Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Stephanie A Getty (she/her)

(Director)

 stephanie.a.getty@nasa.gov

 301.614.5442

Org Code: 690

NASA/GSFC
Mail Code: 690
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Employer: NASA

Brief Bio


Dr. Stephanie Getty is a planetary research scientist and the Director of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Her research interests are in the area of in situ planetary exploration, particularly in the pursuit of understanding the origin and evolution of past and present habitable environments in our Solar System. She is currently serving as Deputy Principal Investigator of the DAVINCI mission to Venus. She is also a member of the ExoMars Rover Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer science team.

Positions/Employment


Director, Solar System Exploration Division

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD

August 2022 - Present


Deputy Director, Solar System Exploration Division, Code 690

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD 20771

2017 - August 2022


Associate Laboratory Chief, Planetary Environments Laboratory, Code 699

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD 20771

2015 - 2017


Assistant Chief for Science Operations and Strategic Planning, Planetary Environments Laboratory, Code 699

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - Greenbelt, MD 20771

2013 - 2015

Education


PhD, Department of Physics, University of Florida (December 2001)
BS with honors, Department of Physics, University of Florida (May 1998)


Professional Service


2019-present     DAVINCI Deputy Principal Investigator

2021 Organizing Committee, Future of the Search for Life Workshop

2013-present     MOMA-MS Calibration Lead, MOMA Science Team Member (Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, ExoMars Rover 2020)

2013-present     Collaborator, Mars Science Laboratory, Sample Analysis at Mars Instrument Suite

2017-2020     Member for Strategy, Planetary Exploration Science and Technology (PESTO) Office

2014     Lead Organizer, Biosignatures of Extant Life in Ocean Worlds (BELOW) Workshop

2011-present     Session Organizer: IEEE Aerospace Conference, Co-chair, In Situ Instruments for Landed Missions

2012-2014     Conference Organization: International Materials Research Congress, Co-chair, Symposium on Nanostructured Carbon Materials for MEMS/NEMS and Nanoelectronics

2011-2017     Member, Steering Committee for Mid-Atlantic Micro/Nano Alliance

2015-present     Principal Investigator, Molecular Analyzer for Complex Organic-rich Samples (Planetary Instrument Concepts for Advancing Solar System Observations Program)

2012-2017     Principal Investigator, Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces (Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development Program)

2012-2016     Principal Investigator, Two-Step Tandem Laser Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program)

2007-2010      SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference Organization: Co-organizer of Micro- and Nanotechnologies for Sensing Applications

2009     Participant, GSFC Science and Engineering Collaboration Program

2009     Member, NASA Innovation and Technology Study Group

2005-2006     Served as Nanotechnology Expert in NESC Space Shuttle Bracket Ice Study

Awards


2021 Robert H. Goddard Award – New Opportunities Captured, as member of the DAVINCI Team

2020 NASA Agency Honor Award – Group Achievement Award, as 690 Division Lead of Internal Scientist Funding Model Team

2019 Silver Achievement Medal, as team member of the Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office (PESTO)

2012 Named Goddard Space Flight Center Innovator of the Year

2010 Team member, GSFC Innovator of the Year Award

2008 James J. Kerley Award for contributions to NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program

2007 GSFC AETD Science and Technology Advancement Award

 

Publications


Refereed

Neveu, M., R. Quinn, L. M. Barge, et al. K. L. Craft, C. R. German, S. Getty, C. Glein, M. Parra, A. S. Burton, F. Cary, A. Corpolongo, L. Fifer, A. Gangidine, D. Gentry, C. D. Georgiou, Z. Haddadin, C. Herbold, A. Inaba, S. F. Jordan, H. Kalucha, P. Klier, K. Knicely, A. Y. Li, P. McNally, M. Millan, N. Naz, C. G. Raj, P. Schroedl, J. Timm, and Z. Yang. 2024. Future of the Search for Life: Workshop Report Astrobiology 24 (1): 114-129 [10.1089/ast.2022.0158]

