Dr. Milam works in the Astrochemistry Laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Maryland USA). She is an expert in rotational spectroscopy, observations, and laboratory modeling of astrochemistry and molecular astrophysics of the interstellar medium, evolved stars, star formation regions, and comets with an emphasis on isotopic fractionation and astrobiology of primitive materials. Dr. Milam maintains a renowned observational program with radio telescopes around the world, and with space-based observatories, to routinely observe comets as part of an international collaboration. Additionally, she conducts high resolution spectroscopic studies of evolved stars, star forming regions, and the Galactic interstellar medium, specializing in isotopes. Her key research objective is to study the isotope composition of evolved stars to determine the nucleosynthetic processes that have taken place, chemical enrichments that may occur in the mass-loss process, and how the enrichment is distributed to the interstellar medium, star forming regions, and planetary systems. She also has a laboratory dedicated to simulate interstellar/cometary/planetary ices and detect trace species employing the same techniques used for remote observations to help constrain the chemical complexity of the ices, the amount of processing that occurs, and interpret past and present data from missions that observe ice features. Dr. Milam has been working on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as Deputy Project Scientist for Planetary Science since 2014. Under this role she helped establish the next generation space telescope as a planetary science resource, engaged the community in future observations and preparations, and assisted the project to ensure the capabilities of the observatory were suitable for solar system observations. She has also lead the study team for solar system science for WFIRST and is a member of the Origins Space Telescope Science and Technology Definition Team. In early 2018, Stefanie was appointed as one of the Deputy Project Scientist for the New Frontiers 4 candidate mission, Comet Astrobiology Exploration SAmple Return (CAESAR).
Journal Referee:
Astronomical Journal
Astrophysical Journal
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal of Chemical Physics
Astrophysics and Space Science
Reports on Progress in Physics
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Icarus
Committees:
GSFC Science Director’s Committee (2013-2015)
HST Solar System Advisory Committee (2013-2014)
GSFC Planetary Science Strategic Fellow (2012-2015)
Origins Space Telescope (OST) Science and Technology Definition Team (2016-current)
Planetary Science for Astrophysics Assets co-Chair (2018-current)
Selected Professional Activities:
2016 Special Act Award – Leadership of the SOC/LOC for the Allamandola Symposium
2015 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award – Exceptional Achievement in Science (Individual)
2015 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award – Exceptional Achievement in Science (JWST Project Science Team)
2013-2017 NASA GSFC Distinguished Performance Award
2012/2014 NASA GSFC Science Innovation Fund
2008 Young Alumni Award, Kansas Wesleyan University
2005-2007 Achievement Rewards for College Scientist (ARCS) - Phoenix Chapter
2005-2006 Galileo Circle Scholarship, University of Arizona
2001-2002 Alpha Chi Honor Society (President), Kansas Wesleyan University
1999-2002 Eisenhower Scholarship, Kansas Wesleyan University
Publications
1. Milam, S.N., DiSanti, M.A., Villanueva, G. et al. (2018), Characterizing Abundances of Volatiles in Comet C/2009 R1(McNaught) Through Multiwavelength Observations, ApJ, in preparation.
2. Battersby, C., Armus, L., Bergin, E., et al. (2018) The Origins Space Telescope, NatAs, 2, 596.
3. de Val-Borro, M., Milam, S.N., Cordiner, M.A., Charnley, S.B., Coulson, I.M., Remijan, A.J., Villanueva, G.L. (2018) Measuring molecular abundances in comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) using the APEX telescope, MNRAS, 474, 1099 (arXiv: 1710.11117).
4. Holler, B.J., Milam, S.N., et al. (2018) Solar System science with the Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST), JATIS (arXiv: 1709.02763).
5. Cordiner, M.A., et al. (2017), ALMA Mapping of Rapid Gas and Dust Variations in Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON):New Insights into the Origin of Cometary HNC, ApJ, 838, 147.
6. Coulson, I.M., Cordiner, M.A., Kuan, Y.J., Tseng, W.L., Chuang, Y.L., Lin, Z.Y., Milam, S.N., Charnley, S.B., Ip, W.H. (2017) JCMT Spectral and Continuum Imaging of Comet 252P/LINEAR, AJ, 153, 169.
7. Cordiner, M.A. et al. (2017), ALMA mapping of rapid gas and dust variations in comet C/2012 S1 (ISON): new insights into the origin of cometary HNC, ApJ, 838, 147. (arXiv:1702.03322).
