Purdue announces new head of the Department of Earth Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
12-06-2024
Purdue University College of Science names Andrea Donnellan as head of Purdue EAPS
After a national search, Purdue University announced Andrea Donnellan will take on the role of head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) effective January 1, 2025. Donnellan was manager of the Instrumental Systems Section at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where she was also a senior research scientist before her taking this role at Purdue University’s College of Science.
“I am very excited to announce Professor Andrea Donnellan as our new department head,” says Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science. “Her expertise in earthquakes, crustal deformation, geodetic imaging techniques, computational modeling and infrastructure will help further the goals of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.”
As the new head, Donnellan will oversee a diverse community of over 40 faculty as well as over 229 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. She brings with her a dynamic knowledge and full research portfolio in geophysical science.
“I study crustal deformation and tectonics using a variety of geodetic imaging techniques,” says Donnellan. “I also study earthquakes and lead NASA’s Surface Topography and Vegetation study, which focuses on mapping Earth’s changing surface and overlying vegetation structure. I started out interested in glaciology and went to Antarctica three times as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University. At that time, I was measuring the movement of the ice streams and I developed a finite difference model to study the effect of rising sea level on the ice stream grounding lines. I like measuring the movement of Earth’s features and I enjoy field work, particularly in remote places. When I went to graduate school at Caltech, I also worked on Variegated Glacier in Alaska measuring and then modeling mini-surges. I did a second project measuring tectonics near Los Angeles. During that study I became interested in measuring tectonics and studying earthquakes. I am now interested in extending my understanding of earthquakes back in time using geomorphic expression of faults.”
Donnellan served on JPL’s NISAR science team and led NASA’s GeoGateway and QuakeSim projects for over twenty years. She also leads NASA’s Surface Topography and Vegetation Study and is principal investigator of the QUAKES stereoimaging instrument suite. She recently won a NASA Advanced Information Systems Techology project Creating a NASA Surface Topography and Vegetation (STV) Novel Observing System (NOS). She has degrees in Geology (BS Ohio State University, 1986), Geophysics (MS and PhD Caltech 1988 and 1991), and Computer Science (MS University of Southern California, 2003). She is a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and The Explorers Club. In 1996 she won the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers and in 2012 NASA’s Software of the Year Award. Donnellan was a finalist in the astronaut selection process three times. The Donnellan Glacier in Antarctica was named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 2006 for her work on the Antarctic continent.
“I have always been interested in academia and as I have progressed in my career have become more interested in mentoring new researchers and students,” she says. “Having spent my career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Purdue felt like an excellent fit. It has strong Earth and planetary scientists and many researchers who use remote sensing. Purdue also has strong aerospace and data science programs, which fit well with my experience and interests. Purdue feels vibrant and supportive of expanding knowledge and research programs.”
Initially, Donnellan plans to learn about the department in order to learn from faculty and other members of the department. She would like to see increased use of remote sensing and coordination with data science and aerospace to create new missions and understand the data they produce.
She looks forward to coming back to the Midwest where she grew up and has various hobbies she’d like to pursue here in West Lafayette. “I grew up in the Chicago area and my sister lives in northern Indiana,” she says. “I have family all over Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, so it will be nice to be close to them as well as my long-term friends. I am an avid skier and enjoy hiking. My camera is never far from me, and I have been successful in a couple of photo competitions. I’ve also had my photos displayed in various art galleries. I love photographing wildlife whether it is from my backyard or scuba diving underwater. I played on JPL’s C-League softball team for years and hope to find an equivalent (AKA not very good) team at or near Purdue. I also love ice skating and am looking forward to trying out the rink.”
About the College of Science
Purdue University’s College of Science is committed to the persistent pursuit of the mathematical and scientific knowledge that forms the very foundation of innovation. More than 350 tenure-track faculty conduct world-changing research and deliver a transformative education to more than 6,000 undergraduates and 1,750 graduate students. See how we develop practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges with degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computational sciences, mathematics, and data science at www.purdue.edu/science.
About the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University
The Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) combines four of Purdue’s most interdisciplinary programs: Geology and Geophysics, Environmental Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, and Planetary Sciences. EAPS conducts world-class research; educates undergraduate and graduate students; and provides our college, university, state and country with the information necessary to understand the world and universe around us. Our research is globally recognized; our students are highly valued by graduate schools and employers; and our alumni continue to make significant contributions in academia, industry, and federal and state government.
Writer: Cheryl Pierce, College of Science Lead Marketing and Public Relations Specialist
Sources:
Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science
Andrea Donnellan, Department Head of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences