UT Institute for Geophysics

Understanding the Earth and other planets to solve key problems that affect us all. The world needs geophysicists!

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Natalie Wolfenbarger

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Natalie Wolfenbarger began her geophysics doctoral degree at the Jackson School of Geosciences in Fall 2017. An aerospace engineering graduate, her research has evolved from characterizing spacecraft performance to examining how data acquired by spacecraft can be used to better understand Earth and other ocean worlds—particularly Jupiter’s ice-covered moon, Europa. As a member of UTIG’s Polar and Planetary research group, Natalie is currently an affiliate member of the Europa Clipper science team supporting verification and validation of the REASON instrument, an ice-penetrating radar designed to peer through Europa’s enigmatic ice shell. Her research aims to understand how we can use radar studies of Earth ice to help interpret future data collected by REASON to investigate Europa’s habitability. Her studies of analog environments for Europa has led her to both the Arctic and Antarctica, where she worked with a team of researchers to conduct aerogeophysical surveys of sites including Devon Ice Cap and Thwaites Glacier.

INTERESTS

Ice-penetrating radar, dielectric properties of saline ice, ice shelves as terrestrial analogs for icy ocean worlds, planetary habitability.

SUPERVISORS

Don Blankenship and Marc Hesse

ACADEMICS

MS, Aerospace Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
BS, Aerospace Engineering, California Polytechnic State University

CONTACT AND LINKS

Email: nwolfenb@utexas.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Publications

HIGHLIGHTS

UTIG Investigates Sea Level Threat of Giant Antarctic Glacier
LIONESS 2020: Who are the UTIG researchers investigating Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier?
LIONESS in the Field 1: The Long Journey South
LIONESS in the Field 2: Rescue on the Ross Sea!
LIONESS in the Field 3: Weathering the Storm
LIONESS in the Field 4: Vital Science, Unforgettable Experience

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