8. Cordiner, M.A. et al. (2017), Thermal physics of the inner coma: ALMA studies of the methanol distribution and excitation in comet C/2012 K1 (PanSTARRS), ApJ, 837, 177. (arXiv:1701.08258).
9. de Val-Borro, M., Cordiner, M.A., Milam, S.N., Charnley, S.B. (2017) Cine: Line excitation by infrared fluorescence in cometary atmospheres, JOSS, 182.
10. De Nutte, R., et al. (2017) Nucleosynthesis in AGB stars traced by oxygen isotopic ratios. I. Determining the stellar initial mass by means of the 17O/18O ratio. A&A, 600.71.
11. Keane, J., Milam, S. et al. (2016) Catastrophic Disruption of Comet ISON, ApJ, 831, 207.
12. Cordiner, M.A., et al. (2016) On the Nature of the Enigmatic Object IRAS 19312+1950: A Rare Phase of Massive Star Formation? ApJ, 828, 51.
13. Cordiner, M.A., et al. (2016) On the Nature of the Enigmatic Object IRAS 19312+1950: A Rare Phase of Massive Star Formation? ApJ, 828, 51.
14. Meixner, M. et al., (2016) The Far-Infrared Surveyor Mission Study: Paper I, the Genesis, SPIE proceedings of the Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave conference. (arXiv: 1608.03909).
15. Biver, N., et al., (2016), Isotopic ratios of H, C, N, O, and S in comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy), A&A, 589, 78.
16. Coulson, I., et al., (2016) Comet 252P/LINEAR, IAU Circular, 9281, 1.
17. Norwood, J., Hammel, H., Milam, S.N. et al. (2016) Solar System Observations with JWST, PNAS, 128, 025004.
18. Milam, S.N., Stansberry, J., Sonneborn, G., Thomas, C. (2016) The James Webb Space Telescope’s plan for operations and instrument capabilities for observations in the Solar System, PNAS, 128, 018001 (arXiv:1510.04567).
19. Santos-Sanz, P., et al., (2016) the JWST occultations focus group, JWST observations of stellar occultations by solar system bodies and rings, PNAS, 128, 018011 (arXiv:1510.06575).
20. Villanueva, Geronimo L., et al., (2016) Unique Spectroscopy and Imaging of
Mars with JWST, PNAS, 128, 018004 (arXiv:1510.04619).
21. Tiscareno, Matthew S., et al., (2016) Observing Planetary Rings and Small Satellites with the James Webb Space Telescope: Science Justification and Observation Requirements, PNAS, 128, 018008.
22. Biver, N. Bockelee-Morvan, D., Moreno, R., Crovisier, J., Colom, P., Lis, D.C., Sandqvist, A., Boissier, J., Despois, D., & Milam, S. (2015) Ethyl alcohol and sugar in comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy), Science Advances, Vol. 1, no. 9, e1500863.
23. Gicquel, A., Milam, S.N., et al. (2015) The Evolution of Volatile Production in comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) During its 2011-2012 Apparition. ApJ, 807,19.
24. Bockelée-Morvan, D., Calmonte, U., Charnley, S., Duprat, J., Engrand, C., Gicquel, A., Hässig, M., Jehin, E., Kawakita, H., Marty, B., Milam, S., Morse, A., Rousselot, P., Sheridan, S., Wirström, E., (2015) Cometary Isotopic Measurements, Space Science Reviews, 197, 47
25. Willacy, K., Alexander, C., Ali-Dib, M., Ceccarelli, C., Charnley, S. B., Doronin, M., Ellinger, Y., Gast, P., Gibb, E., Milam, S. N., et al., (2015) The Composition of the Protosolar Disk and the Formation Conditions for Comets, Space Science Reviews, 197, 151.
26. Cordiner, M. A., Nixon, C. A., Teanby, N. A., Serigano, J., Charnley, S. B., Milam, S. N., Mumma, M. J., Irwin, P. G. J., Lis, D. C., Villanueva, G., Paganini, L., Kuan, Y.-J., Remijan, A. J., (2014) ALMA measurements of the HNC and HC3N distributions in Titan's atmosphere. ApJ Letters, 795, L30.
27. Gicquel, A., Milam, S.N. et al. (2014) Ground-based Multiwavelength Observations of Comet 103P/Hartley 2, ApJ, 794,1.