Widemann, T., S. E. Smrekar, J. B. Garvin, et al. A. G. Straume-Lindner, A. C. Ocampo, M. D. Schulte, T. Voirin, S. Hensley, M. D. Dyar, J. L. Whitten, D. C. Nunes, S. A. Getty, G. N. Arney, N. M. Johnson, E. Kohler, T. Spohn, J. G. O’Rourke, C. F. Wilson, M. J. Way, C. Ostberg, F. Westall, D. Höning, S. Jacobson, A. Salvador, G. Avice, D. Breuer, L. Carter, M. S. Gilmore, R. Ghail, J. Helbert, P. Byrne, A. R. Santos, R. R. Herrick, N. Izenberg, E. Marcq, T. Rolf, M. Weller, C. Gillmann, O. Korablev, L. Zelenyi, L. Zasova, D. Gorinov, G. Seth, C. V. Rao, and N. Desai. 2023. Venus Evolution Through Time: Key Science Questions, Selected Mission Concepts and Future Investigations Space Science Reviews 219 (7): 56 [10.1007/s11214-023-00992-w]

Garvin, J. B., S. A. Getty, G. N. Arney, et al. N. M. Johnson, E. Kohler, K. O. Schwer, M. Sekerak, A. Bartels, R. S. Saylor, V. E. Elliott, C. S. Goodloe, M. B. Garrison, V. Cottini, N. Izenberg, R. Lorenz, C. A. Malespin, M. Ravine, C. R. Webster, D. H. Atkinson, S. Aslam, S. Atreya, B. J. Bos, W. B. Brinckerhoff, B. Campbell, D. Crisp, J. R. Filiberto, F. Forget, M. Gilmore, N. Gorius, D. Grinspoon, A. E. Hofmann, S. R. Kane, W. Kiefer, S. Lebonnois, P. R. Mahaffy, A. Pavlov, M. Trainer, K. J. Zahnle, and M. Zolotov. 2022. Revealing the Mysteries of Venus: The DAVINCI Mission The Planetary Science Journal 3 (5): 117 [10.3847/psj/ac63c2]

Chou, L., P. R. Mahaffy, M. G. Trainer, et al. J. L. Eigenbrode, R. Arevalo, W. B. Brinckerhoff, S. A. Getty, N. Grefenstette, V. Da Poian, M. Fricke, C. Kempes, J. Marlow, B. Sherwood-Lollar, H. V. Graham, and S. S. Johnson. 2021. Planetary Mass Spectrometry for Agnostic Life Detection in the Solar System Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 8 (173): [10.3389/fspas.2021.755100]

Freissinet, C., M. Millan, D. P. Glavin, et al. X. Li, A. Grubisic, J. L. Eigenbrode, J. C. Stern, J. P. Dworkin, A. Buch, C. Szopa, M. Guzman, M. Carts, S. A. Getty, and W. B. Brinckerhoff. 2019. Investigating the effects of gamma radiation on selected chemicals for use in biosignature detection instruments on the surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa Planetary and Space Science 175 1-12 [10.1016/j.pss.2019.05.009]

Uckert, K., A. Grubisic, X. Li, et al. W. Brinckerhoff, T. Cornish, B. Farcy, and S. Getty. 2018. IR resonance-enhanced organic detection with two-step laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry Icarus 299 15-21 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.07.006]

Uckert, K., N. J. Chanover, S. Getty, et al. D. G. Voelz, W. B. Brinckerhoff, N. McMillan, X. Xiao, P. J. Boston, X. Li, A. McAdam, D. A. Glenar, and A. Chavez. 2017. The Characterization of Biosignatures in Caves Using an Instrument Suite Astrobiology 17 (12): 1203-1218 [10.1089/ast.2016.1568]

Li, X., R. M. Danell, V. T. Pinnick, et al. A. Grubisic, F. van Amerom, R. D. Arevalo, S. A. Getty, W. B. Brinckerhoff, A. E. Southard, Z. D. Gonnsen, and T. Adachi. 2017. Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) laser desorption/ionization source design and performance characterization International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 422 177 - 187 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2017.03.010]

