Planetary Scientist working in the GSFC Planetary Systems Laboratory on NASA missions and cross-discipline research efforts. Previously served as the Chief Scientist for Exoplanets and as the Astrobiology Section Manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Research Laboratory (APL). Kathy's research covers a broad range of topics including the origin and evolution of volatiles throughout the solar system and the role of dynamics, chemistry and atmospheric evolution in understanding this. She has spent more than a decade working on planetary missions including ground calibration, operations planning, data analysis and inflight calibration. Kathy was a science team member on the Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS; 2007-2012), and Rosetta Ion Electron Spectrometer (IES; 2012-2018) teams. She served as the Rosetta IES Liaison to the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) mass spectrometer team. She is a Co-I on the Volatile Investigation Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER; 2022-present), a science team member of the Europa Clipper Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS; 2018-present) and a Co-I on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Lyman-alpha Mapping Project (LAMP; 2013-present). She served as the Volatiles Theme Lead for LRO, served on the 2016 Ice Giants Science Definition Team, was the Project Scientist for LAMP, and for the Io Volcano Observer (IVO) Phase A study.
KATHLEEN E MANDT
(Associate Chief)
| Email: | kathleen.mandt@nasa.gov |
| Org Code: | 693 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 693 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Positions/Employment
Research Physical Scientist
NASA Goddard - Greenbelt, MD
April 2023 - Present
Planetary scientist researching the origin and evolution of volatiles throughout the solar system and on exoplanets. Involved in the NASA VIPER mission to study volatiles on the Moon, evaluating the role of observations from the ESA Rosetta mission for future missions to other solar system targets including Saturn and the ice giants. Member of the JUICE Clipper Steering Committee coordinating joint operations for two NASA and ESA missions planned to orbit Jupiter and explore the moons.
Principal Professional Staff
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory - Laurel, MD
July 2017 - April 2023
Led development of new research program in exoplanets designed to leverage existing expertise in planetary science and heliophysics as the Chief Scientist for Exoplanets. Served as Section Supervisor for the APL Astrobiology Section. Served on the Outer Planets Assessment Group and the DPS Planetary Culture and Climate Subcommittee. Served in multiple leadership roles for teams defining, proposing, and executing spaceflight missions, including Deputy Principal Investigator (DPI) of a Saturn Probe New Frontiers 5mission concept proposal, Project Scientist (PS) of Io Volcano Observer (IVO) Phase A mission concept study, and Volatiles Coordinator for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Selected through competitive opportunity to serve as Co-Investigator (Co-I) on NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission scheduled to launch in 2024. Member of the JUICE Clipper Steering Committee coordinating joint operations for two NASA and ESA missions planned to orbit Jupiter and explore the moons.
Senior Research Scientist
Southwest Research Institute - San Antonio, TX
July 2007 - July 2017
Science team member on Cassini INMS, Rosetta IES, and LRO-LAMP. Created Career Development Program for early to mid-career scientists and engineers.
Education
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) 2008-2012
PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering
PhD Thesis work in Planetary Science focusing on Titan’s atmosphere. Work included modeling photochemical and dynamical processes to determine the composition and structure of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, utilizing spacecraft data to constrain ion and neutral composition of the upper atmosphere, and determining the implications of isotope measurements for the evolution of the atmosphere.
University of North Dakota (UND) 2004-2008
MS in Space Studies
Master’s Thesis involved analysis of over 700 images of the surface of Mars to determine the geologic origin of the Medusae Fossae Formation