Kathie Thomas-Keprta
Senior Scientist | JETS
Kathie Thomas-Keprta
Senior Scientist
JETS
Phone
281.483.5029
Phone
281.483.5029
Biography
Primary Roles
- Expertise in characterization of extraterrestrial samples (g., meteorites, lunar samples, Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs)) using electron beam instruments including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscopy in conjunction with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry.
- Expertise in the characterization of biogenic samples with relevance to the NASA Astrobiology program (g., prokaryotes, biogenic minerals, rat lung tissue containing lunar dust) using electron beam instrumentation
- Expertise in the characterization of impact residue on returned spacecraft hardware (g., Long Duration Exposure Facility, Hubble Wide Field Planetary Camera-2) using electron beam instrumentation
- Expertise in the characterization of carbon nanotubes (supporting JSC Engineering Directorate) using electron beam instrumentation
- Support mission hardware development for use on the International Space Station and future lunar missions (g., Mochii miniature scanning electron microscope)
- Co-Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation “Consortium Study of Organic Matter in Mars Meteorites” (2016-present) Division of Astronomy
- Co-Investigator, NASA ROSES “Evolution of Organic Matter in Astromaterials from the Microscale to Macroscale,” (2016-present) Emerging Worlds Program
- Co-Investigator for NASA ROSES “Consortium for the Advanced Analysis of Apollo Sample,” (2018-present) ANGSA Program
Education
Ph.D.
Environmental Toxicology
Texas Southern University
2007
B.S.
University of Illinois
1979
Education
Ph.D., Environmental Toxicology, 2007
Texas Southern University
B.S., , 1979
University of Illinois
Laboratories
Select Publications
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.