Department News

Dolores Hill first came to work at the University of Arizona in 1981 for Laurel Wilkening and Bill Boynton who collaborated on a studies of chondrule and CAI rims. Dolores trained students and visiting researchers in NAA techniques and worked alongside them to ensure their success. She was privileged to cross paths with LPL founders, esteemed faculty, and numerous dedicated staff and graduate students in many fields.

Dolores worked on special projects including newly recovered meteorite falls, analysis of ALHA 81005, the first lunar meteorite discovered, and Calcalong Creek, the first lunar meteorite found outside of Antarctica, Allende chondrules and REE in rims of CAIs with David Wark (of Wark-Lovering fame), David Kring’s documentation of the Gold Basin (AZ) strewnfield, and a serendipitous project with Andrea Patzer on the unique Itqiy achondrite. 

Dolores assisted the Mars Observer and Mars Odyssey GRS teams with gamma-ray standards for their instruments and logistics, and examined prototype TEGA ovens for the Mars Phoenix mission.

Along the way, Dolores enjoyed interacting with the public and providing teachable moments even when a rock turned out not to be a meteorite. These experiences enabled her to translate planetary science information, design hands-on activities, and create special displays for public, most notably the Arizona Meteorite Exhibition in 2010 and (Apollo 14) Moon Tree Celebration in 2015 with Maria Schuchardt. She wrote a successful proposal for the new Artemis I Moon Tree planted in 2024. She enjoyed working with Pierre Haenecour, Jessica Barnes, and students on the 2-week Arizona Space Rock Camp in the summer of 2025.

A highlight of Dolores’ time at LPL was working with the OSIRIS-REx mission from its beginning in 2011. She co-coordinated the award-winning Target Asteroids! citizen science program (now Target NEOs!) and lead the OSIRIS-REx Ambassadors. Dolores was a member of the Sample Analysis Team working closely with Jessica Barnes, Pierre Haenecour, Dante Lauretta, and their students on the Bennu sample.

In retirement, Dolores plans to spend time with her family and continue her involvement with Target NEOs!, outreach activities, and a few meteorite projects.

Karl Harshman passed away on January 28, 2026 following a long-fought battle with cancer.

Karl served as our Science & Processing Operations Center (SPOC) Manager for OSIRIS-APEX. His SPOC leadership began on OSIRIS-REx, where he stepped into the role a year before launch, at a time when the science ground system was struggling. Karl turned the ship around. Through steady leadership, deep technical expertise, and a collaborative spirit, he helped guide us smoothly through Bennu proximity operations and the sampling campaign. He managed both science uplink and downlink operations and earned the deep respect and affection of the entire team. He was key in retaining our core expertise from OREx to APEX.

Karl joined LPL in 1998 as a software engineer on the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer and went on to contribute to an extraordinary list of missions, including Phoenix, LRO, MSL, OSIRIS-REx (both OCAMS and SPOC), and OSIRIS-APEX. In his final years, he was also instrumental in developing a Mission Operations Center for the Pandora mission, continuing to build capability right up to the end.

On a personal note, my very first task on OSIRIS-REx involved working closely with Karl to identify which OCAMS telemetry streams should be archived as scientifically relevant housekeeping data. I doubt Karl imagined then that I would one day be leading this spacecraft into a new mission, but he met me with patience and respect while I was early in my career.

Karl was a force. He cared deeply about the missions, the work, and—most importantly—the people. His absence will be felt across this project and well beyond it.

• Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, Associate Professor

Professor Emeritus Uwe Fink passed away on 18 January 2026 after a brief illness. Fink was born in Germany in 1939, spending his early childhood under difficult circumstances during the Third Reich. At the end of World War II, his family found themselves in Göppingen in the American Zone of Occupation. From there, they emigrated to Canada, where Fink attended high school, and later they moved to Portland, Maine in the USA. Fink graduated with a BS in Engineering Physics from the University of Maine in 1961. He was then admitted to graduate studies at Pennsylvania State University, where he earned an MS in Physics in 1963 and a PhD in Physics in 1965, completing a dissertation on “The quadrupole spectrum of molecular hydrogen" under the supervision of Professor David H. Rank, a distinguished physicist who pioneered modern infrared spectroscopy and was a leader in adapting lasers for spectroscopic techniques and in optical instrument design.