28. Cordiner, M.A., Remijan, A.J., Boissier, J., Milam, S.N. et al. (2014) Mapping the release of volatiles in the inner comae of comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2012 S1 (ISON) using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array, ApJ Letters, 792, L2.
29. Norwood, J., Hammel, H., Milam, S.N. et al. (2014), Solar System Observations with JWST, (arXiv: 1403.6845).
30. Bockelee-Morvan, D. et al. (2014) Searches for HCl and HF in comets 103P/Hartley 2 and C/2009 P1 (Garradd) with the Herschel Space Observatory, A&A, 562, 5.
31. De Gregorio, B. et al. (2013) Isotopic and Chemical Variation of Organic Nanoglobules in Primitive Meteorites, M&PS, 1, 25.
32. Wirström, E.S., Charnley, S.B., Cordiner, M.A., Milam, S.N. (2012) Isotopic Anomalies in Primitive Solar System Matter: Spin-state Dependent Fractionation of Nitrogen and Deuterium in Interstellar Clouds, ApJ, 757, 2.
33. Nuevo, M., Milam, S.N., Sandford, S.A. (2012) Nucleobases and Prebiotic Molecules in Organic Residues Produced from the Ultraviolet Photo-Irradiation of Pyrimidine in NH3 and H2O+NH3 Ices, Astrobiology, 12, 295.
34. Meech, K.J., et al. (2011) EPOXI: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Observations from a Worldwide Campaign. ApJ, 734, L1.
35. Nuevo, M., Milam, S.N., Sandford, S.A., De Gregorio, B.T., Cody, G.D., & Kilcoyne, A.L.D. (2011) XANES analysis of organic residues produced from the UV irradiation of astrophysical ice analogs, AdSpRev, 48, 1126.
36. Milam, S. (2011) Interstellar Chemical Processes. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Part 9, 826-832.
37. Zolensky, M., et al. (2010) Mineralogy and Petrography of the Almahata Sitta Ureilite. M&PS, 45, 1618.
38. Sandford, S.A., Milam, S.N., Nuevo, M., Jenniskens, P., & Shaddad, M.H. (2010) The Mid-Infrared Transmission Spectra of Multiple Stones from the Almahata Sitta Meteorite. M&PS, 45, 1821.
39. Bera, P.P., Nuevo, M., Milam, S.N., Sandford, S.A., & Lee, T.J. (2010) Mechanism for the abiotic synthesis of uracil via UV-induced oxidation of pyrimidine in pure H2O ices under astrophysical conditions. JChPh, 133, 104303
40. Tenenbaum, E.D., Dodd, J.L., Milam, S.N., Woolf, N.J., & Ziurys, L.M. (2010) The Arizona Radio Observatory 1 mm Spectral Survey of IRC +10216 and VY Canis Majoris (215-285 GHz). ApJS, 190, 348.
41. Tenenbaum, E.D., Dodd, J.L., Milam, S.N., Woolf, N.J., & Ziurys, L.M. (2010) Comparative Spectra of Oxygen-rich Versus Carbon-rich Circumstellar Shells: VY Canis Majoris and IRC +10216 at 215-285 GHz. ApJ, 720, L10
42. Tenenbaum, E.D., Milam, S.N., Woolf, N.J., & Ziurys, L.M. (2009) Molecular Survival in Evolved Planetary Nebulae: Detection of H2CO, c-C3H2, and C2H in the Helix. ApJ, 704, L108.
43. Nuevo, M., Milam, S.N., Sandford, S.A., Elsila, J.E., & Dworkin, J.P. (2009) Formation of Uracil from the UV Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Water Ice. Astrobiology, 9, 683
44. DiSanti, M.A., Villanueva, G.L., Milam, S.N., Zack, L.N., Bonev, B.P., Mumma, M.J., Ziurys, L.M., Anderson, W.M. (2009) The Interesting Volatile Organic Composition of Comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN). Icarus, 203, 589.
45. Ziurys, L.M., Tenenbaum, E.D., Pulliam, R.L., Woolf, N.J., & Milam, S.N. (2009) Carbon Chemistry in the Envelope of VY Canis Majoris: Implications for Oxygen-Rich Evolved Stars, ApJ, 695, 1604.
46. Jenniskens, P. et al. (2009) The Impact and Recovery of Asteroid 2008 TC3. Nature, 458, 485.
47. Milam, S.N., Woolf, N.J. & Ziurys, L.M. (2009) A Survey of Circumstellar 12C/13C Isotope Ratios Derived from CN and CO: Nucleosynthesis in Various Types of Stars. ApJ, 690, 837.
