Skip Navigation
Search for People:
Search for Projects:

Katie Stack Morgan

Photo of Katie Stack Morgan

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 264-850

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

626.372.3784

Curriculum Vitae:

Click here

Member of:

Planetary Geosciences

Biography

Katie Stack Morgan is a research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with interests in Martian sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geologic mapping of planetary surfaces. Her research focuses on the Martian sedimentary rock record, using orbiter and rover image data to understand the evolution of ancient surface processes and environments on Mars. Katie is the Project Scientist of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, the Deputy Principal Investigator of Lunar Dashcam, and a member of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover science team.

Education

  • PhD, Geology, California Institute of Technology (2015)
  • MSc, Geology, California Institute of Technology (2011)
  • BA, Geosciences and Astronomy, Williams College (2008)

Professional Experience

  • Project Scientist, Mars 2020 Rover Mission (2025-present)
  • Deputy Principal Investigator, Lunar Dashcam (2024-present)
  • Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Planetary Geosciences Group (2014-present)
  • Collaborator, Science Office, Mars Science Laboratory (2012-present)
  • Deputy Project Scientist, Mars 2020 Rover Mission (2017-2025)
  • Participating Scientist, Mars Science Laboratory (2016-2022)

Community Service

  • Journal Reviewer: Nature Geosciences, Nature Communications, Geology, Geophysical Research Letters, JGR-Planets, Planetary and Space Science, Icarus, Marine Geology, and Geologos
  • Reviewer for NASA grants: Mars Data Analysis Program, Lunar Data Analysis Program, and Planetary Data Archiving, Restoration, and Tools
  • Conference Program Committee: DPS (2026), LPSC (2021, 2022), Mars 9 (2019)
  • Special Session Convener: DPS (2026), LPSC (2021, 2025), AGU (2021, 2023, 2024), GSA (2015, 2021)

Research Interests

Mars Sedimentology, Mars Stratigraphy, Planetary Geologic Mapping, Clastic Sedimentology, Mission Science Operations

Selected Awards

  • JPL North Star Award- Inspire (2026)
  • Mars 2020 Project Voyager Award (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2025)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Mars 2020 (2022, 2023, 2024)
  • JPL Explorer Award (2022)
  • NASA Early Career Public Achievement Medal (2021)
  • The JPL Edward Stone Award for Outstanding Research Publication (2021)
  • NASA Software of the Year Award, JPL OnSight Team Collaborator (2018)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, MSL (2013, 2015, 2017)
  • Mars Science Laboratory JPL Voyager Award (2015)
  • Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science and Healthcare (2013)
  • Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences Jahns Teaching Prize (2012)
  • Mineralogical Society of America’s American Mineralogist Undergraduate Award (2008)
  • Williams College Freeman Foote Prize in Geology (2008)