Fink's initial postdoctoral position was back in Europe, performing balloon-borne atmospheric measurements for the recently-established Institute for Atmospheric Science (Brussels, Belgium) at the remote location of Aire-sur-l’Adour, France. After concluding this postdoc, Fink returned to the USA seeking another position, applying to companies such as Bell Laboratories and Corning. Learning from his good friend and former fellow Penn State physics graduate student William Bickel that there was an opening in the Physics Department at the University of Arizona in the beam-foil spectroscopy laboratory of Professor Stanley Bashkin, Fink applied and was accepted, beginning employment at UA in 1967. At the time, the seven-year-old LPL under the directorship of Gerard Kuiper was in the process of moving into its new building, leaving the small area it had shared with Physics in the PAS building. Recognizing Fink's talents and their applicability to his research on planetary atmospheres, Kuiper invited Fink to join LPL in 1968. From that date until his death 58 years later, Fink was a stalwart member of LPL. He was a founding member of LPL's academic arm, the Department of Planetary Sciences (chartered in 1972).

During his long career, Fink carried out laboratory spectroscopy and observations on all of the planets in the solar system and their satellites as well as asteroids and comets. During this golden age of planetary exploration, he developed and built instruments for laboratory use and telescopic observations using the technique of Fourier spectroscopy and later CCD spectroscopy. The laboratory work identified the opacity spectra of molecules that could then be searched for spectroscopically. He was the first to employ CCD’s for planetary spectroscopy, enabling him to obtain the first good visible and near IR spectrum of Pluto. Highlights include the discovery of the icy composition of Saturn’s rings, measurements of ices on the Galilean satellites, and an early measurement of water vapor in the atmosphere of Venus from airborne spectra. A major advance was the first detection (in collaboration with Harold Larson) of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter, particularly relevant today in the context of measurements of the atmospheric compositions of extrasolar giant planets. Also important was their first detection of the disequilibrium species GeH4 (germane, the germanium analog of methane) and PH3 (phosphine) in the atmosphere of Jupiter. His spectra of Jupiter and molecular detections are still oft cited in the modern brown dwarf and extrasolar giant planet literature.

For 1993-1994, Fink was awarded a Humboldt Prize to work at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) in Berlin.

During the period 1985-2005, Fink carried out extensive observations of comets, their chemical composition, production rates and taxonomy, resulting in a summary paper of the spectroscopic taxonomy of 92 comets. For more than 10 years after his official retirement, Fink was a Co-Investigator on the ESA-NASA Rosetta mission to comet 67P.

Fink’s contributions to science (with over 110 published papers) and the life of LPL will be long remembered.

- Bill Hubbard and Mark Marley

LPL Memorial page for Uwe Fink 

By Lori Huseby and Searra Foote

On the weekend of February 27th - March 1st, 2026, the Kuiper Space Sciences building and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory hosted the graduate student-led art show, The Art of Planetary Science (TAPS). Over 450 artists, scientists, and community members participated and visited the exhibit, where over 170 pieces of fine art, data art, theme art, and a special exhibit were displayed. The theme this year was “Space Through Our Lens,” evoking the feelings of inspiration and wonder when staring up at the night sky (e.g. through telescopes, cameras, etc.) and exploring our universe through a human perspective (e.g. our place in space).

Our keynote speaker this year was Regents Professor and Principal Investigator of HiRISE Dr. Alfred McEwen, who talked about the HiRISE mission, the incredible images that have been received thus far, and how geological images can be used as art. The special exhibit for this year was Apollo-era themed, featuring art from William K. Hartmann, Robert Rauschenberg, and Robert McCall. We express our sincere thanks to the Planetary Science Institute for the donation and loan of the Hartmann works during the show. We also express our gratitude to the Chuck Sonett family for the opportunity to show the Robert Rauschenberg works in our special exhibit.