48. Remijan, A. et al. (2008) The Distribution, Excitation and Formation of Cometary Molecules: Methanol, Methyl Cyanide and Ethylene Glycol. ApJ, 689, 613.
49. Milam, S.N. et al. (2008) Constraining Phosphorus Chemistry in Carbon- and Oxygen-Rich Circumstellar Envelopes: Observations of PN, HCP, and CP. ApJ, 684, 618.
50. Milam, Stefanie Nicole (2007) Following carbon's evolutionary path: From nucleosynthesis to the solar system. Proquest Dissertations And Theses 2007. Section 0009, Part 0494 281 pages; [Ph.D. dissertation].United States -- Arizona: The University of Arizona; 2007. Publication Number: AAT 3284347. Source: DAI-B 68/11, May 2008.
51. Milam, S.N. et al. (2007) Oxygen-Rich Mass Loss with a Pinch of Salt: NaCl in the Circumstellar Gas of IK Tau and VY CMa. ApJ, 668, L131.
52. Ziurys, L.M., Milam, S.N., Apponi, A.J., & Woolf, N.J. (2007) Chemical Complexity in the Winds of the Oxygen-Rich Supergiant Star VY Canis Majoris. Nature, 447, 1094.
53. Milam, S.N. et al. (2006) Formaldehyde in Comets C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) and C/2001 Q4 (NEAT): Investigating the Cometary Origin of H2CO. ApJ, 649, 1169.
54. Milam, S.N. et al. (2005) The 12C/13C Isotope Gradient Derived From Millimeter Transitions of CN: The Case for Galactic Chemical Evolution. ApJ, 634, 1126.
55. Milam, S.N. et al. (2004) HCO+ Observations towards Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1): Ion-Molecule Chemistry and Evidence for a Volatile Secondary Source. ApJ, 615, 1054.
Invited Presentations (2010 – present)
Cometary Radio Astronomy Workshop (May 2010)
• “Extended Sources for Various Species in Cometary Comae” – INVITED
The ALMA Telescope: Heralding a new era of Astrochemistry (May 2010)
• “Probing Cometary Chemistry with ALMA”
Spectroscopy 2011: Extending the Limits of Astrophysical Spectroscopy (Jan. 2011)
• “Anticipated Advances in Astrobiology with ALMA” – INVITED
University of Victoria Astronomy Seminar Series (Jan. 2011)
• “Interstellar Prebiotic Chemistry: Searching for the Building Blocks of Life in Our Galaxy” – INVITED
University of Maryland Planetary Astronomy Series (Apr. 2012)
• “Observations of Nitrogen Fractionation in Prestellar Cores: Implications for Meteoritic Hot Spots” – INVITED
Carnegie Institution Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (Apr. 2012)
• “Observations of Nitrogen Fractionation in Prestellar Cores: Implications for Meteoritic Hot Spots” – INVITED
National Taiwan University (Nov. 2012)
• “Recent Observations of Comets at Multiple Wavelengths: A Taxonomy Effort”, Milam, S.N. et al. – INVITED
Department of Astronomy at the National Central University of Taiwan (Nov. 2012)
• “Submillimeter measurements of photolysis products in Interstellar Ice Analogs: A new experimental technique” – INVITED
7th NAASC workshop: Transformational Science with ALMA: From Dust to Rocks to Planets – the Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems (Apr. 2013)
• “What do millimeter continuum and spectral line observations tell us about solar system bodies?” – INVITED (sequestered)
Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) (Nov. 2013)
• “Multiwavelength Observations of Comets: Constraining the Molecular Evolution of the Solar System” – INVITED
Carnegie Institution Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (Jan. 2015)
• “Science with the James Webb Space Telescope”, Jane Rigby and Stefanie Milam – INVITED
Universidad Diego Portales, Auditorium Facultad Ingeniería (Department of Engineering) in coordination with the U.S. Embassy of Chile (Mar. 2015)
• "My Journey as a Women in Science and working at NASA", Stefanie Milam – INVITED
• “Science with the James Webb Space Telescope” – INVITED
American Chemical Society (ACS) Astrochemistry Symposium, "Carbon in the Galaxy: The Formation of Complex Organics from the Outflow of Carbon Stars and their Evolution" (Mar. 2015)
• “Radio/submm observations of organic molecules in the dense ISM” – INVITED
San Jose State University Department of Physics and Astronomy Seminar (May 2015)
• "Science with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)" – INVITED
Far Infrared Surveyor Workshop (June 2015)
• “Observing the Solar System with a Far-Infrared Space Telescope” – INVITED
GBT High Frequency Science Workshop (Sept. 2015)
