{"id":69027,"date":"2023-04-17T14:18:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T21:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=69027"},"modified":"2023-04-17T15:42:48","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T22:42:48","slug":"grfp-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/grfp-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Planetary science doctoral student wins prestigious NSF fellowship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Anna Baker<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0has been on a path toward a career in research since she presented her first research poster at the national Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in the ninth grade. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Years later, Baker, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science who researches Mars\u2019 windblown sand dunes, was selected for the National Science Foundation\u2019s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. This award will help her continue on that path, as it provides an annual stipend and an education allowance as well as mentoring and networking opportunities, all of which allow STEM graduate students to be more independent in their research and branch out from grant-funded projects.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cCompetition for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships is intense, and they are awarded to a small number of the nation\u2019s top science and engineering graduate students,\u201d said <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jason Wilder<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, NAU\u2019s vice president for research. \u201cThe fact that Anna chose to pursue her graduate degree at NAU reflects the incredible strength of our faculty and the impact of the science and discovery taking place at NAU.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU also had three honorable mentions:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Keven Griffen<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a Ph.D. student in the School of Forestry<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Michael Robinson<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a 2016 graduate in civil engineering who is a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Makenzie Meacham<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a 2021 graduate in environmental sciences who is a graduate student at Louisiana Tech<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_69031\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-69031\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-69031\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG-7575_use.png\" alt=\"Anna Baker at Meteor Crater\" width=\"320\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2023\/04\/IMG-7575_use.png 750w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2023\/04\/IMG-7575_use-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-69031\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Baker at Meteor Crater, which is frequently used for planetary science research. Top photo: At White Sands in New Mexico for a class field trip. White Sands is a great analog for the gypsum-rich dune fields near Mars\u2019 north pole, and Baker will use sand from White Sands as one of the analogs in her research.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What about those Martian sand dunes?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Baker, who came to NAU in part because of the program\u2019s connections to the USGS Astrogeology Center, said the surface of Mars is mostly quiet; it\u2019s been mostly cold, dry and geologically quiet for more than 3 billion years. But the key word there is \u201cmostly\u201d\u2014one process that has been consistently active in that time is wind, which has played a major role in shaping much of the surface of Mars that we observe today.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cMars\u2019 windblown sand dunes are of particular interest because they represent the intersection of surface and atmospheric processes and provide clues for understanding both,\u201d she said. \u201cIf we understand these processes, we can observe the ways in which sand and rocks have been moved and shaped by wind in order to learn about Mars\u2019 modern and ancient atmosphere.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">She, along with DAPS professor <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Devon Burr<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and physics student <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rachel Fry<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, is doing lab experiments along with data from Mars missions to try to determine where the sand that makes up Mars\u2019 dune fields originates. They actually simulate wind transport of Mars analog sands and measure changes in composition, texture, grain size and grain shape over time. Those findings then will aid in the interpretation of spectroscopic data from orbiting spacecraft and from Mars rovers to identify the sources of the sands that make up Martian dunes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The goal of the experiments is to improve methods for mapping Martian sand transport pathways and explain how sediment is transported and cycled on the surface of Mars. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This research will ultimately increase Mars exploration potential and could expand the reach of Mars\u2019 rovers and help direct future remote sensing, making public investment in space exploration more effective, Baker wrote in her application. She also plans to create a teaching module for undergraduate students on these processes and design an educational field trip as part of her work with the International Association for Geoscience Diversity that is accessible to students with disabilities. As a queer woman with disabilities, she is committed to inclusivity and accessibility not only in her field but in all STEM fields.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Burr, who helped recruit Baker to NAU, said this works builds on Baker\u2019s extensive work in analyzing rock samples from the moon, spectroscopic data of the Martian surface and geophysical data from Mars. However, it still was a new subject that she had to gain experience in before starting this research. That she gained knowledge and learned the techniques sufficient to win a national scholarship after only three semesters at NAU speaks to her flexibility of thought and broad interest in all planetary sciences.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe successful GRFP award signifies Anna\u2019s extensive\u202finvestment of thought and effort into this research project,\u201d Burr said. \u201cIt evidences the creativity and problem-solving approach that Anna brings to her work, along with a willingness to experiment, which is a vital quality for any researcher.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Baker also had a little help from a unique class DAPS offers to graduate students. Astronomy professor <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Josh Emery<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, who teaches the graduate-level <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/aps-writing-fellowship-class\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Writing for Fellowships<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> course, said this funding will allow Baker to focus on research during the remainder of her doctoral program, which is a rare and well-earned opportunity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAnna is an excellent researcher.\u202fWe knew that from her application packet before accepting her into the Ph.D. program, and she has consistently demonstrated that excellence in her two years here,\u201d he said. \u201cThe GRFP also is a prestigious fellowship that recognizes her integrated quality as a scholar and is therefore a great accolade she will carry with her for the rest of her life.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-56007\" src=\"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wordpresst\/uploads\/sites\/153\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-300x213.png\" alt=\"Northern Arizona University Logo\" width=\"114\" height=\"81\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514-600x426.png 600w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/402\/2019\/06\/NAU_primary-281_3514.png 905w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 114px) 100vw, 114px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heidi Toth | NAU Communications<br \/>\n(928) 523-8737 | <a href=\"mailto:heidi.toth@nau.edu\">heidi.toth@nau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/grfp-2023\/\">Anna Baker\u00a0has been on a path toward a career in research since she presented her first research poster at the national Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in the ninth grade. Years later, Baker, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science who researches Mars\u2019 windblown sand dunes, was selected for the&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":69030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research-academics"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69027\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}