Goesmann, F., W. B. Brinckerhoff, F. Raulin, et al. W. Goetz, R. M. Danell, S. A. Getty, S. Siljeström, H. Mißbach, H. Steininger, R. D. Arevalo, A. Buch, C. Freissinet, A. Grubisic, U. J. Meierhenrich, V. T. Pinnick, F. Stalport, C. Szopa, J. L. Vago, R. Lindner, M. D. Schulte, J. R. Brucato, D. P. Glavin, N. Grand, X. Li, F. H. van Amerom, and the MOMA Science Team. 2017. The Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) Instrument: Characterization of Organic Material in Martian Sediments Astrobiology 17 (6-7): 655-685 [10.1089/ast.2016.1551]

Gautier, T., J. A. Sebree, X. Li, et al. V. T. Pinnick, A. Grubisic, M. J. Loeffler, S. A. Getty, M. G. Trainer, and W. B. Brinckerhoff. 2017. Influence of trace aromatics on the chemical growth mechanisms of Titan aerosol analogues Planetary and Space Science 140 27-34 [10.1016/j.pss.2017.03.012]

Getty, S. A., J. E. Elsila, M. Balvin, et al. W. B. Brinckerhoff, T. Cornish, X. Li, J. Ferrance, A. Grubisic, and A. Southard. 2017. Molecular analyzer for Complex Refractory Organic-rich Surfaces (MACROS) 2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2017.7943706]

Goetz, W., W. B. Brinckerhoff, R. Arevalo, et al. C. Freissinet, S. Getty, D. P. Glavin, S. Siljeström, A. Buch, F. Stalport, A. Grubisic, X. Li, V. Pinnick, R. Danell, F. H. van Amerom, F. Goesmann, H. Steininger, N. Grand, F. Raulin, C. Szopa, U. Meierhenrich, and J. R. Brucato. 2016. MOMA: the challenge to search for organics and biosignatures on Mars International Journal of Astrobiology 15 (03): 239-250 [10.1017/s1473550416000227]

Li, X., T. Cornish, S. Ecelberger, S. A. Getty, and W. B. Brinckerhoff. 2016. Tandem mass spectrometry on a miniaturized laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2016.7500615]

Freissinet, C., S. Getty, M. G. Trainer, et al. D. P. Glavin, H. L. Mclain, and M. Benna. 2016. Evaluation of the robustness of chromatographic columns in a simulated highly radiative Jovian environment Planetary and Space Science 122 38-45 [10.1016/j.pss.2016.01.004]

Xiang Li, K. Uckert, S. Getty, et al. A. Grubisic, W. Brinckerhoff, T. Cornish, S. Ecelberger, and N. Chanover. 2015. Analysis of aqueous environments by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry 2015 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2015.7119087]

Li, X., R. M. Danell, W. B. Brinckerhoff, et al. V. T. Pinnick, F. van Amerom, R. D. Arevalo, S. A. Getty, P. R. Mahaffy, H. Steininger, and F. Goesmann. 2015. Detection of Trace Organics in Mars Analog Samples Containing Perchlorate by Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Astrobiology 15 (2): 104-110 [10.1089/ast.2014.1203]

Arevalo Jr., R., W. B. Brinckerhoff, F. Van Amerom, et al. R. M. Danell, V. T. Pinnick, X. Li, S. A. Getty, L. M. Hovmand, A. Grubisic, P. R. Mahaffy, F. Goesmann, and H. Steininger. 2015. Design and Demonstration of the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) on the ExoMars 2018 Rover IEEE Aerospace

Getty, S. A., W. B. Brinckerhoff, X. Li, et al. J. E. Elsila, T. Cornish, S. Ecelberger, Q. Wu, and R. Zare. 2014. A Compact Tandem Two-Step Laser Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer for In Situ Analysis of Non-Volatile Organics on Planetary Surfaces IEEE 978-1-4799-1622-1/14