Selected Publications

  1. STACK, K.M., R. Frances, F.J. Calef III, S.J. Gwizd, J.F.Schroeder, J.R.C. Voigt, T. Kristinsson, P. Schroedl, J. Shah, M. Varnam, C.D. Neish, R.P. Perkins, S. Vanga, M.S. Bramble, A. Donnellan, J.T. Osterhaut, M. Tuite, B.B. Carr, C.W. Hamilton (2025), “Simulating Science Operations for a Joint Rover-Helicopter Mission Architecture in a Mars Analog Setting,” The Planetary Science Journal, https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ade786.
  2. STACK, K.M., L.R.W. Ives, S. Gupta, M.P. Lamb, M. Tebolt, G. Caravaca, J.P. Grotzinger, P. Russell, D.L. Shuster, A.J. Williams, H. Amundsen, S. Alwmark, A.M. Annex, R. Barnes, J. Bell III, O. Beyssac, T. Bosak, L.S. Crumpler, E. Dehouck, S.J. Gwizd, K. Hickman-Lewis, B.H.N. Horgan, J. Hurowitz, H. Kalucha, O. Kanine, C. Lesh, J. Maki, N. Mangold, N. Randazzo, C. Seeger, R.M.E. Williams, A. Brown, E. Cardarelli, H. Dypvik, D. Flannery, J. Frydenvang, S.-E. Hamran, J.I. Nunez, D. Paige, J.I. Simon, M. Tice, C. Tate, R.C. Wiens (2024). “Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Shenandoah Formation, Western Fan, Jezero Crater, Mars,” J. Geophys. Res.-Planets, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008187.
  3. STACK, K.M., W.E. Dietrich, M.P. Lamb, R.J. Sullivan, J.R. Christian, C.E. Newman, C.D. O’Connell-Cooper, J.W. Sneed, M. Day, M. Baker, R.E. Arvidson, C.M. Fedo, S. Khan, R.M.E. Williams, K.A. Bennett, A.B. Bryk, S. Cofield, L.A. Edgar, V.K. Fox, A.A. Fraeman, C.H. House, D.M. Rubin, V.Z. Sun, J.K. Van Beek (2022), Orbital and In-Situ Investigation of Periodic Bedrock Ridges in Glen Torridon, Gale Crater, Mars, J. Geophys. Res.-Planets, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE007096.
  4. STACK, K.M. et al. (2020), Photogeologic Map of the Perseverance Rover Field Site in Jezero Crater Constructed by the Mars 2020 Science Team, Space Science Reviews, https://doi.org10.1007/s11214-020-00739-x.
  5. STACK, K.M., J.P. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, S. Gupta, D.M. Rubin, L.C. Kah, L.A. Edgar, D.M. Fey, J.A. Hurowitz, M. McBride, F. Rivera-Hernandez, D.Y. Sumner, J.K. Van Beek, R.M.E. Williams, R. Aileen Yingst (2019), “Evidence for plunging river plume deposits in the Pahrump Hills member of the Murray formation, Gale crater, Mars,” Sedimentology, https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12558.
  6. STACK, K.M., C.S. Edwards, J.P. Grotzinger, S. Gupta, D.Y. Sumner, F.J. Calef, III, L.A. Edgar, K.S. Edgett, A.A. Fraeman, S.R. Jacob, L.L. Le Deit, K.W. Lewis, M.S. Rice, D. Rubin, R.M.E. Williams, K.H. Williford (2016), Comparing orbiter and rover image-based mapping of an ancient sedimentary environment, Aeolis Palus, Gale crater, Mars, Icarus, Special Issue: MicroMars to MegaMars, https://doi.org.10.1016/j.icarus.2016.02.024.
  7. STACK, K.M. and R.E. Milliken (2015), Reflectance spectroscopy of clay-sulfate Mixtures and implications for quantifying hydrated minerals on Mars, Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2014.12.009.
  8. STACK, K.M., J.P. Grotzinger, L.C. Kah, M.E. Schmidt, N. Mangold, K.S. Edgett, D.Y. Sumner, K.L. Siebach, M. Nachon, R. Lee, D.L. Blaney, L.P. Deflores, L.A. Edgar, A.G. Fairen, L.A. Leshin, S. Maurice, D.Z. Oehler, M.S. Rice, R.C. Wiens (2014), Diagenetic origin of nodules in the Sheepbed member, Yellowknife Bay formation, Gale Crater, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., https://doi.org10.1002/2014JE004617.
  9. STACK, K.M., J.P. Grotzinger, R.E. Milliken (2013), Bed Thickness Distributions on Mars: An Orbital Perspective, J. Geophys. Res.-Planets., https://doi.org/10.1002/jgre.20092.
  10. IVES, L.R.W., K.M. Stack, E.C. Geyman, S. Gupta, G. Caravaca, K.L. Siebach, S.J. Gwizd, J.P. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, N. Mangold. (2025), “Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the fluvial-deltaic Skrinkle Haven member, Tenby formation, Jezero crater, Mars,” Journal of Sedimentary Research, https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2025.019.
