Lee Saper
Biography
I am a sample scientist with a focus on the petrology, mineral chemistry, isotopic and volatile compositions of terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials. To complement microanalysis of natural materials, I run high-temperature experiments to constrain phase equilibria, and the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of minerals, melts, and vapor phases. I have also been involved in mission science, serving as the targeting lead for the Context Imager on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter from 2012-2015 and participating as a Collaborator during the primary mission for the Mars Science Laboratory. Currently, I am an affiliate on the Artemis III Geology Team.
Education
- B.Sc. Brown University (2012)
- M.Sc., PhD, Caltech (2018; 2021)
Professional Experience
- Malin Space Science Systems, Assistant Staff Scientist (2012-2015)
- University of Edinburgh, Postdoctoral Research Assistant (2021-2022)
Research Interests
- Experimental petrology; magmatic processes
- Thermodynamics and kinetics of redox reactions in minerals/melts
- Quantitative spectroscopy of natural materials
Selected Awards
- Rhode Island NASA Space Grant Scholar (2011)
- NASA MSL Group Achievement Award, MMM Operations (2014)
- NASA MSL Group Achievement Award, Primary Science Contribution (2015)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2016)
- Ian Campbell Award for Outstanding Performance in Field Work (2017)
- Associated Students of Caltech (ASCIT) Teaching Award (2019)
Selected Publications
- Saper, L.M., Brounce, M., Woelki, D., Cao, R., Bromiley, G. (2024) Variable oxidizing capacity of slab-derived fluids: insights from Fe and S speciation in glasses from the Troodos Ophiolite. Earth and Planetary Sciences Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118560
- Saper, L.M., Baker, M.B., Stolper, E.M. (2022) Fe2+-Mg partitioning between olivine and liquid at low oxygen fugacity: an experimental and thermodynamic framework. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 174(94), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-022-01955-0
- Richter, F., Saper, L., Villeneuve, J., Chaussidon, M., Watson, B.E., Davis, A.M., Mendybaev, R.A., Simon, S.S (2021) Reassessing the thermal history of martian meteorite Shergotty and lunar mare basalt Apollo 15555 using kinetic isotope fractionation of zoned minerals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 295, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2020.11.002
- Saper, L., Stolper, E.M. (2020) Controlled cooling-rate experiments on olivine-hosted melt inclusions: chemical diffusion and quantification of eruptive cooling-rates on Hawaii and Mars. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GC008772
- Saper, L.M., Liang, Y. (2014) Formation of plagioclase-bearing peridotite and plagioclase-bearing wehrlite and gabbro suite through reactive crystallization: an experimental study. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology,167:985, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-014-0985-7
- Saper, L., Mustard, J.F. (2013) Extensive linear ridge networks in Nili Fossae and Nilosyrtis, Mars: Implications for fluid flow in the ancient crust. Geophysical Research Letters, 40, 245-249, https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50106