CV
Dany Waller
Ph.D. Student in Computational Physics at Umeå University
dany.c.waller@gmail.com
Education
- Ph.D in Computational PhysicsUmeå University
- M.S. in Applied Physics (Honors)2022Johns Hopkins UniversityCourses: Physics of Remote Sensing, Applied Computational Electromagnetics, Chaos and Its Applications
- B.S. in Mathematics2019University of KentuckyCourses: Group Theory, Combinatorics & Graph Theory, Principles of Analysis
- B.A. in Physics2019University of KentuckyCourses: Computational Physics, Fundamental Geophysics, Gravity & Magnetic Methods
Work Experience
- Graduate Research Assistant2025 -Umeå UniversityGraduate Research Assistant in Dr. Shahab Fatemi's lab in the Department of Physics.
- Associate Professional Staff2021 - 2025JHU Applied Physics LaboratoryAssociate Professional Staff in the Space Exploration Sector.
- Scientific Analyst II2020 - 2021Science Systems & Applications, Inc.Scientific Analyst II supporting the Geodesy and Geophysics Laboratory (61A) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- Farish Planetarium Director2019 - 2020The Living Arts & Science CenterDirector of the Farish Planetarium and Coordinator of the Earth & Space Science Education Program.
- Undergraduate Research Assistant2017 - 2019University of KentuckyUndergraduate Research Assistant in Dr. Dhananjay Ravat's lab in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences.
Awards
- Europa Clipper PIMS Special Achievement Award2025JHU Applied Physics LaboratoryRecognized for role in the successful commissioning of the Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) on Europa Clipper.
- Lunar Vertex Special Achievement Award2024JHU Applied Physics LaboratoryRecognized for role in the successful calibration and delivery of the Lunar Vertex magnetometer instrument suites.
- DART Special Achievement Award2023JHU Applied Physics LaboratoryRecognized for contributions to the success of the DART mission.
- 2nd place, NESF/ELS Student Poster Competition2021NASA SSERVI
- 5 Sigma Physicist2020American Physical Society (APS)Recognized for STEM advocacy work in local media.
- Student Impact Award2019Omicron Delta Kappa Nu CircleRecognized for advocacy work in student affinity groups and public outreach with NASA's Solar System Ambassadors program.
- Outstanding Senior on UK at the Half2019University of KentuckyRecognized for advocacy work in student affinity groups and public outreach with NASA's Solar System Ambassadors program.
Volunteer Service
- Planetary Science Section Secretary2024 -Asia Oceania Geosciences SocietyPlanetary Science Section Secretary.
- Intern Mentor2022 - 2024JHU/APL CIRCUIT ProgramIntern mentor for the CIRCUIT Program at JHU Applied Physics Laboratory.
- Intern Mentor2020 - 2021NASA Goddard Association of Postdoctoral and Early Career Scholars (NGAPS+)Intern mentor with NGAPS+ at NASA Goddard.
- Committee Member2020 - 2021NASA Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program, GSFCCommittee member for the NASA Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program at GSFC.
- STEM Policy Advocate2018 - 2020American Physical Society (APS)STEM policy advocate with the American Physical Society.
- Published op-eds in local and regional newspapers advocating for STEM funding and inclusive science practices, and met with local leaders and politicians to discuss STEM investments and community outreach.
Projects
- Europa Clipper PIMS Graduate Student Affiliate2025 -Graduate student affiliate for the Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) on Europa Clipper.
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mini-RF Team Affiliate2023 -Team affiliate for the Mini-RF radar instrument on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
- Lunar Vertex Co-Investigator2022 -Co-Investigator for the Lunar Vertex mission.
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) LAMP Team Affiliate2020 -Team affiliate for the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) instrument on LRO.
- Europa Clipper PIMS Science Operations Team2024 - 2025Member of the science operations team for the Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) on Europa Clipper.
