Current Mission: OSIRIS-REx
I’m currently a member of the sample analysis team on the OSIRIS-REx sample return mission, helping to determine the geology of asteroid Bennu by examining returned rocks using electron and X-ray microscopy (McCoy et al. 2025, Glavin et al. 2025).
Research Focus
My current research centers on analyzing evaporite residue left behind when water on the asteroid evaporated into space, organics present throughout the rock. This work involves:
- X-ray Spectroscopy Analysis - Understanding the structure of amorphous and subcrystalline materials using X-ray spectroscopic techniques
- Mineral Characterization - Identifying and characterizing crystalline minerals
- Geological Context - Understanding broader geological processes on Bennu
Scientific Impact
This research contributes to understanding:
- Water-rock interactions in the early solar system
- Hydrothermal processes on asteroids
- Geological evolution of carbonaceous asteroids
- Preservation of organic compounds in space environments
Major NASA and JAXA Sample Return Missions
NASA Stardust Mission
Involved since 2005 in analyzing samples from Comet Wild 2 and interstellar particles. Helped develop extraction methods and applied machine learning to discover previously missed impact craters, approximately doubling the number of particles found.
Key Discoveries:
- Crystalline olivine and spinel in interstellar materials (Gainsforth et al. 2014)
- Formation conditions of chondrules in comet Wild 2 (Gainsforth et al. 2015)
- Finding sparse particles in spacecraft collectors using a convolutional neural net (Jaeger et al. 2021 - Meteoritics and Planetary Science)
- First use of nano IR to examine extraterrestrial samples (Dominguez et al. 2014)
JAXA Hayabusa 2 Mission (Asteroid Ryugu)
Collaborative analysis of samples returned from asteroid Ryugu, contributing expertise in advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques (Gainsforth et al. 2024).
Key Discoveries:
- Coevolution of phyllosilicate, carbon, sulfide, and apatite minerals in Ryugu’s parent body
- Evidence for aqueous alteration processes on the asteroid
- Spatial relationships between organic carbon and mineral phases
- Constraints on thermal history and hydrothermal evolution
NASA Interplanetary Dust
Analysis of interplanetary dust collected in Earth’s stratosphere using NASA ER-2 jets.
Contributions:
- Comparative analysis with comets samples
- Advanced imaging techniques
- Collaborative research protocols
- International data sharing
NASA Genesis Mission
Investigated oxidation processes in molybdenum/platinum collection surfaces using focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy analysis.
Key Techniques: FIB sectioning, TEM analysis, ion implantation
X-ray Astronomy
Chandra and XMM Newton X-ray Space Telescopes
Analysis of Fe-L edge X-ray spectra of interstellar space using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM/Newton X-ray Observatory. Black holes and Neutron stars provided a sufficiently bright source to enable X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the interstellar medium (Westphal et al. 2019).
Research Areas:
- Oxidation state and chemical environment of Fe in interstellar space.
- Variation in the interstellar medium.
- Understanding the distribution of dust along lines to different compact X-ray sources.