Biography

Tabb Prissel is a lunar and planetary petrologist within the Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science (ARES) Division at the Johnson Space Center. Dr. Prissel's research focuses on the large-scale magmatic evolution of the rocky planets, moons, and differentiated asteroids. He employs an integrative approach to research by combining experimental petrology with orbital remote sensing, natural sample analysis, and geochemical models. Prissel developed a passion for experimental and analytical petrology pursuing his B.Sc. degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead. His interests in planetary geology led him to a geophysics internship at the NASA Ames Research Center working with the Martian and Titan wind tunnels. This path then propelled Prissel into the Ph.D. program at Brown University, after which he was awarded the Gordon McKay Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Lunar & Planetary Institute. 

Prissel is also enthusiastic about teaching and mentoring. He strives to promote friendly, safe, and thought-provoking environments in the classroom and laboratory. Prissel firmly believes (1) that geologists are storytellers and (2) questions are good. In this way, he emphasizes conceptual- and inquiry-based experiments and activities to engage students and empower exploration. Prissel also believes in presenting discussion topics in a manner that allows advisor and advisee to become colleagues in discovery. If you have any questions about graduate school, internships, postdoctoral research opportunities, or any of the research Prissel is involved with, please do get in touch!