The Team – Current members
Mike Sori, Principal Investigator/Assistant Professor
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Mike is an assistant professor and planetary scientist at Purdue working on understanding the solid planets and moons of our Solar System through their geophysical attributes and processes. He earned his B.S. in Mathematics and B.A. in Physics from Duke University in 2008 and his Ph.D. in Planetary Science from MIT in 2014. He uses numerical models and data from NASA spacecraft in his research, and has been involved with NASA missions such as GRAIL, Dawn, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Aside from planetary science, Mike enjoys travel and playing with his black lab Apollo.
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The CV of PI Mike Sori can be downloaded here.
Stephanie Menten, Graduate Student
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Stephanie joined Purdue in 2020 as a PhD student. She earned her B.S. in Geology from North Carolina State University in Spring 2020. She is interested in planetary ices , geophysics, and volcanism. Her current research is focused on understanding the mechanics of cryovolcanism on icy bodies in the outer solar system. Outside of EAPS, Stephanie enjoys rock climbing, running, crocheting, and hanging out with her cat!
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Ian Pamerleau, Graduate Student
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Ian joined Purdue as a PhD student in 2021 after completing his B.S. in Mathematics and Geology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2021. His research interests include geophysics, planetary surface processes, and fluid flow. His current research project involves studying the icy crust of Ceres using observations from the Dawn spacecraft and numerical models. Outside the lab, Ian enjoys cross country running, fencing, D&D, and playing saxophone and guitar.
Mariana Blanco-Rojas, Graduate Student
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Mariana joined Purdue in 2023 as a PhD student after completing her B.A in Physics and Origins Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. She’s primarily interested in the geodynamics of the icy moons of the outer solar system, as well as what we can learn about planetary surfaces through the analysis of remote sensed data. Outside of academics, Mariana enjoys rock climbing, jogging, embroidering, and has recently gotten into birding!
Brianne Checketts, Graduate Student
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Brianne joined Purdue as a PhD student in 2024 after getting her B.S., also at Purdue, double majoring in Physics and Planetary Science with minors in Astronomy and French. She has done research on the implications of dark halo craters on the Moon’s surface and is currently researching the paleoclimate record of polar ice deposits on Mars. During her free time, Brianne likes hiking, baking, and reading.
Abbey Dunnigan, Graduate Student
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Abbey joined Purdue in 2024 as a PhD student after completing her B.S. in Physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is interested in studying the interiors of terrestrial planets, and is currently using gravity inversions to study ice on Mars. In her free time, Abbey enjoys hiking, running, crocheting, reading, and playing the trumpet.
Shivani Patwardhan, Undergraduate Student Researcher
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Shivani is majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a certification in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She is currently researching dark halo craters and cryptomaria on the Moon. In her free time, she likes to read, cook, travel, and watch Formula 1.
Apollo, The Lab's Lab
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Apollo received his training degree from PetSmart University in Tucson in 2015. He is interested in testing the strength of planetary regolith with his paws, conducting sample return of launched objects, and exploration of nearby geological landscapes. He is named after the program that sent humans to the Moon and is therefore very excited to be at Purdue University, Cradle of Astronauts.
Past members
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Kristel Izquierdo: Kris was a postdoctoral researcher at Purdue from 2021–2024 working on the interior structure, origin, and evolution of the terrestrial planets and our Moon. She is currently a research associate at the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Her personal website can be found here.
Eva Zhao Petrini (undergrad researcher, 2023–2024)
Will Vanderwarker (undergrad researcher, 2023–2024)
Neo Patel (undergrad researcher, 2023–2024
Imani Lawrence (undergrad researcher, 2021–2023)
Audrey Durham (undergrad researcher, 2022–2023)
Kyle Morin (undergrad researcher, 2022–2023)
Isabella Hampton (undergrad researcher, 2022–2023)
Katie Burkman (undergrad researcher, 2023)
Lauren Dickson (undergrad researcher, 2021)
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