Science - Planetary Ices: People: Karly Pitman

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Planetary Ices: People

Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 183-501
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109

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818-354-4825

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818-354-0966

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Curriculum Vitae:
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Karly Pitman

Education

A.B. in Astronomy and Geology; correlate in Physics - Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York (1999)
M.S. in Physics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2002)
Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2005)

Research Interests

Light scattering of micron-sized dust particles in planetary and astrophysical environments, with emphasis on connections between theoretical models, laboratory and field data
- Modeling radiative transfer in planetary surfaces, atmospheric aerosols, and interstellar dust at visible and infrared wavelengths
- Satellites and planets: Titan, Mars
- Quantitative interpretation of laboratory and field infrared spectroscopy of candidate dust grains
- Astromineralogy: composition and physical properties of circumstellar and interstellar dust
Using radiative transfer modeling to understand the physical properties of Titan's atmosphere, haze, and surface

Projects

Cassini-Huygens
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is currently exploring the ringed planet, its mysterious moons, the stunning rings and its complex magnetic environment.

Professional Experience

NASA Postdoctoral Program (NRC) Fellow (B. J. Buratti) Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Oak Ridge Associated Universities (2006-present)
Postdoctoral Research Associate (A. M. Hofmeister, A. K. Speck), Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Washington University - St. Louis (2005-2006)
Graduate Research Assistant (M. J. Wolff), Space Science Institute (2003-2005)
Graduate Research Assistant (G. C. Clayton), Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University (1999-2005)
Undergraduate Research Assistant (K. Menking), Dept. of Geology & Geography, Vassar College (1997-1999)
Undergraduate Research Assistant (M. Sullivan), Dept. of Geology & Geography, Vassar College (1995-1997)

Selected Awards

NASA Postdoctoral Program (NRC) Fellow (B. J. Buratti), NASA/ORAU/JPL (2006-present)
LPI Graduate Fellowship (A. H. Treiman), Lunar & Planetary Institute (2003)
Board of Regents Fellowship, The Graduate School, LSU (1999-2003)
Frances W. Pick Scholarship, Vassar College (1995-1999)
Westlake Scholarship, Westlake Foundation (1995-1999)

Selected Publications

Pitman, K. M., Buratti, B. J., Mosher, J. A., Bauer, J. M., Momary, T. W., and Brown, R. H. First high solar phase angle observations of Rhea using Cassini VIMS: Upper limits on water vapor and geologic activity, Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 680, issue 1, pp. L65-L68, 2008.,
Barnes, J. W., Brown, R. H., Soderblom, L., Sotin, C., Le Mouelic, S., Rodriguez, S., Jaumann, R., Beyer, R. A., Buratti, B. J., Pitman, K., Baines, K. H., Clark, R., and Nicholson, P. Spectroscopy, morphometry, and photoclinometry of Titan’s dunefields from Cassini/VIMS, Icarus, vol. 195, issue 1, pp. 400-414, 2008.
Pitman, K.M., Hofmeister, A.M., Corman, A.B., and Speck A.K. Optical properties of silicon carbide for astrophysical applications I. New laboratory infrared reflectance spectra and optical constants, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 483, issue 2, pp. 661-672, 2008.
Hofmeister, A. M., and Pitman, K. M. Evidence for kinks in structural and thermodynamic properties across the forsterite-fayalite binary from thin-film IR absorption spectra, Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, vol. 34, issue 5, pp. 319-333, 2007.
Pitman, K.M., Speck, A.K., and Hofmeister, A.M. Challenging the identification of nitride dust in extreme carbon star spectra, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 371, issue 2, pp. 1744-1754, 2006.
Pitman, K.M., Wolff, M.J., and Clayton, G.C. Application of modern radiative transfer tools to model laboratory quartz emissivity, Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets, vol. 110, issue E08003, doi:10.1029/2005JE002428, 2005.
Pitman, K.M., Clayton, G.C., and Gordon, K.D. The 2175 Angstrom Extinction Bump in QSO Spectra, The Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 112, issue 770, pp. 537-541, 2000.

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