Molly C. McCanta
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77058
(281) 486-2118
McCanta@lpi.usra.edu

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Current Employment

Urey Postdoctoral Fellow, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX

Education

• Ph.D. Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI – 2004

Title: The Effect of Oxygen Fugacity and Volatile Content on Martian and Terrestrial Magmatic Evolution

• M.Sc. Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI – 2001
• B.S. Geology magna cum laude, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR – 1997

Selected Academic Honors and Awards

• Sigma Xi Award for Excellence in Research and Potential for Scientific Contribution, 2003
• Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship, 2002
• Stephen E. Dwornik Planetary Geosciences Student Paper Award – Oral Presentation Honorable Mention, 2002
• NASA Graduate Student Researchers Fellowship, 2001–2004
• Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society Member, 2001
• U.S. Geological Survey Jack Kleinman Memorial Research Fellowship, 1999
• Field Camp Fellowship for Top Undergraduate Major, University of Oregon, 1997
• Golden Key Honor Society Member, 1997
• Women in Science Tuition Fellowship, University of Oregon, 1996-1997
• NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program Fellowship, 1996
• James Stovall Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Geology, University of Oregon, 1996

Research Experience

• Experimental petrology laboratory, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX, 2004–present
• Experimental petrology laboratory, Brown University, Providence, RI, 1998–2004
• Quantified pre-eruption magma storage conditions for Black Butte, CA
• Determined link between Black Butte and Mt. Shasta, CA
• Developed low-Ca pyroxene oxybarometer for Martian meteorites
• Rock mechanics laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1996
• Explored melt migration though the mantle
• Experimental petrology laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 1996
• Synthesized and analyzed magmas

Teaching Experience

Brown University

• Teaching assistant
  • Courses:
    • Geology 6: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Other Natural Disasters, 2000
    • Geology 6: Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Other Natural Disasters, 1999

• Duties:
  • Taught laboratory portion of class
  • Devised syllabus and laboratory assignments
  • Lectured on laboratory topics
  • Answered students questions during laboratory
  • Graded laboratory assignments

Other professional Activities and Affiliations

• Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, Brown University, Teaching Certificate III in Higher Education, 2003
• Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, Brown University, Teaching Certificate I in Higher Education, 2002
• Graduate Faculty Representative, Brown University, 2000–2002
• Geology Dept. Safety Officer, Brown University, 2000–2001
• Graduate Geology Club President, Brown University, 1999–2000
• Member: American Geophysical Union, Meteoritical Society, Mineralogical Society of America

Last updated
February 14, 2005