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Amber Gullikson

Amber is a Geologist with the Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff, AZ.

Amber's work primarily focuses on Terrestrial Analogs and Mars research, which includes creating multi-purpose field guides for planetary analogs within northern Arizona, collecting meteorological data and studying ripple migration at Grand Falls dune field, and characterizing impact melts and the internal structure of Meteor Crater’s ejecta blanket. She co-leads the USGS Astrogeology Terrestrial Analog Sample Collection, which currently houses samples from Meteor Crater, AZ, Flynn Creek Crater, TN, and the Shoemaker Sample Collection. Her research also includes studying Mars’ ancient hydrologic past, in the form of inverted stream channels and intracrater alluvial fans.

 

Professional Experience

  • 2015 – Present: Geologist with the USGS Astrogeology Science Center.

  • 2012 – 2014: Graduate Student and Teaching Assistant at Northern Arizona University. Thesis: Testing lunar crustal melting through experimental petrology: Implications for the genesis of silicic volcanism on the Moon.

  • 2013: Lunar Exploration Summer Intern, Lunar and Planetary Institute.

  • 2012: Multi-Anvil Laboratory, Research Technician, Arizona State University.

  • 2009 – 2012: Omni Pressure Laboratory, Research Technician, Arizona State University.

     

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. Geology, Northern Arizona University (2014)

  • B.S. Geological Sciences, Arizona State University (2011)

     

Honors and Awards

  • Patent for Method for measuring pressures in a high pressure cell by monitoring continuous changes in physical properties of GeO2-SiO2 solid solution. Patent number: US 9,243,968 B2 awarded 1/26/2016.

Abstracts and Presentations

  • Gullikson, A.L., Titus, T.N., Williams, K.E., and Cushing, G. (2022) Grand Falls Dune Field, Northern Arizona: Ripple Field Imaging and Meteorological Data Release for 2021. 7th International Planetary Dunes Workshop, abstract 3017.

  • Titus, T. N., Cushing, G. E., Gullikson, A. L., and Williams, K. E. (2022) Grand Falls Dune Field 2022 Ripple Field. 7th International Planetary Dunes Workshop, abstract 3005.

  • Gullikson, A. L., Gaither, T. A., Skinner, J. A. Jr., Black, S. R., and Buban, H. C. (2022) USGS Astrogeology Terrestrial Analogs Sample Collection: 2022 Update. 53rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1599.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Titus, T.N., Williams, K.E., and Cushing, G. (2021), Ripple Migration at Grand Falls Dune Field, Northern AZ. Workshop on Terrestrial Analogs for Planetary Exploration, abstract 8065.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Hunter, M.A., Titus, T.N., and Okubo, C. (2020). Planetary Geoscience Map Gateway: Implementation of the Mars Global Digital Dune Database. 6th International Planetary Dunes Workshop, abstract 3018.

  • Rumpf, M.E., Edgar, L.A., Gullikson, A.L., Skinner, J.A., Gaither, T.A., Keszthelyi, L.P., and Hunter, M.A. (2019). Planetary Analogs: Future Needs Defined by Community, American Geophysical Union, Fall meeting, abstract EP21E-2211.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Edgar, L.A., Rumpf, M.E., Skinner, J.A., and Skinner, L.A. (2019). USGS Astrogeology Terrestrial Analog Program: Development of Multipurpose Field Guides. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, abstract 66-6.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Hayward, R.K., Titus, T.N., Charles, H., Fenton, L.K., Hoover, R.H., and Putzig, N.E. (2019). Mars Global Digital Dune Database: Composition, Thermal Inertia, and Stability. Women in Space 2019 Conference.

  • Whelley, P., Enriquez, F., Richardson, J.A., Hurtado Jr., J.M., Gullikson, A.L., Young, K., and Bleacher, J.E. (2019). Evaluating Formation Models at Eroded Maar Craters. Chapman Conference on Distributed Volcanism and Distributed Volcanic Hazards, abstract 659355.

  • Fenton, L.K., Gullikson, A.L., Hayward, R.K., Charles, H., and Titus, T.N. (2019). The Mars Global Digital Dune Database (MDG3): Composition and Stability. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1115.