In addition to this special exhibit, there were special events each day. Local bands “Daytrails”, “Rubee”, and “Tonight’s Sunshine” performed outside, night and day telescopes were provided for all by Professor of Practice Steve Kortenkamp and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, respectively. On Saturday night we collaborated with Queer’d Science and the PRIDE team of the Tucson Public Library for a science-based Burlesque show, titled “Queer’d Science Astro Chiasm Cabaret” at Club Congress.

Visit the TAPS website for more information on the art show, including art winners and photo gallery, and information about our upcoming shows, including submission and show dates. Thank you to everyone who participated and visited the exhibit this year, and we cannot wait to see you all again in February 2027 for the next TAPS art show!

Congratulations to the 2026 LPL recipients of seed grants from the Arizona Astrobiology Center! 

• Ocean Valdez, Undergraduate Astrobiology minor
• Rishi Chandra, Graduate Student (Planetary Sciences/LPL)
• Robin Van Auken, R&D Engineer/Scientist and Graduate Student (Planetary Sciences/LPL)
• Dr. Christopher Hamilton, Professor (LPL) 

The AABC Seed Grant program is an opportunity to foster creative, ambitious, and interdisciplinary scholarship and engagement in the expansive field of astrobiology. This initiative is uniquely inclusive, extending beyond the traditional confines of biological and space sciences. Researchers from the social sciences, arts, science education, and other diverse fields are invited to contribute their perspectives and expertise. The Center aims to nurture innovative, interdisciplinary research endeavors that deepen our understanding of life's origins, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe. This seed grant is a call to thinkers and explorers across all disciplines.

Angela Tatsch is a Planetary Geosciences major with an additional Geosciences (Geophysics emphasis) major and a Mathematics minor. Since she was young, Angela followed NASA missions such as OSIRIS-REx, so when the new Planetary Geosciences major was announced her junior year, she quickly signed up.

Angela’s favorite class was PTYS 411: Geology and Geophysics of the Solar System, taught by Dr. Christopher Hamilton because the students learned about neighboring planetary bodies in detail. She really enjoyed the semester-long project, where she chose to learn more about the salts on Europa’s surface and how they can help constrain the tectonics and composition of this Galilean moon. The course also taught her how to write a literature review, which has aided her in other research projects.

Angela has worked on two lunar research projects under Dr. Jessica Barnes. She is also completing her internship through Arizona/NASA Space Grant, where she developed and applied advanced lab techniques to investigate potentially novel minerals in Apollo 17 samples. She has also conducted analyses of other Apollo 17 samples through the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program. Dr. Pranabendu Moitra has also mentored research projects with Angela.

After graduation, Angela is pursing a Masters in Applied Geophysics, a joint degree through the IDEA League, attending TU Delft, ETH Zuirch, and RWTH Aachen in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany. She wants to continue pursing research as well as participating in outreach and furthering STEM accessibility.

When Angela has some free time, she sings with the University Community Chorus, attends concerts, crafts with friends, catches up with her family, explores tea and coffee shops, and plays board games at Ni Hao Tea.

En-Chi is a Planetary Geosciences major with an additional Geosciences (Geophysics emphasis) major and both a Mathematics and a thematic minor. En-Chi once read about Saturn ring seismology and fell in love with Saturn and planetary geophysics. He transferred to the University of Arizona because he had heard about the new Planetary Geosciences major.

En-Chi appreciated taking PTYS 407: Chemistry of the Solar System, with Dr. Dante Lauretta. He said having a mission PI teach the course and talk about Bennu was a very unique experience.

For the last two years, En-Chi has been working with Dr. Chris Harig, focusing using satellite gravimetry and altimetry to constrain basin-scale ocean mass change and glacial isostatic adjustment. He is proud that he wrote a software package and a manuscript as part of this project. En-Chi will be starting his Ph.D. in Geophysics at Caltech and hopes to eventually work at a national lab.

