View of a planet from orbit.
USGS

Astrogeology Science Center

Lisa Gaddis is a Research Geologist with the Astrogeology Team of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, AZ, where she has worked since 1990 as a scientist and an administrator. Lisa served as Chief Scientist of the Astrogeology Team from June 2003 to October 2007. Her research interests have focus on the use of remote sensing data at multiple wavelengths to understand geologic processes in a variety of environments on the Earth, Moon, Mars, and Venus.

In addition to being experienced in the use of radar data for characterizing emplacement and evolution of volcanic and eolian terrains on Earth, Lisa is skilled in calibration and analyses of spectroscopic data from visible/near-infrared and thermal emission systems. Recent research projects includes use of visible and near-infrared Clementine data for compositional studies of volcanoes on the Moon, deconvolution of thermal emission data from Mars Global Surveyor to study the origin of layered deposits in channels, canyons, and craters on Mars, and use of stereo image data to characterize pyroclastic deposits volumes and morphology at the lunar crater Alphonsus.

While working with Athena Science Team members at USGS (Herkenhoff, Soderblom, Johnson, Geissler, Chapman) to operate and analyze data from the MER Microscopic Imager and other instruments, Lisa served as Athena Science Team Collaborator and a member of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Long-Term Planning Science Theme group. Lisa is also Science Lead for an Astrogeology planetary cartography project (Tammy Becker, Project Lead) to digitize, process, and create a long-lasting and valuable digital archive of the Lunar Orbiter photographic data from the late 1960's (Lunar Orbiter Digitization Project). In partnership with staff at USGS and JPL, Lisa is Principal Investigator for the Imaging Node of the NASA Planetary Data System. The Imaging Node team recently released the Clementine Near-Infrared Global Mosaic of the Moon.

Education

  • Ph.D., Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 1987
  • Sc.M., Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1981
  • A.B., Geology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1979
  • Benjamin Franklin High School, New Orleans, LA, 1975

Research

  • Research experience in Planetary Surface Processes (volcanism, impact cratering, aeolian processes), Remote Sensing (quantitative analyses of multispectral and radar data for Earth, the Moon, Mars, and Venus), and Planetary Cartography (radiometric, geometric and photometric data processing and analyses).
  • Active participant in scientific research, cartographic processing, and/or data archiving efforts for several NASA space exploration and terrestrial remote sensing missions, including Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Pathfinder, Clementine, Galileo SSI, Magellan, SIR-C, SIR-B, AIRSAR, and AVIRIS.
  • Extensive knowledge of and experience with Linux-, UNIX-, Macintosh-, and VMS-based image processing and data reduction software.

Honors

  • 1998 NASA Group Achievement Award for Mars Pathfinder
  • 2004 NASA Group Achievement Award for Mars Exploration Rovers
  • 2006 USGA Western Region 'Excellence in Financial Management' Award
  • 2004-2007 USGS Astrogeology Team Star Award

Highlights of Qualifications

  • Research experience in Planetary Surface Processes (volcanism, impact cratering, aeolian processes), Remote Sensing (quantitative analyses of multispectral and radar data for Earth, the Moon, Mars, and Venus), and Planetary Cartography (radiometric, geometric and photometric data processing and analyses).
  • Active participant in scientific research, cartographic processing, and/or data archiving efforts for several NASA space exploration and terrestrial remote sensing missions, including Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Pathfinder, Clementine, Galileo SSI, Magellan, SIR-C, SIR-B, AIRSAR, and AVIRIS.
  • Extensive knowledge of and experience with Linux-, UNIX-, Macintosh-, and VMS-based image processing and data reduction software.

Service

Dr. Gaddis is an active member of NASA review and advisory panels for space science, space exploration, and planetary cartography. She had the pleasure of co-convening a meeting in Flagstaff ("New Views of the Moon II") featuring research in lunar science and is co-author of a chapter on lunar resources from a newly published book from this series of meetings (Duke et al., 2006). Dr. Gaddis is more recently involved in efforts to return to the Moon (MMSSG White Paper, Archinal Datacontrol). Lisa served for 3 years as Editor for the Planetary Sciences Section of Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union. Currently a Consulting Member of the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (Gazeteer of Planetary Nomenclature), Gaddis is also serving as Chair of the Science Council of the Lunar and Planetary Institute of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA, http://www.usra.edu/).

Education & Public Outreach

As do many Astrogeology scientists and staff, Dr. Gaddis frequently gives public presentations on topics in earth and space science. She particularly enjoys speaking and working with children of all ages, and she gives in-class talks, provides tours of USGS facilities, and serves as judge in local science fairs.

Bibliography

US Department of Interior | US Geological Survey | USA.gov | Contact Us
Background Credits: NASA/JPL/USGS