• “The Solar System at Millimeter wavelengths” – INVITED
UNISA Summer School on Power (Oct. 2015)
• “Recent Studies of Comets: The Hairy Stars of Antiquity” – INVITED
U.S. Radio/Millimeter/Submillimeter Science Futures in the 2020s (Dec. 2015)
• “Solar System Observations with Radio/Millimeter/Submillimeter Assets in the 2020s” – INVITED
Joint NRAO/University of Virginia Colloquium Series (Feb. 2016)
• “Revealing the Physics and Chemistry of Cometary Comae at Millimeter/Submillimeter Wavelengths” – INVITED
Realfagsdagene – or Trondheim Science Week (Mar. 2016)
• “Searching for our molecular origins in space through Astrochemistry” – INVITED
Onsala Observatory/Chalmers University Seminar (Mar. 2016)
• “Revealing the physics and chemistry of Comets at Millimeter/Submillimeter Wavelengths” – INVITED
Space Day at Western University in London, Ontario (Apr. 2016)
• “Searching for our molecular origins in space through Astrochemistry” – INVITED
University of Maryland Observatory Open House (Apr. 2016)
• “James Webb Space Telescope Science and Status Update” – INVITED
Mars Society Meeting in Washington, DC (Sept. 2016)
• “Mars Science with the James Webb Space Telescope” – INVITED
“Ice Age – The Era of the James Webb Space Telescope” – Lorentz Workshop (Oct. 2016)
• “Status and Overview of JWST” – INVITED
Our Astrochemical History, Chemistry Inside Ices (COST) in Faro, Portugal (Jan. 2017)
• “Next generation airborne and space telescopes: JWST, SOFIA, and beyond” – INVITED
New Eyes on Our Home System: NASA's Next Telescope (SXSW) in Austin, TX (Mar. 2017)
• Interactive Panel on JWST – Panelist
IAUS 332: Astrochemistry VII – Through the Cosmos from Galaxies to Planets in Puerto Varas, Chile (Mar. 2017)
• “JWST: The role of observing facilities in setting the agenda” – INVITED
Gordon Conference on the Origins of Solar Systems, “Making a Habitable Planet” in South Hadley, MA (June 2017)
• “Tracing Initial Conditions of the Solar System and in Interstellar Space” – Discussion Leader
Virginia Air and Space Museum Public Talk Series (February 2018)
• “Chronicles of the Unknown: Launch Preparation for the James Webb Space Telescope” – INVITED
Dr. Milam works in the Astrochemistry Laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Maryland USA). She is an expert in rotational spectroscopy, observations, and laboratory modeling of astrochemistry and molecular astrophysics of the interstellar medium, evolved stars, star formation regions, and comets with an emphasis on isotopic fractionation and astrobiology of primitive materials. Dr. Milam maintains a renowned observational program with radio telescopes around the world, and with space-based observatories, to routinely observe comets as part of an international collaboration. Additionally, she conducts high resolution spectroscopic studies of evolved stars, star forming regions, and the Galactic interstellar medium, specializing in isotopes. Her key research objective is to study the isotope composition of evolved stars to determine the nucleosynthetic processes that have taken place, chemical enrichments that may occur in the mass-loss process, and how the enrichment is distributed to the interstellar medium, star forming regions, and planetary systems. She also has a laboratory dedicated to simulate interstellar/cometary/planetary ices and detect trace species employing the same techniques used for remote observations to help constrain the chemical complexity of the ices, the amount of processing that occurs, and interpret past and present data from missions that observe ice features. Dr. Milam has been working on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as Deputy Project Scientist for Planetary Science since 2014. Under this role she helped establish the next generation space telescope as a planetary science resource, engaged the community in future observations and preparations, and assisted the project to ensure the capabilities of the observatory were suitable for solar system observations. She has also lead the study team for solar system science for WFIRST and is a member of the Origins Space Telescope Science and Technology Definition Team. In early 2018, Stefanie was appointed as one of the Deputy Project Scientist for the New Frontiers 4 candidate mission, Comet Astrobiology Exploration SAmple Return (CAESAR).