In his free time, En-Chi has been learning to crochet and wants to make his favorite Pokémon, Quilava. He also reads everything related to The Lord of the Rings.

Olivia Cox is a Planetary Geosciences major with a minor in Astrobiology. Olivia always knew she wanted to study the Solar System, but was not sure which major would best align with this interest. She took a geology class in her freshman year, and learned she also liked studying the rocks and minerals that make up Earth. The Planetary Geosciences major was then announced, and Olivia knew this was a perfect combination of her interests.

Olivia’s favorite class was PTYS 214: Life in the Cosmos with Dr. Dante Lauretta. She took this in Fall 2023, which coincided with the OSIRIS-REx mission’s sample return to Earth. Getting to learn about the history of the mission, then watching Dr. Lauretta travel to Utah to retrieve the capsule, and then take a first look at the returned material at Johnson Space Center before returning to teach again, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and piqued her interest in sample analysis.

Olivia has just finished her Honors Thesis with Dr. Jessica Barnes entitled, “Expanding the Petrologic and Geochemical Record of Luna 16 and 24 Mare Basalt Fragments.” In this project, she used instruments at Kuiper-Arizona Laboratory for Astromaterials Analysis (K-ALFAA), including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis to produce an overview of the textures and mineralogies of Luna fragments. She credits LPL with providing her the courses and research needed to prepare for this opportunity.

After graduating, Olivia with be attending Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, for a Ph.D. opportunity with Dr. Nick Timms called “Unlocking Solar System Secrets from Asteroid Sample Return Missions.” Her focus will be on analyzing returned samples of asteroids including Bennu, Ryugu, and Itokawa.

When she is not working on schoolwork or research, Olivia really enjoys creating art. She pursues many types of art, including ceramics, photography, and using the machines at the Main Library’s CATalyst Studios to make odd trinkets. She also likes exploring Tucson‘s food, shopping, and outdoor scene with her friends.

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Nandini is majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry with minors in Astrobiology and Political Science. She has always been drawn to understanding the origins of life, but especially after diving into the astrobiology coursework. It has encouraged her to make connections across fields to understand early life on Earth and also what we might consider when looking for life elsewhere.

Nandini really enjoyed MCB 437: Life in Extreme Environments, taught by Dr. Solange Duhamel. Her favorite part of the course was learning about how researching modern day extremophiles can reveal clues about early life on Earth. This class inspired her to get involved with astrobiology research.

Nandini currently works on research projects with Dr. Joanna Masel in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her project centers around understanding the evolution of metal binding by ancient proteins and what that can tell us about the environments, conditions, and metabolisms that were important to early life on Earth.

She feels incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to take the courses that explore the astrobiology field and feels very supported by the University of Arizona astrobiology community. After graduation, Nandini would like to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology.

Outside of school and research, Nandini loves to read, go out for runs, and visit coffee shops around Tucson.

Audrie started work on the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as a University of Arizona student worker, and became a permanent, full-time staff member in 2005. She has contributed to almost all aspects of the experiment, from science planning and “uplink” commanding to downlink data processing.

She is primarily responsible for the health and safety monitoring of HiRISE. She also assists in managing processing pipeline and has developed several processing pipelines that are producing the great science products being released by the project. She has also developed processing pipelines for the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on the European Trace Gas Orbiter. Audrie often volunteers to give presentations and give tours for HiRISE education and public outreach. Audrie’s co-workers consider her to be an essential staff member who performs exceptionally well in every aspect of her job. When an emergency comes up (which happens increasingly often), Audrie will come in or work from home at all hours of the day or night, weekdays or weekends, and provide problem investigation and reporting and observational problem resolution.

Audrie has stepped in to learn how to monitor the instrument engineering data and spot trends. This work has become increasingly important as the instrument ages and develops new or worsening problems. As the spacecraft gets older, there are changes to its operations, which alters the temperature of the environment that HiRISE sees, presenting constant challenges. Through constant monitoring and temperature management, HiRISE is still producing spectacular images after 20 years orbiting Mars, thanks in part to the dedication of Audrie Fennema.