Center for Earth and Planetary Studies
Bio
Dr. Riley McGlasson is a Postdoctoral Research Geologist at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum. Riley primarily uses remote sensing datasets to study surface processes on planets in our Solar System. She is particularly interested in polar and volcanic processes, and her research relies heavily on the use of orbital radars to penetrate through otherwise-opaque materials like ice or the thick atmosphere of Venus to uncover the geologic history beneath them.
Riley earned her BA in Physics with an Astronomy emphasis and a minor in Mathematics in 2020 from Macalester College. During her undergrad she explored a variety of bodies throughout our local universe, from dwarf galaxies to solar flares, until she was introduced to the fascinating world of planetary radar. Riley completed her PhD in Planetary Science at Purdue University in 2024 where she used a combination of remote sensing, computer modeling, and laboratory experiments to study the structure and evolution of Mars' polar ice caps.