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Dr. Russell has been at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies since 2009. His current, main research areas include Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) studies of terrestrial lunar analog sites and remote sensing studies of Mars. Work in association with NASA's Lunar Science Institute seeks to assess GPR capabilities and science at terrestrial sites at which geologic processes, settings, and/or materials are similar to those that may be encountered on the moon, e.g., lava flows, impact-crater ejecta, and layered materials with varying properties; results have implications towards framing tractable scientific questions in lunar mission development and aiding in interpretation of future returned data. Mars research focuses on surface and polar geologic processes and the activity and modeling of surface volatiles (H2O and CO2). Patrick has been working with the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, currently operating in orbit around Mars on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) team since 2005, involved in data analysis, science planning and targeting operations, and radiometric calibration.
Patrick received a PhD in Geological Sciences from Brown University, investigating the distribution and history of groundwater-surface interactions on Mars and the stability and evolution of ice in circum-polar crater interiors on Mars, including numerical thermal modeling. He received a Bachelor's degree in Geosciences from Williams College, with a thesis on Pliocene to Recent carbonate beaches, dunes, sediment sources, and climatic influences at Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Patrick also studied archaeology as an undergraduate and worked post-grad as an archaeological technician at the Institute for Pre- and Early History, University of Tübingen, Germany, where he participated in and was responsible for archaeological and related geological field work and laboratory analysis; attended classes in geology and archaeology; and contributed to editing a monograph on Paleolithic archaeology at Wallertheim, Germany. He's always excited to find instances where his interests overlap, as in remote sensing applied to archaeological research.
Patrick enjoys traveling to new places, the awesomeness, diversity, and beauty of nature, photography, and the World Cup.
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