  • Skinner, L.A., Edgar, L.A., Gaither, T.A., Gullikson, A.L., Kestay, L.P., Rumpf, M.E., and Skinner, J.A., (2019). Assessing Community Needs and Developing Resources for Terrestrial Analog Studies. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2990.

  • Gullikson, A.L., and Okubo, C.H. (2019). Large-scale Geologic Mapping of Southeast Nia Mensa in Eastern Candor Chasma, Mars. 2019 Annual Meeting of Planetary Geologic Mappers, abstract 7024.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Anderson, R.B., and Williams, R.M.E. (2018). Mapping Sinuous Ridges and Preliminary Fluvial Measurements in Northwest Hellas, Mars. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2271.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Hayward, R.K., Titus, T.N., Charles, H., Fenton, L.K., Hoover, R.H., and Putzig, N.E. (2018). Mars Global Digital Dune Database: Composition, Thermal Inertia, and Stability. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2304.

  • Williams, R.M.E., Gullikson, A.L., Anderson, R.B. (2017). Variations in alluvial fan morphology in southwestern Terra Sabea, Mars, suggest multiple, discrete depositional phases. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, abstract 303366.

  • Anderson, R.B., Williams, R.M.E., Gullikson, A.L. (2017). Alluvial fan morphology north of Hellas indicates multiple stages of deposition. 4th International Early Mars Conference, abstract 3050.

  • Fortezzo, C.M., Gullikson, A.L., Kumar, P.S., and Platz, T. (2017). Geologic mapping of central Valles Marineris, Mars, Year 4. 3rd Planetary Data Workshop and Geologic Mappers Meeting, abstract 7120.

  • Gaither, T.A., Hagerty, J.J., Villareal, K.A., Gullikson, A.L., and Leonard, H. (2017). Flynn Creek Impact Crater: Petrographic and SEM Analyses of Drill Cores from the Central Uplift. 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2263.

  • Zanetti, M., Jolliff, B.L., Shirley, K., Glotch, T.D., Hagerty, J.J., Gullikson, A.L. (2017). The Aristarchus Plateau Large Igneous Province: The Case for Bi-Modal Volcanism. 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2320.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Gaither, TA., Villarreal, K.A., and Hagerty, J.J. (2017). Petrographic Characterization and Preliminary Microthermometry of the Hydrothermal System at Flynn Creek crater, Tennessee. 8th Planetary Crater Consortium, abstract 1718.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Gaither, T.A., Villarreal, K.A., and Hagerty, J.J. (2016). Lithostratigraphic analysis of the Meteor Crater ejecta blanket. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1541.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Anderson, R.B., and Williams, R.M.E. (2016). Mapping sinuous ridges in northwest Hellas, Mars. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2376.

  • Gaither, T.A., Hagerty, J.J., and Gullikson, A.L. (2016) Meteor Crater Impact Melt Formation: Evidence for Carbonate Melting. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2113.

  • Fortezzo, C.M., Gullikson, A.L., Rodriguez, A.P., Platz, T., and Kumar, P.S. (2016). Mapping geology in central Valles Marineris, Mars. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1981.

  • Gullikson, A.L., Hagerty, J.J., and Reid, M.R., (2014). Investigating Lunar Crustal Melting Through Thermodynamic Modeling: Implications for the Genesis of Silicic Volcanism on the Moon. 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2277.

  • Gullikson, A. L., N. M. Curran, N. J. Potts, J. K. Dhaliwal, M. Leader, R. Rege, and D.A. Kring (2014). Traverse and station options for a robotic sample return to     Schrödinger basin. 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 2082.

  • Potts, N. J., A. Gullikson, N. M. Curran, J. K. Dhaliwal, G. Chang, M. K. Leader, R. N. Rege, D. A. Kring (2014). Mapping solar irradiance within Schrödinger basin for future robotic sample return missions. 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1835.

  • Curran, N.M., Gullikson, A.L., Potts, N.J., Dhaliwal, J.K., Leader, M., Rege, R., and Kring, D.A. (2014). A Robotic Sample Return Mission to the Northern Portion of the Schrödinger Basin Peak Ring. 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract 1475.

  • Gullikson, A. L., J. J. Hagerty, M. R. Reid, J. F. Rapp, and D. S. Draper (2014). Investigating lunar crustal melting: Implications for genesis of silicic volcanism on the Moon. Goldschmidt 2014, abstract 883.

     

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