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General Information

Full Name Kenneth Hart Williford
Affiliation Blue Marble Space Institute of Science
Email ken@bmsis.org

Education

  • 2024
    Professional Certificate, Data Science and Analytics
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
  • 2007
    Ph.D., Earth and Space Sciences (certificate in Astrobiology)
    University of Washington, Seattle, WA
    • Dissertation: Biogeochemistry of the Triassic–Jurassic boundary
  • 2000
    M.S., Geological Sciences
    University of Washington, Seattle, WA
    • Thesis: Strontium/calcium thermometry in the Caribbean reef coral Siderastrea siderea
  • 1998
    B.S., Natural Resources, cum laude
    University of the South, Sewanee, TN

Professional Experience

  • 2021-present
    Scientist
    Blue Marble Space Institute of Science
  • 2014-present
    Co-Investigator, SHERLOC instrument
    NASA Mars 2020 rover mission
  • 2014-2021
    Deputy Project Scientist
    NASA Mars 2020 rover mission
  • 2013-2021
    Visiting Associate, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
    California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
  • 2012-2021
    Founding Director, JPL Astrobiogeochemistry Laboratory (abcLab)
    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
  • 2012-2021
    Research Scientist
    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
  • 2013-2014
    Strategic Surface Sampling Scientist
    NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission
  • 2014-2016
    Collaborator, Sample Analysis at Mars instrument
    NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission
  • 2013-2016
    Science Team Member
    NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission
  • 2010-2012
    Research Associate
    Dept of Geoscience and Astrobiology Research Consortium, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
  • 2007-2009
    Research Associate
    Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, Dept of Chemistry, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
  • 2005-2007
    NSF IGERT Fellow
    University of Washington Astrobiology Program
  • 2003-2005
    Research Assistant
    Dept of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington
  • 2002-2003
    Information Architect
    Verisign Inc., Savannah, GA
  • 2001
    Geologist
    Hall, Blake & Associates, Nashville, TN
  • 2000-2001
    Earth science, life science and math teacher
    Good Hope School, St. Croix, USVI
  • 1998-2000
    Teaching Assistant
    Dept of Geological Sciences, University of Washington

Teaching

  • 2000-2001
    Earth science, life science and mathematics
    Good Hope School, St. Croix, USVI
  • 1998-2000
    Teaching Assistant
    University of Washington
    • Geobiology (first two offerings)
    • Invertebrate Paleontology (x2)
    • Dinosaurs
    • Introduction to Geology

Student Supervision

  • 2019-2023
    Emilia Hernandez, Ph.D.
    University of California Davis
  • 2017-2020
    Kelsey Moore, Ph.D.
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2014-2021
    Jeffery Osterhout, M.S./Ph.D.
    University of Cincinnati / UCLA
  • 2013-present
    Adam Hoffman, Ph.D. candidate
    University of California Riverside
  • 2017-2018
    Joyce Yager, Ph.D.
    University of Southern California
  • 2016-2018
    Ashley Berg, Ph.D.
    University of Tennessee
  • 2014-2016
    Katrine Hansen, Ph.D. candidate
    University of Copenhagen
  • 2015
    Kari Finstad, Ph.D. candidate
    University of California, Berkeley
  • 2014
    Kira Lorber, Ph.D. candidate
    University of Cincinnati
  • 2008-2009
    Salem Aboglila, Ph.D.
    Dept of Applied Chemistry, Curtin University

Professional Societies

  • Geological Society of America (2005–present)
  • American Geophysical Union (2011–present)
  • Geochemical Society (2011–present)

Selected Outreach and Service

  • 2024
    Certified Hospice Volunteer
    Providence Hospice, Seattle
  • 2020
    NASA Infiniscope
    Educating LAUSD teachers in Earth and Planetary Science
  • 2017
    Von Karman Lecture
    Mars 2020, or There and Back Again
  • 2015-2017
    Technical advisory board
    Boundaries of Life Initiative, Templeton Foundation
  • 2014-present
    Editorial Advisory Board
    Geobiology
  • 2011
    Imagine Mars
    6 week NASA/NEA program with Akira Toki Middle School
  • 2007
    Discover Smoke Farm
    48h biodiversity event including BioBlitz for young students
  • 2004-2007
    Project AstroBio
    Astrobiology-themed outreach with Seattle school teachers