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Planetary Science

UCLA faculty study the dynamics and physical properties of the interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres of Earth, planets, moons, and other solar system objects. We investigate the convective motions in planetary mantles and cores, the links between the microscopic-scale structure of minerals and planetary scale processes, models of plate dynamics at a range of scales, and the atmospheric, surface, and interior processes in the solar system as revealed by spacecraft missions and ground-based telescopes.


Faculty in Planetary Science

Title Position Email Address
Jonathan Aurnou Professor
Hao Cao Assistant Professor
Mackenzie Day Assistant Professor
David Jewitt Distinguished Professor
Margaret Kivelson Professor Emerita
Carolina Lithgow-Bertelloni Department Chair & Professor - Louis B. and Martha B. Slichter Endowed Chair in Geosciences
Jean-Luc Margot Professor
Kevin Mckeegan Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Jonathan Mitchell Professor
Seul Gi Moon Associate Professor
William Newman Professor
Peng Ni Assistant Professor
David Paige Professor
Christopher Russell Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Hilke Schlichting Professor & Associate Dean for Research
Gerald Schubert Professor Emeritus
Lars Stixrude Professor
Marco Velli Professor
Edward Young Professor