Sebree, J., W. Brinckerhoff, C. Anderson, et al. M. Loeffler, S. Getty, V. Pinnick, X. Li, M. Trainer, and A. Schmitt. 2014. LABORATORY SIMULATIONS OF TITAN'S SURFACE COMPOSITION AND ITS RELATION TO ATMOSPHERIC HAZE LAYERS Proceedings of the 69th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy [10.15278/isms.2014.fe02]

Southard, A. E., S. A. Getty, M. Balvin, et al. J. E. Elsila, A. E. Melina, C. Kotecki, D. W. Towner, J. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, P. R. Mahaffy, and J. Ferrance. 2014. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry interface for detection of extraterrestrial organics 2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2014.6836328]

Uckert, K., N. J. Chanover, S. Getty, et al. W. B. Brinckerhoff, X. Li, M. Floyd, D. G. Voelz, X. Xiao, R. Tawalbehy, N. McMillan, A. Chavez, P. J. Boston, D. A. Glenar, S. Ecelberger, and T. Cornish. 2014. A comparative study of in situ biosignature detection spectroscopy techniques on planetary surfaces 2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2014.6836262]

Getty, S. A., J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, et al. M. Martin, Y. Zheng, M. Balvin, A. E. Southard, S. Feng, J. Ferrance, C. Kotecki, C. Malespin, and P. R. Mahaffy. 2013. Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces: a Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer for Future in situ Small Body Missions 2013 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/AERO.2013.6497391]

Chanover, N., D. Voelz, D. Glenar, et al. Xifeng Xiao, R. Tawalbeh, K. Uckert, P. Boston, S. Getty, W. Brinckerhoff, P. Mahaffy, and Xiang Li. 2013. Results from an integrated AOTF-LDTOF spectrometer suite for planetary surfaces 2013 IEEE Aerospace Conference [10.1109/aero.2013.6497177]

Getty, S. A., J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, et al. M. G. Martin, Y. Zheng, M. A. Balvin, A. E. Southard, S. H. Feng, C. A. Kotecki, C. A. Malespin, and P. R. Mahaffy. 2013. Organics Analyzer for Sampling Icy Surfaces: a Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer for Future in situ Small Body Missions IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings

Getty, S. A., J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, et al. M. A. Balvin, C. Kotecki, A. E. Southard, and J. Ferrance. 2013. In situ instrument to detect prebiotic compounds in planetary ices SPIE Newsroom [DOI: 10.1117/2.1201302.004703]

Getty, S. A., N. P. Costen, D. P. Glavin, and G. B. Hidrobo. 2012. Understanding the effect of electron gun geometry on emission characteristics for the purpose of optimizing the VAPoR time-of-flight mass spectrometer Microsystems for Measurement and Instrumentation [10.1109/MAMNA.2012.6195104]

Getty, S. A., N. P. Costen, D. P. Glavin, and G. B. Hidrobo. 2012. Understanding the effect of electron gun geometry on emission characteristics for the purpose of optimizing the VAPoR time-of-flight mass spectrometer Microsystems for Measurement and Instrumentation 1-4 [10.1109/MAMNA.2012.6195104]

Glavin, D. P., C. A. Malespin, I. Ten kate, et al. S. A. Getty, V. E. Holmes, E. Mumm, H. B. Franz, M. G. Noreiga, N. J. Dobson, A. E. Southard, S. H. Feng, C. A. Kotecki, J. P. Dworkin, T. Swindle, J. E. Bleacher, J. W. Rice, and P. R. Mahaffy. 2012. Volatile Analysis by Pyrolysis of Regolith for Planetary Resource Exploration IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings 1-11, 3-10 [10.1109/AERO.2012.6187065]

Chanover, N., R. Tawalbeh, D. Glenar, et al. D. Voelz, X. Xiao, K. Uckert, P. Boston, T. J. Cornish, S. Ecelberger, S. A. Getty, W. B. Brinckerhoff, and P. Mahaffy. 2012. Rapid Assessment of High Value Samples: An AOTF-LDTOF Spectrometer Suite for Planetary Surfaces IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings [10.1109/AERO.2012.6187060]

