Georgia Peterson

Affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)

Division: Space Science and Astrobiology Division (ST)

Branch: Planetary Systems Branch (STT)

Email: georgia.a.peterson@nasa.gov

Websites: MCMC Homepage | Personal Website

Professional Biography

My research focuses on the thermal and climate evolution of terrestrial planets. I develop numerical models that couple thermal evolution with mantle dynamics, volcanism, and surface tectonics to investigate how planetary interiors influence atmospheric composition, climate, and magnetic field generation. I integrate these models with spacecraft observations of gravity, topography, and surface composition to better understand the evolution of terrestrial planets. 

I joined the Mars Climate Modeling Center (MCMC) at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) in 2025 as a postdoctoral fellow, where I study the early climate of Mars and the role of volcanic outgassing, crustal production, and mantle redox state in shaping its atmospheric evolution.

Education

Ph.D. Planetary Geophysics, University of British Columbia – 2021

B.S. Earth Science, University of California: Santa Cruz – 2014

Research Interests

Planetary science, planetary geophysics, atmospheric evolution, early Mars climate, volcanism and outgassing, mantle convection, crustal production, planetary dynamos.

Select Publications

Peterson G., Johnson C., Jellinek A. (2021). Thermal evolution of Mercury with a volcanic heat-pipe flux: Reconciling early volcanism, tectonism, and magnetism. Science Advances, 7(40). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abh2482

Select Seminars & Conference Presentations

Peterson G. & Steakley K.E. (2026). Volcanism as a Potential Driver of Transient H₂ Warming on Early Mars [Abstract]. (Vol. 1767). Presented at the 57th LPS Conference, The Woodlands, TX.

Peterson G., Johnson C. & Jellinek A. (2024). The Influence of Mantle Melting and Differentiation on the Tectonic, Magnetic and Compositional Evolution of Mercury [Abstract]. (Vol. 2165). Presented at the 55th LPS Conference, The Woodlands, TX.

Awards & Others

NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center (2025–present)

Weiss Postdoctoral Fellow, Rice University, Houston (2022–2025)