Walter S. Kiefer: Biography Education
Ph.D., Planetary Science and Geophysics, California Institute of Technology, 1990
Thesis: Models for the Formation of Highland Regions on VenusM.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 SandsProfessional Experience
Staff Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Institute, 1993-present
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 (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) Mission Guest Scientist, 2012-2016
DAVINCI: Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging mission Science Team Co-investigator (NASA Discovery program Phase A Concept Study, 2015-2016)
Venus High Temperature Seismometer Instrument Development Team, 2009-2014
NASA Venus Science and Technology Definition Team, 2008-2009
Lunar Geophysics Instrument Package Development Team, 2006-2010
Current Research Grants
Principal Investigator for "Differentiation and Early Thermal Evolution of Meteorite Parent Bodies"
NASA Emerging Worlds ProgramPrincipal Investigator for "Improved Models of the Thermal and Magmatic Evolution of Mars"
NASA Mars Fundamental Research ProgramPrincipal Investigator for "The Density of the Lunar Crust and Implications for the Moon's Early Volcanic History"
NASA GRAIL Guest Scientist ProgramCo-Investigator for "Processing and Addition of ALSEP High-order Data Products and Metadata to the Planetary Data System"
NASA Planetary Data Archiving, Restoration, and Tools Program (Seiichi Nagihara is PI)Professional Activities
Co-Chairman, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Program Committee, 2016-2017
Guest Associate Editor, Meteoritics Planet. Sci. special issue on Volatiles in the Martian Interior, (scheduled for publication, November 2016).
Scientific Organizing Committee for Workshop on Volatiles in the Martian Interior, 2014.
Member of the Leadership Team for revising "Goals, Objectives, and Investigations for Venus Exploration" for NASA's Venus Exploration Analysis Group, 2013-2014.
Co-convener of Special Session on "GRAIL Explores the Moon's Interior", Lunar Planetary Science Conference 44, 2013
Scientific Advisory Committee for Year of the Solar System: Digital Media for Planetary Science, WGBH/PBS, 2012-2014
Scientific Organizing Committee for Second Workshop on the Lunar Highlands Crust, 2012
Co-convener of Special Session on "Interior Structure and Evolution of the Terrestrial Planets", DI-33B and DI-43A, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 2010
Scientific Organizing Committee for Workshop on Early Planetary Differentiation, 2006
Scientific Organizing Committee for Conference on Geophysical Detection of Subsurface Water on Mars, 2001
American Geophysical Union, Meetings Committee, 1998-2002
American Geophysical Union, Committee on Study of the Earth's Deep Interior, 1996-1998
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
Dr. Kiefer's Home Page LPI Home Page
Walter S. Kiefer, [email protected]
