Research Background

Summary and Research Foci

I was born in Tripoli, Libya in 1975, graduated from the astronomy department at the Cairo University, Egypt in 1997 then received my PhD in September 2002 with a distinguished honor degree from the Paris VI University in France. My research work involves understanding the electromagnetic properties of rocks in the radar frequency range and mapping subsurface hydrological and volcanic structures in terrestrial and planetary arid environments using different types of radar imaging and sounding techniques as well other complementary geophysical techniques. My current studies cover two potential applications. The first is the ability of low-frequency orbital sounding and ground-penetrating radars (GPR) to map the possible presence of Martian deep subsurface hydrological features, such ground ice, aquifers and unsaturated zones. I am currently a participating scientist on the MARSIS-US-team (ESA-2003) and a Co-I on the WISDOM GPR experiment (ESA-2013). My approach includes laboratory low frequency electromagnetic (EM) characterization of Martian-like soils, GPR field surveys in volcanic Mars-analog environments and FDTD numerical simulations of wave propagation in geo-electrical models. The second is the use of radar at shallower depths to explore and map subsurface stratigraphy, structures, and buried geologic features such as impact craters, paleo-hydrological drainage networks, and volcanic rifts, lava tubes and flows. I am also interested in the application of other electromagnetic geophysical methods such as Transient Electromagnetic Method (TEM), resistivity measurements and seismic as a support to the interpretation of the radar data. My research interest in planetary subsurface exploration cover also sounding asteroids and cometary interiors through my participation as Co-I in the CONSERT radar experiment on board the Rosetta mission (ESA, 2004-2011) and the NASA proposed Deep Interior mission (NASA-2011). I am currently a Visiting Scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute - NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, were I established a dielectric measurement lab for planetary materials.

Key words: Mars, Planetary Radar, Planetary Geophysics

1. Academic Education

1999–2002   PhD. in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Major Planetary Science) from Paris VI University, France

Institutional affiliation during thesis: Bordeaux Observatory, France & National Supreme College for Chemistry and Physics in Bordeaux, France (ENSCPB).

Thesis title: On the performance of low frequency sounding radar and its potential for mapping subsurface water on Mars.

Thesis Committee: Gary Olhoeft (Colorado School of Mines, CO, USA), Stephen M. Clifford (Lunar and Planetary Institute, TX, USA), Jean Jacques Berthelier (Centre d’Etude Terrestre et Planétaire, Velizy, France), Philippe Paillou (Observatoire de Bordeaux, Floirac, France), François Costard (Université de Paris-Sud), Pierre. Encrenaz (LESIA and French Academy of Science), Jean Paul Parneix (Ecole de Chimie et Physique de Bordeaux, France), Jean-Marie Malezieux (Université de Bordeaux III, France).

1998–1999   Master (DEA) in Instrumentational Methods in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Major Planetary Science) from Paris VI University, France.  Institutional affiliation during the thesis: University of Paris VI, France & Bordeaux Observatory, France.

Thesis title: Subsurface Imaging using Synthetic Aperture and Ground Penetrating Radar: Application to Mars and Arid Environments.

Jury: P. Paillou (Observatoire de Bordeaux, France) & P. Encrenaz (Observatoire de Paris, France -Academy of Science, France).

1993–1997   Bachelor of Science in Astronomy, from the faculty of Sciences at the Cairo University, Egypt,(Merit prize of the Cairo University)
Graduation project: Sensors & Physical Properties of Arid Planetary Surfaces

2. Areas of Expertise

• Laboratory electromagnetic characterization of planetary analogues & extraterrestrial materials (6 Years where three years of laboratory measurements in the extraterrestrial sample facility at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston).

• GPR fieldwork and data analysis in earth hyper-arid and volcanic environments: Mars analogs studies (8 Years, 21 Field surveys in USA including Hawaii and Alaska, France, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Djibouti and Canada)

• FDTD simulation, signal processing and Planetary radar data analysis (e.g. MARSIS) (5 Years)

2-1 Participation in Planetary Radar Instrument Investigations 

2-2 Participation in Earth Radar Remote Sensing Instruments

CO-I on RAMSES field tests:  High-resolution airborne P-L-X-C band polarimetric SAR imaging of the subsurface drainage network in the oriental Sahara, French Aerospace Research Center (ONERA, 2000–2009).

2-3 Participation in laboratory Electromagnetic Characterization Studies

1. Electromagnetic characterization of Mars synthetic soils analogs (1 KHz to 500 MHz): TES and THEMIS calibration samples, provided by JSC.
2. Electromagnetic characterization of cometary analogs (1 MHz to 1 GHz): Measurements on different Chondrites provided by JSC, under different porosity, temperature and ice mixture levels.
3. Electromagnetic characterizations of Mars analogs from arid regions (1 MHz to 1 GHz): Measurements on samples collected from Djibouti, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Craters of the Moon, Bishop Tuff and Yucca Mountain vicinity.
4. Electromagnetic characterization of ice-dust mixtures (1 MHz to1 GHz) as Planetary analog to Mars Polar Regions and Europa (in Progress).
5. Electromagnetic characterization of the JSC lunar soil simulant project.

