Jordan Bretzfelder

Jordan Bretzfelder is pursuing her PhD in Geology. She completed her B.S. in Physics at the University of Southern California in 2019. Prior to joining Professor Day’s GALE lab, and concurrent with her studies at USC, she spent three years researching the lunar mantle at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Her interest in Planetary Sciences began with a summer spent mapping surface features on Europa for the Center for Earth and Planetary Sciences. 

In 2018 Jordan received the Stephen E. Dwornik award at the 49th Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference in Houston for an oral presentation of her Lunar mantle research. Though her previous work relied heavily on remote-sensing and spectral data, she is excited about the laboratory experiments and field work she will undertake as a member of the GALE lab. 

At USC Jordan conducted high school outreach projects and she looks forward to the opportunities to encourage and uplift other underrepresented students in STEAM while contributing to an inclusive community in planetary science.

Bretzfelder, J. M., Klima, R. L., Greenhagen, B. T., Buczkowski, D. L., Petro, N. E., & Day, M. (2020). “Identification of Potential Mantle Rocks Around the Lunar Imbrium Basin.” Geophysical Research Letters 47.22 (2020): e2020GL090334. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090334

Bretzfelder, J. M., & Day, M. (2021). “Alien aeolian bedforms: A comparative sedimentary analysis of the Dingo Gap bedform and Hidden Valley ripple traverses, Gale crater, Mars.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 126, e2021JE006904. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE006904

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Jacob Widmer

Jake Widmer joined the GALE lab group in 2021 and is working toward his PhD in Geology with an emphasis in Planetary Science surface processes. His research experience began in 2017 and has developed through several internships with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Smithsonian’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies (CEPS). Thus far, Jake’s research has utilized remote sensing and GIS programs to investigate surface processes for Mars and Europa with an emphasis on present-day activity, aeolian environments, and seasonal processes.

Since graduating from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a B.S. in Geology, Jake has developed several projects to better understand martian seasonal frost and snowfall processes. Moving forward, he is excited to bring a seasonal perspective to the already well-rounded GALE lab group and new aeolian investigations. 

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Alana Archbold

Alana Archbold is a master’s student working toward a degree in Geology with an emphasis on Earth surface processes and aeolian dune preservation. Her research focuses on the architectures internal to dune deposits and how we can extrapolate 3D information through the rock outcrop. Alana is an experienced field geologist working to understand Jurassic sandstones in Nevada, Utah, and more. Alana graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a BS in Geology with honors before joining the GALE Lab to specialize in sedimentary geology.