Team

Art by Anne Virkki, Arecibo Observatory, Copyright © 2018 Anne Virkki

Meet the LPI Team!

Beth Aponte Hernandez

  • Research Assistant, USRA/LPI
  • B.S. in Industrial Chemical Processes
  • Certificate in Photonics
  • Data manager and analyst for #TeamRadar

 

Additionally, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute I actively collaborate with Drs. Kennda Lynch, Germán Martínez, and Paul Schenk.

 

Meet the Arecibo Team!


#TeamRadar from Arecibo Observatory

Collaborators

Sriram Bhiravarasu, Indian Space Research Organization
Nancy Chabot, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Vincent Chevrier, University of Arkansas
Cristina Dalle Ore, SETI Institute
Justin Filiberto, NASA Johnson Space Center
Raina Gough, CU-Boulder
Jennifer Hanley, Lowell Observatory
Ellen Howell, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona
Michelle Kirchoff, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder
Abel Méndez, University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo
Heather M. Meyer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Mike Nolan, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona
Danielle Nuding, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Katherine Primm, Planetary Science Institute
Alejandro Soto, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder
Patrick Taylor, NRAO Green Bank Observatory
Margaret Tolbert, CU-Boulder

Students

Although I am not a university academic, I have had the privilege of working with students through internship programs, as well as research collaborations.

Graduate Students

Rachel Slank, 2018 – 2022

  • Ph.D., Space and Planetary Sciences
  • University of Arkansas
  • Thesis topic: Martian simulation experiments focusing on atmospheric-regolith interactions, primarily deliquescence and adsorption
  • Role: Ex officio Ph.D. committee member
  • Primary Advisor: Vincent Chevrier
  • Publications: PSJ

Carlos Estevez Galarza, 2015 – 2019

  • Masters in Physics
  • University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
  • Thesis topic: Adsorption/desorption as a perturbative process to the martian water cycle: Insights from the Phoenix and MSL mission
  • Role: Thesis Advisor
  • Additionally Research Assistant, Arecibo Observatory, 2015
  • Publications: LPSC

Undergraduate Students

ChanseyChansey Champagne, Summer 2022

  • USRA/LPI Summer Intern
  • Topic: Automating size determination of near-Earth asteroids from low SNR radar imaging.
  • Role: Advisor

CooperChristian Cooper, Summer 2019

  • USRA/LPI Summer Intern
  • Topic: Post-bombardment signature of an increase in impact velocity on the Moon.
  • Role: Advisor

Gabriel Muñiz Negrón, Summer 2019

  • USRA/PRIDE Lab Summer Intern
  • Topic: Development of small profile doppler radar for planetary radar analog studies.
  • Role: Advisor
  • Publications: LPSC

Andy López-Oquendo, Summer 2018

  • USRA/LPI Summer Intern
  • Topic: Ice-inferred ages of impact craters on the icy Moons of Saturn to infer the recent cratering rate
  • Role: Advisor
  • Publications: LPSC

Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez-Vahamonde, 2016 – 2017

  • NSF REU Student (2016) and Research Assistant (2017)
  • Arecibo Observatory
  • Topics: Morphology of small-scale, mass movement events at Gale crater, Mars & Cratering studies of Rhea and Dione
  • Role: Advisor & Supervisor
  • Publications: LPSC

Bryan Rodriguez-Colon, 2015 – 2016

  • NSF REU Student (2015) & Research Assistant (2016)
  • Arecibo Observatory
  • Topic: Subsurface biologic potential of Gale crater, Mars
  • Role: Advisor & Supervisor
  • Publications: LPSC

Clarissa Leight, Summer 2016

  • NSF REU student
  • Arecibo Observatory
  • Topic: Impact-induced thermal histories of Rhea and Dione
  • Role: Advisor
  • Publications: LPSC

Erika Lopez-Garcia, 2013 – 2014

  • Research Assistant
  • Brown University
  • Topic: Morphological study of Iapetus’ equatorial ridge
  • Role: Co-advisor
  • Primary Advisor: Amy Barr Mlinar
  • Publications: Icarus

Others

  • Reynaldo Castro Estrada, Summer 2015, Arecibo Observatory, RET intern
  • Ilya Uts, Summer 2011, University of Arkansas, REU Intern
  • Nitish Chopra, Summer 2010, University of Arkansas, REU Intern
  • Victor Akunyili, Summer 2009, University of Arkansas, REU Intern