Bishop, J., H. B. Franz, W. Goetz, et al. D. Blake, C. Freissinet, H. Steininger, F. Goesmann, W. B. Brinckerhoff, S. A. Getty, V. T. Pinnick, and P. R. Mahaffy. 2012. Coordinated analyses of Antarctic sediments as Mars analog materials using reflectance spectroscopy and current flight-like instruments for CheMin, SAM and MOMA Icarus 224 (2): 309-325 [10.1016/j.icarus.2012.05.014]

Getty, S. A., W. B. Brinckerhoff, R. D. Arevalo, et al. M. A. Floyd, X. Li, T. J. Cornish, and S. Ecelberger. 2012. A Miniature Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer for in situ Analysis of Mars Surface Composition and Identification of Hazards in Advance of Future Manned Exploration Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration 4302

Getty, S. A., W. B. Brinckerhoff, T. J. Cornish, S. Ecelberger, and M. A. Floyd. 2012. Compact two-step laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ analyses of aromatic organics on planetary missions Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 26 1

Getty, S. A., W. B. Brinckerhoff, T. J. Cornish, et al. S. Ecelberger, X. Li, M. A. Floyd, N. Chanover, K. Uckert, D. Voelz, X. Xiao, R. Tawalbeh, D. Glenar, J. E. Elsila, and M. P. Callahan. 2012. Laser Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for Future In Situ Planetary Missions International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions 1100

Getty, S. A., I. Ten Kate, S. H. Feng, et al. W. B. Brinckerhoff, E. H. Cardiff, V. E. Holmes, T. T. King, M. J. Li, E. Mumm, P. Mahaffy, and D. P. Glavin. 2010. Development of an evolved gas-time-of-flight mass spectrometer for the Volatile Analysis by Pyrolysis of Regolith (VAPoR) instrument International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 295 124-132

Getty, S. A., C. Engtrakul, L. Wang, et al. R. Liu, S.-H. Ke, H. Baranger, W. Yang, M. Fuhrer, and L. Sita. 2005. Near-Perfect Conduction Through a Ferrocene-based Molecular Wire Physical Review B 71 241401(R)

Durkop, T., S. A. Getty, E. Cobas, and M. Fuhrer. 2004. Extraordinary Mobility in Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes Nano Letters 4 35

Non-Refereed

Getty, S. A., L. F. Lim, A. Grubisic, et al. A. E. Southard, J. Ferrance, M. A. Balvin, X. Li, T. Cornish, J. Elsila, L. A. Hess, C. A. Kotecki, J. G. Hagopian, and W. B. Brinckerhoff. 2019. Future planetary instrument capabilities made possible by micro- and nanotechnology Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications XI [10.1117/12.2519455]

Lim, L., A. Southard, L. Hess, et al. C. Kotecki, S. Getty, and J. Hagopian. 2018. Carbon Nanotube Field Emitter Design for In Situ EPMA Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 1717

Willis, P., W. B. Brinckerhoff, A. Ricco, et al. S. A. Getty, J. Chapman, J. Creamer, F. Mora, K. Zacny, D. P. Glavin, J. L. Eigenbrode, P. Mahaffy, B. Christner, R. Quinn, and T. Hoehler. 2018. A universal approach in the search for life at the molecular level A White Paper in response to the ASTROBIOLOGY SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

Lim, L., A. Southard, S. Getty, et al. L. Hess, J. Hagopian, and C. Kotecki. 2016. A Miniature Electron Probe for In Situ Elemental Microanalysis AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts 48 123.11

Getty, S. A., W. B. Brinckerhoff, T. J. Cornish, et al. X. Li, M. A. Floyd, R. D. Arevalo, J. E. Elsila, and M. P. Callahan. 2013. Two-step Laser Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to Elucidate Organic Diversity in Planetary Surface Materials 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2676