Dr. Ali M. Bramson, Principal Investigator/Assistant Professor

Ali studies problems related to understanding the quantitative geomorphology of other planets, especially the physical processes related to ice and volatiles that affect the surfaces of solid bodies in our solar system. She tackles these problems using a combination of spacecraft remote sensing observations (especially radar) and theoretical modeling, supplemented by occasional field work at terrestrial analog sites and experimental studies. Her research on Martian mid-latitude ice is helping to shape the future of in situ resource utilization and human exploration of Mars.

Kris Laferriere, Graduate Student

Kris completed her B.S. in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Maryland, College Park and joined Purdue in Fall 2020. She is interested in volatile driven surface processes across the Solar System. Kris' research is focused on the volatile transport and climatic history on Mars through radar observations of the polar spiral troughs. Her previous research includes studying cometary comas and analyzing variability of spectral signatures for lunar hydration.

Kris' Website

Riley McGlasson, Graduate Student

Riley joined Purdue in Fall 2020 as a PhD student. She earned her B.A. in physics with an emphasis in astronomy and a math minor from Macalester College in May 2020. There, through the Arecibo Observatory REU program, she discovered her love for radar observations while developing a radar-based model of the asteroid Midas. Her current research interests involve radar and planetary ices, and her research in the Bramson lab is focused on how radar observations of ice in the lab and in the field can help us to better identify ice elsewhere in the Solar System. In her free time, Riley enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing roller derby.

Riley's Website

Santa Lucía Pérez Cortés, Graduate Student

Santa Lucía Pérez Cortés received her BS in Geology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus in June 2022. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on research related to eolian geomorphology looking at scouring pits in the Medusa Fossae Formation and depressions across North Polar dunes on Mars. Currently, Santa is focused on studying the formation of landslides on different planetary bodies across the Solar System. She enjoys hiking, reading, and (whenever she gets the chance to go back home) warm weather.

Sam Harris, Graduate Student

Sam Harris earned his B.S. in Geosciences in 2024 from Florida Atlantic University where he worked on projects using radar to characterize biogenic gas production within peatlands. At Purdue, Sam is interested in using radar and modeling radar data to better understand subsurface features on the Earth, Moon, and Mars. Outside of research, he enjoys playing jazz (brass and guitar) and playing basketball.

Sam's Website

Christina Sowinski, Undergraduate Researcher

Christina is a sophomore from Union City, Indiana double majoring in Planetary Science and Geology & Geophysics. She is studying scouring pits in the Medusae Fossae Formation with Santa Lucía and hopes that gaining a better understanding of these aeolian features will provide insight into the MFF's composition and origin. In her free time, Christina enjoys hiking with her dog, backpacking, and playing frisbee.

Kyleshaquill Fred Velez, Undergraduate Researcher

Kyleshaquill is an undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez who is majoring in Geology. For his “topico”, he is working with Santa to map possibles areas of mass wasting on Enceladus. He also has participated in NASA’s Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts - Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition in which the team obtained second place in 2023 with the mission concept by the name of PROMISE (Permanent Research Outpost for Mars and Interplanetary Space Exploration mission). Outside from the academic aspect of life, Kyleshaquill enjoys playing the drums and playing dungeon and dragons.

Adrienne Lehman, Undergraduate Researcher

Adrienne is an undergraduate student majoring in physics with a minor in astronomy who is working on radar-based mapping of buried lava flows on the Moon. She has previously done research to collect, process, and analyze seismic data of the Kentland impact crater in Indiana, and will be participating in research in Dr. Kyoung-Soo Lee’s group investigating large-scale cosmic structures. She serves as a tutor for physics, calculus, and python for the Horizons Student Support Services and has been part of the Physics Undergraduate Mentorship and Women in Science programs on campus.

Jacob Ehman, Undergraduate Researcher

Jacob is a sophomore in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, with a minor in EAPS. Within the Bramson group, he is working on radar-based mapping of buried lava flows on the Moon. Separately, he was involved in a project involving the design and creation of a 1.5U CubeSat that would launch to Low Earth Orbit and deploy a large drag sail to demonstrate a novel technology to decrease time to de-orbit satellites.

Amanda Holmes, Undergraduate Researcher

Amanda is an undergraduate geology and geophysics student interested in remote sensing. She is working on radar-based mapping of buried lava flows on the Moon. She is the club treasurer for the Purdue University Geological society and in her free time enjoys drawing, video games, and photography.

Donnie H., Undergraduate Researcher

Donnie is a senior studying environmental geoscience. Their work with the Bramson group consists of using GIS to extract and compare statistics of areas within vs. outside of permanently shadowed regions of the lunar South Pole. Outside of their academics, they enjoy crocheting, playing Red Dead Redemption 2, and spending time with their cats and dog.

Kristel Izquierdo, Postdoctoral Researcher 2021–2024

Now at JHU Applied Physics Laboratory

Kris' Website