties of discharge generated organic haze using in-situ real-time techniques." Icarus 294 1-13 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.04.028]

    Szakal, C., M. S. Ugelow, J. M. Gorham, A. R. Konicek, and R. D. Holbrook. 2014. "Visualizing Nanoparticle Dissolution by Imaging Mass Spectrometry." Analytical Chemistry 86 (7): 3517-3524 [10.1021/ac404153q]

    Szakal, C., J. A. McCarthy, M. S. Ugelow, et al. A. R. Konicek, K. Louis, B. Yezer, A. A. Herzing, R. J. Hamers, and R. D. Holbrook. 2012. "Preparation and measurement methods for studying nanoparticle aggregate surface chemistry." Journal of Environmental Monitoring 14 (7): 1914 [10.1039/c2em30048f]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 01/15/2021