- Lunar Vertex Magnetometer Instrument Scientist2022 - 2025Instrument scientist for the Lunar Vertex magnetometer.
- Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Investigation Team2021 - 2023Member of the investigation team for NASA’s DART mission.
Publications
- Variation in Lunar Regolith Space Weathering Relative to Latitude and Wavelength2025Planetary Science JournalWaller, C.D., Cahill, J.T.S., Retherford, K.D., et al. (2025, in review). Variation in Lunar Regolith Space Weathering Relative to Latitude and Wavelength. Planetary Science Journal.
- Multi-Wavelength Analysis and Geophysical Characterization of Orientale Impact Basin: Insights into Lunar Surface Composition and Structural Properties2025Planetary Science JournalWaller, C.D., Cahill, J.T.S., Rivera-Valentín, E.G., et al. (2025, in review). Multi-Wavelength Analysis and Geophysical Characterization of Orientale Impact Basin: Insights into Lunar Surface Composition and Structural Properties. Planetary Science Journal.
- The Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) on Europa Clipper: First Light202556th Lunar and Planetary Science ConferenceLuspay-Kuti, A., Crew, A.B., Waller, D., et al. (2025, March 10–14). The Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) on Europa Clipper: First Light. 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX. Abstract #2314.
- Regional Crustal Characterization Trends in the Western Lunar Limb of Orientale and the Outer Feldspathic Highlands Terrain202556th Lunar and Planetary Science ConferenceWaller, C.D., Cahill, J.T.S., Fassett, C.I., et al. (2025, March 10–14). Regional Crustal Characterization Trends in the Western Lunar Limb of Orientale and the Outer Feldspathic Highlands Terrain. 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX. Abstract #2618.
- Designing a Network of Environmental Monitoring Stations to Combine Lunar Geophysics and Space Weather Investigations2024American Geophysical Union Fall MeetingWaller, C.D., Rorschach, K., Stautberg, A., Cahill, J.T.S., Izquierdo, K., Shea, E. (2024, December 9–13). Designing a Network of Environmental Monitoring Stations to Combine Lunar Geophysics and Space Weather Investigations. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Washington, DC.
- Extended Silicic Volcanism in the Gruithuisen Region—Revisiting the Composition and Thermophysical Properties of Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon2024Planetary Science JournalKumari, N., Glotch, T.D., Williams, J.-P., ..., Waller, C.D., et al. (2024). Extended Silicic Volcanism in the Gruithuisen Region—Revisiting the Composition and Thermophysical Properties of Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon. Planetary Science Journal. doi:10.3847/PSJ/ad4352.
- Science Product Pipelines and Archive Architecture for the DART Mission2024Planetary Science JournalWaller, C.D., Espiritu, R.C., Tinsman, C., et al. (2024). Science Product Pipelines and Archive Architecture for the DART Mission. Planetary Science Journal. doi:10.3847/PSJ/ad5959.
- The Influence of Gravity and Magnetic Fields on Brine Formation and Habitability Across the Solar System2023Brines Across the Solar System: Ancient and Future BrinesBurke, P., Waller, C.D. (2023, May 15–18). The Influence of Gravity and Magnetic Fields on Brine Formation and Habitability Across the Solar System. Brines Across the Solar System: Ancient and Future Brines, Reno, NV. Abstract #2012.
- Ultraviolet and Magnetic Perspectives at Reiner Gamma and the Implications for Solar Wind Weathering2022Frontiers in Astronomy and Space SciencesWaller, C.D., Cahill, J.T.S., Retherford, K.D., et al. (2022). Ultraviolet and Magnetic Perspectives at Reiner Gamma and the Implications for Solar Wind Weathering. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. doi:10.3389/fspas.2022.926018.
- Magnetometry2022Encyclopedia of Lunar Science (Springer)Waller, C.D., Strauss, B.E. (2022). Magnetometry. In B.M. Cudnik (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Lunar Science (1st ed.). Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-05546-6.