Walter S. Kiefer

Education

Ph.D., Planetary Science and Geophysics, California Institute of Technology, 1990
Thesis: Models for the Formation of Highland Regions on Venus

M.S., Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, 1986

B.S., Physics and Astronomy, summa cum laude, Texas Christian University, 1984
Honors Thesis: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of Clay Minerals and Tar Sands


Employment

Staff Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 1997-present

Research Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 1993-1997

National Research Council Research Associate, Geodynamics Branch, Goddard Space Flight Center, 1990-1993

Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1984-1990


Spacecraft Mission and Instrument Development Experience

GRAIL Mission Guest Scientist, 2012-2014

Dawn Mission Science Team Co-investigator for Asteroid 4 Vesta Encounter, 2010-2013

Venus High Temperature Seismometer Instrument Development Team, 2009-present

NASA Venus Science and Technology Definition Team, 2008-2009

Lunar Geophysics Instrument Package Development Team, 2006-2010


Current Research Grants

Principal Investigator for "Improved Models of Mantle Convection and the Thermal Evolution of Mars"
NASA Mars Fundamental Research Program

Principal Investigator for "The Density of the Lunar Crust and Implications for the Moon's Early Volcanic History"
NASA GRAIL Guest Scientist Program

Co-Investigator for "Crustal Structure of 4 Vesta"
NASA DAWN at Vesta Participating Scientist Program (David Mittlefehldt is PI)

Co-Investigator for "Impact Processes in the Origin and Evolution of the Moon: New Sample-driven Perspectives"
NASA Lunar Science Institute (David Kring is PI)

Co-Investigator for "Density and Porosity of Lunar Materials"
NASA Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research Program (Dan Britt is PI)

Co-Investigator for "The Density and Porosity of Martian Crustal Materials"
NASA Mars Fundamental Research Program (Dan Britt is PI)

Co-Investigator for "Complete Restoration of ALSEP Data, April through June 1975, and the Associated Metadata"
NASA Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research Program (Seiichi Nagihara is PI)

Co-Investigator for "Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Geochemical Evolution and Thermal Structure of the Martian Mantle: Test for the Magma Ocean Hypothesis"
NASA Cosmochemistry Research Program (Dave Draper is PI)

Co-Investigator for "High Temperature Seismometer for Venus Applications"
NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (Gary Hunter is PI)


Professional Service

NASA Committees (1999-present)

  • Discovery Concept Study Review Panel
  • Discovery Downselect Review Panel
  • Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research Review Panel
  • Lunar Data Analysis Program Review Panel
  • Mars Data Analysis Program Review Panel (Group Chief for Solid Body Geophysics)
  • Mars Fundamental Research Program Review Panel
  • Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Review Panel
  • Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Data Analysis Program Review Panel
  • Outer Planets Research Program Review Panel
  • Planetary Geology and Geophysics Review Panel (Group Chief for Geophysics)
  • Venus Exploration Program Analysis Group
  • Venus Science and Technology Definition Team

Scientific Organizing Committee for Second Workshop on the Lunar Highlands Crust, 2012

Scientific Advisory Committee for Year of the Solar System: Digital Media for Planetary Science, WGBH/PBS, 2012-2014

Scientific Organizing Committee for Workshop on Early Planetary Differentiation, 2006

Program Committee, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1994-1995, 1999-2000, 2003-2005, 2009-2010, 2013

American Geophysical Union, Meetings Committee, 1998-2002

Scientific Organizing Committee for Conference on Geophysical Detection of Subsurface Water on Mars, 2001

Judge's Panel for Tectonophysics Section Best Student Paper Award, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 1996, 2000, 2001

Scientific Advisory Committee for Redesign of Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum's Solar System Gallery, 1997-1998

American Geophysical Union, Committee on Study of the Earth's Deep Interior, 1996-1998

Judge's Panel for Stephen E. Dwornik Planetary Geoscience Student Paper Award, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 1993, 1995


Honors

National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship, 1984-1987

Boller Award for Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis, Texas Christian University, 1984


Professional and Honorary Societies

American Geophysical Union

Phi Beta Kappa

Sigma Xi


Dr. Kiefer's Home Page           LPI Home Page


Walter S. Kiefer,   kiefer@lpi.usra.edu