I specialize in studies of regolith thermophyscial properties in the lab under planetary conditions. Some of my PhD thesis work looked at thermal properties of Martian regolith as a function of ice content as part of work for the Pheonix lander. Currently  I am working on low temperature thermal properties of lunar regolith (they gave me 30 grams of Apollo Moon dirt!... loaned me 30g) at the very low temperatures observed in the polar coldtraps on the Moon. I also work on theoretical modelling of these lab derived data and direct comparison with spacecraft data. By comparing these lab data to thermal infrared and microwave measurements of the Moon we hope to be able to locate subsurface water ice and constrain the geothermal heat flux in the polar region. 

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    We are also beginning studies on laboratory measurement of dielectric properties in preparation for my new microwave radiometer instrument being built at JPL and work with the Chang'E microwave instrument. Additionally I am participating in preparations for thermophysical  measurements of the returned samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission.