Kathie Louise Thomas-Keprta, Senior Scientist
Astrobiology
JETS / Barrios Technology
kathie.thomas-keprta-1@nasa.gov
Wk: 281-483-5029
Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology, Texas Southern University, 2007
B.S. University of Illinois, 1979
As a senior planetary scientist at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), Dr. Kathie Thomas-Keprta has studied extraterrestrial materials for over 20 years using high resolution TEM techniques to characterize nanophase materials in IDPs, carbonaceous chondrites, and Martian meteorites and has pioneered procedures for analysis of carbonaceous materials. She has extensive experience in the handling and analysis of Mars meteorites and experience in leading and coordinating group studies.
Dr. Thomas-Keprta searches for evidence of past life on Mars using martian meteorites and terrestrial analogs. She also performs original research in Planetary Science with emphasis on lunar soils, lunar pyroclastics, and space weathering, and she assists in the development of education and outreach programs to stimulate concepts for human exploration of the Moon and Mars (teachers workshops, development of instructional materials and displays, lectures). Dr. Thomas-Keprta also reviews scientific papers submitted to professional journals and proposals submitted to various NASA programs and to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Thomas-Keprta K.L., Clemett S.J., McKay D.S., Gibson E.K., Wentworth S.J. (2009) "Origins of magnetite crystals in Martian meteorite ALH84001." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73, 6631-6677.
Thomas-Keprta K.L., Clemett S.J., Bazylinski D.A., Kirschvink J.L., McKay D.S., Wentworth S.J., Vali H., and Gibson E.K., Romanek C.S. (2002) "Magnetofossils from Ancient Mars: A Robust Biosignature in the Martian Meteorite ALH84001." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68, 3663-3672.
Thomas-Keprta K.L., Clemett S.J., Bazylinski D.A., Kirschvink J.L., McKay D.S., Wentworth S.J.,Vali H., Gibson, Jr. E.K., McKay M.F., Romanek C.S. (2001) "Truncated hexaoctahedral magnetite crystals in ALH84001: presumptive biosignatures." Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 98, 2164-2169.
Thomas-Keprta K.L., Clemett S.J., Bazylinski D.A., Kirschvink J.L., McKay D.S., Wentworth S.J., Vali H., Gibson E.K. (2000) "Elongated prismatic magnetite crystals in ALH84001 carbonate globules: Potential Martian magnetofossils." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64, 4049-4081.
McKay D.S., Gibson E.K., Thomas-Keprta K.L., Vali H., Romanek C.S., Clemett S.J., Chillier X.D.F., Maechling C.R., Zare R.N. (1996) "Search for past life on Mars: Possible relic biogenic activity in Martian meteorite ALH84001." Science, 273, 924-930.