  11. TEBOLT, M., K.M. Stack, T.A. Goudge, L.R.W. Ives, S. Gupta, G. Caravaca, R. Barnes, G. Paar, N. Randazzo (2025), “Characterizing the Facies and Stratigraphy of the Enchanted Lake area in Jezero Crater, Mars,” J. Geophys. Res.-Planets, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008278.
  12. Hollocher, K., H.M. Forgeng, K.M. Stack, E. Morgan, A. Denny, E.A. Lott (2025), Origin kof big garnet amphibolites at Gore Mountain and other localities, Adirondack Mountains, New York State, USA: Whole-rock geochemical constraints, Geosphere, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02812.1.
  13. EMRAN, A., J. Tarnas, K.M. Stack (2025), “Global Distribution of Serpentine on Mars,” Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110630.
  14. EMRAN, A. and K. Stack (2025), Understanding Composition Evolution of Hollows at Dominici Crater, Mercury, Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116576.
  15. VOIGT, J., V. Sun, K.M. Stack, C. Viviano-Beck (2024), “Investigating Hydrated Silica in Syrtis Major: Implications for the Intensity of Water-Rock Interaction,” Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108610.
  16. GWIZD, S.J., K.M. Stack, R. Francis, F. Calef, B.B. Carr, C. Langley, J. Graff, Þ. Hanning Kristinsson, V. Páll Thorarensen, E. Bernharðsson, M. Phillips, M. Varnam, N. Hadland, J. Shah, J. Moersch, U. Basu, J.R.C. Voigt, C.W. Hamilton (2024), “Comparing rover and helicopter mission architectures in a Mars analog setting in Iceland,” The Planetary Science Journal, https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad55f4.
  17. BRETZFELDER, J.M., K.M. Stack, A.A. Fraeman, M. Day, W.E. Dietrich, A.B. Bryk (2023), Aeolian Bedrock Ridges in Gale Crater, Mars, Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.11585.
  18. KHAN, S.Y., K.M. Stack, R. Aileen Yingst, K. Bergmann (2022), Characterization of clasts in the Glen Torridon region of Gale crater observed by the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover, J. Geophys. Res.-Planets, https://doi.org/10.1029.2021JE007095.
  19. FARLEY, K.A., K.M. Stack, et al. (2022), Aqueously altered igneous rocks on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars, Science, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abo2196.
  20. TARNAS, J., K. Stack Morgan, M. Parente, J. Mustard, A. Koeppel, K. Moore, B. Horgan, F. Seelos, E. Cloutis, P.B. Kelemen, D. Flannery, A.J. Brown, K. Frizzell, P.C. Pinet (2021), Characteristics, origins, and biosignature preservation potential of carbonate-bearing rocks within and outside of Jezero crater, J. Geophys. Res.-Planets, https://doi.org10.1002/essoar.10506705.1.
  21. RABINOVITCH, J. and K.M. Stack (2021), Characterizing landing site safety on Venus using Venera panoramas and Magellan radar properties, Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114429.
  22. SUN, V.Z. and K.M. Stack (2020), Geologic Map of Jezero Crater and the Nili Planum Region, Mars, USGS Scientific Investigations Map 3464, pamphlet 14 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:75,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3464.
  23. SUN, V.Z., K.M. Stack, L.C. Kah, W. Fischer, R. Wiens, S. Johnson, M. Nachon, C. House, L. Thompson, A. Williams, R. Kronyak, S. VanBommel (2019), Late-Stage Diagenetic Concretions in the Murray Formation, Gale Crater, Mars, Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2018.12.030.
  24. KAH, L.C., K.M. Stack, J.L. Eigenbrode, R.A. Yingst, K.S. Edgett (2018), Syndepositional precipitation of calcium sulfate in Gale Crater, Mars, Terra Nova, 30(6), https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12359.
  25. GROTZINGER, J.P., D.Y. Sumner, L.C. Kah, K. Stack, et al. (2014). A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars, Science, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1242777.

Projects

Mars 2020
MSL - Mars Science Laboratory