I am an incoming Master's student working with Anastasia Piliouras on Arctic river deltas and Arctic sea ice dynamics. I did undergrad here at Penn State as well and loved it so much that I decided to stick around a couple more years. I worked with Dr. Piliouras doing undergraduate research so I am excited to be back with the CoLD research group. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling, hiking, cooking, and exploring State College. 

Ava is pursuing a Master’s degree in Geosciences and Operations Research Engineering. Her research focuses on using decision-making tools to understand how urban environments can most effectively build resiliency against climate change and other stressors. Ava previously earned a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, where her studies focused on hydrology and water resources. Ava is a big fan of chocolate chip cookies, trail running, and cold brew coffee!

My research tackles fundamental questions about rocky exoplanets: How do they form and evolve? What mechanisms shape their interior structure and composition? How do mantle convection and tectonic regimes affect surface geology and atmospheric development? And ultimately, what makes a rocky planet habitable?
As a planetary scientist, I approach these questions by theoretically modeling the deep interior dynamics of terrestrial worlds across a wide range of conditions. I aim to unravel the physical, chemical, and geological processes that govern planetary evolution, from magma ocean crystallization and mantle structure to long term thermal history.
I combine analytical methods with computational modeling to connect interior dynamics with surface and atmospheric processes. My current work investigates how compositional variations within a rocky planet’s mantle impact the mantle solidus, heat transport, volcanic outgassing, and the formation of secondary atmospheres. Because planetary interiors cannot be directly observed with telescopes, my research shall provide valuable insights into the makeup of the planet and its atmosphere, and its habitable architecture.
Please visit my website to know more: https://chandan-ks.vercel.app/