Faculty
J. Taylor Perron
Taylor Perron is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences at MIT. More about Taylor
Graduate Students
Rola Dbouk
Rola is a PhD student in Jack Wisdom’s Group in the Planetary Science program. Her work involves the study of spin-orbit dynamics and long term tidal evolution of planetary satellites, with a current focus on the Saturnian system. She is also working with the Perron Group to explore the implications for planetary climate.
Megan Gillen
Megan is a PhD Student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. She uses numerical modeling and remote sensing to study how coupled terrestrial-coastal surface processes drive landscape evolution on volcanic ocean islands. Megan is also a member of the Coastal Systems Group at WHOI, advised by Andrew Ashton.
Rose Palermo
Rose earned her PhD in 2022 from the MIT-WHOI Joint Program. Her interests span a wide range of topics surrounding surface processes and shoreline change. A common theme of her research is understanding how processes acting on competing timescales influence coastline evolution. Rose also applies her work on fingerprinting process from shoreline shape to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon and home to the only other active coastlines in our solar system.
Lily Sanborn
Lily is a PhD Student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program investigating the influence of glacial isostatic adjustment on river evolution and sediment transport during the Holocene. Lily works collaboratively with the Pico group (UCSC). Lily is also a member of the Coastal Systems Group at WHOI, advised by Jeff Donnelly.
Una Schneck
Una is a PhD student investigating how the flow of liquid hydrocarbons has shaped the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. In particular, she is working to understand how to apply existing empirical relationships in terrestrial fluid dynamics and geomorphology to other planetary bodies. She is also interested in the internal dynamics of subsurface oceans at moons like Europa and Enceladus.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Sam Birch
Sam is a Heising-Simons Foundation 51 Pegasi b Fellow. His research focuses on understanding the physical processes responsible for shaping planetary surfaces and climates, and using these worlds to learn more about our home here on Earth. He uses a combination of data analyses, theory, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations. He also works to develop and operate spacecraft that seek to explore the outer solar system.
Paul Corlies
Paul’s research aims to understand the dynamics of Titan’s atmosphere as well as connections between the atmosphere and surface. He uses a combination of space-based Cassini data and Earth-based observations to monitor and analyze Titan’s atmosphere, especially the formation and evolution of clouds. He is currently investigating the thermodynamics of Titan’s hydrocarbon rivers. Paul works jointly with Jason Soderblom‘s group.
Nicolás Pérez Consuegra
Nicolás is a Molina Postdoctoral Fellow. He integrates geological and biological data to understand the evolution of landscapes and life on Earth. In his work he uses tools such as geochronology and thermochronology, petrography, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Morgan Schmidt
Morgan is a geographer and archaeologist specializing in the Amazon region, landscape archaeology, historical ecology, and anthropic soils (Amazonian dark earth or terra preta). He is investigating the formation of dark earth using soil analyses, ethnography, and remote sensing.
Undergraduate Students
Your Name Here
Undergraduates interested in assisting with our research may contact any of the group members listed above about opportunities.
Staff
Roberta Allard
Roberta is a Senior Financial Assistant in EAPS. She makes sure Taylor doesn’t spend money he doesn’t have. If you’re putting together a proposal budget, Roberta has your back. She also knows MIT better than anybody in the group!
Kayla Bauer
Kayla is an Administrative Assistant in EAPS. She manages equipment, plans travel, handles reimbursement, and much more, including a bit of web design. She is also an expert on all things Disney!
The Perron group at MIT 