3. Professional Positions

4. Currently Funded Grants

• Electromagnetic Characterization of Dusty-Ice and Hydrate-Rich Materials in Support of Current and Future Planetary Radar Investigations of icy Environments in the Solar System. NASA-Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 2008 to 2010. 430 k$ (Principal Investigator)

• Rock Electromagnetic Characterization in Support of Radar Sounding and Imaging Investigations of Planetary Surfaces, NASA-Planetary Geology and Geophysics program, 2005–2008 (PI). 180 k$

• Broadband GPR Field and Laboratory Investigations of Mars Analogs: Calibration and Blind Studies of Well-Characterized Sites in the Western United States, NASA-Mars Fundamental Program Research, 2005–2007 (Co-I, PI- Dr. Cynthia Dinwiddie, SWRI). 200 k$

• Broadband GPR Investigation: Remote Hyper-Arid Desert and Cold Climate Analogs of Mars, NASA- Mars Fundamental Program Research, 2005–2007 (Co-I, PI-Dr. Stephen Clifford, LPI). 200 k$

• Radar Mosaic in band L of Africa and Arabic peninsula: Mapping subsurface paleo-hydrlogical structures, Submitted to the French Space Agency CNES, 2006–2008 (Co-I, PI- Dr. Philippe Paillou, Observatoire de Bordeaux). 4 m$

• Sahara; what lies beneath, Education and Public Outreach NASA proposal grant, 2005–2008 (PI). 45 k$: production of a 3D dome-projected movie on the Sahara as a Mars analog, description of the potential similarities between both paleo- environments, collaboration with the Houston museum of natural sciences.

• Mars Environmental and Soil Simulating Facility for Geophysical and Exobiological Studies, Funded by CNRS, INSU and Ile de France SEASME program, 240k USD, 2007-2009 (Heggy, co-PI)

• GlobVolcano, Validation of InSAR anomalic deformations using GPR, European Space Agency, 56 k USD, 2007-2009 (Heggy, Co-I, PI Kaminski from IPGP)

5. Service to the Community

• Panelist on the NASA Lunar Science Advanced Research Program
• Panelist on the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program
• Panelist on the NASA Education and Public Outreach Program
• Panelist on the ESA ROSETTA Planetary dust Workgroup (WG3)
• Panelist on University of Paris VII recruiting board

6. Merits

• Listed in Who is Who in Science and Engineering, 2008–2009

• French naturalization in February 2006 for exceptional hardship in scientific research.

• Nominated for best PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics for 2002 in France, SF2A price by the French Academy of Science (ref. Pierre Encrenaz, French Academy of Science, Paris, France).

• Merit Prize of the Cairo University for distinguished research in Astronomy, Cairo, Egypt, 1997

7. Convener Responsibilities

• Convener of the special session Mars Ground Ice and Associated Geophysical Methods (poster session) at the 2005 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco. Co-Convener: Dr. Cynthia Dinwiddie.

• Convener of the special session Subsurface Radar Investigations of Terrestrial Martian Analogues (two oral sessions and a poster session) at the 2004 AGU Joint Assembly, Montreal, Canada. Co-Conveners: Drs. Stephen Clifford and Steve Arcone.

• Convener of the Workshop on Low-Frequency Radar Investigations of Planetary and Terrestrial Environments, February 7–10, 2005, LPI, Houston, Texas. Co-Conveners: Drs. Stephen Clifford, Robert Grimm and Cynthia Dinwiddie.

• Member of the local organizing committee of the International Astronomical Union, Cairo, March 2006.

8. Editorial Roles

Associate Editor of the JGR-Planets Special Issue on Radar Investigations of Planetary and Terrestrial Environments, ~ 22 Submissions, publication in June 2006.

9. Students Supervised

• Ruth Carley, Physics college, Cambridge University, UK, LPI-summer intern and Master student, June 17 2005 to May 2006: Characterization of the Density-dependent Electromagnetic Properties of Mars-like Soils: Implications for Radar Studies.

• Antoine Pommerol, Geophysics department, Ecole Normale Superieure, France, LPI-summer intern, April 1–August 1 2004: Numerical Modelling for Surface Density Inversion from TES Thermal Inertia Data.

• Jaime Fernandez, Geosciences department, University of Houston, USA, UH-LPI intern, February–September 2004: Numerical Methods in Understanding the Performances of Radar Sounding Techniques: Multiple Low Frequency Approach for Unambiguous Identification of Subsurface Stratigraphy

• Eric Wiggs, Geosciences department, University of Houston, USA, UH-LPI Intern, June–August 2004: Subsurface Mapping of Basalt Flows using Low Frequency Ground Penetrating Radar: Craters of the Moon National Monument as a Martian Analog Test Site.

• Daniel Card, University of Manitoba, Department of Geological Sciences, Canada, LPI-Intern, June-August 2006: FDTD simulation of Backscattered radar echoes on the Mars Polar Layered Deposits.

• Amine El Younsi, University of Bordeaux I, France, Department of electronic and electrical engineering, LPI-Intern June-August 2006: Dielectric characterization of ice-dust mixtures, implication on sounding Mars polar layered deposits and cometary material using low frequency sounding radars. 

• Josephine Boisson, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Examining MARSIS Radar Sounding Data for Evidence of Subpermafrost Groundwater.

• Alexis Humeau, Ecole National Superieure de Chimie et Physique de Bordeaux, Parametric electromagnetic characterization of ice-dust mixtures to support the MARSIS data analysis of the Mars polar layered deposits.

• Julie Cosmidis, Ecole Normale Superieure-Lyon, Parametric geoelectrical model of the Martian PLD.

• Damayanti Mukherjee, Houston University, Geosciences department, GPR and dielectric studies of Carbonate formations in Central Texas.

10. Membership in Professional Societies

Last updated
December 31, 2008