Geothermal heat flow is a fundamental measure of the internal composition of a planet. On the Moon (which has lost much of its heat of formation, is not strongly tidally heated, and is not likely to have strong mantle convection) surface heat flux results predominantly from the subsurface column abundance of radiogenic material (e.g. U, Th, K…). As U and Th are refractory, the concentration of these elements can be directly related to the refractory composition of the bulk planetary body.

        I work on all aspects of planetary geothermal heat flux, from analyzing data (such as Apollo, InSight or Chang'E), to modeling global heat flux, to modeling local perturbations on heat flux measurements, to lab measurements, to designing future instruments to measure geothermal heat flux. 

        I originally was interested in geothermal work as a constraint on the depth of subsurface ice but it has grown into a discipline of its own. I am excited to be part of the InSight mission team attempting to measure Martian heat flux for the first time and part of the Lunar Geophysical Network team, planning to go to the Moon in the mid 2020's.