John Robert Spencer: Vita

Personal

Born: 2nd March 1957, Colne, Lancashire, England

Immigration Status: British citizen, permanent resident status in the US.

Degrees:

B.A., 1978, Geology, University of Cambridge, England
Ph.D., 1987, Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona

Appointments:

Staff Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado (Jan. 2004 - present)
Astronomer, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona (Jan. 1998 - Jan. 2004)
Visiting Scientist, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder (May - October 2002)
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Dept. Environmental Sciences, University of Lancaster, England (Jan - July 1998)
Associate Astronomer, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona (Dec. 1994-present)
Assistant Astronomer, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona (Jul. 1991-Nov. 1994)
Assistant Researcher, Planetary Geosciences Division, SOEST, University of Hawaii (Oct. 1990 - Jul. 1991)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii (May 1987-Sept. 1990)
Graduate Research Assistant, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona (Aug. 1980-Mar. 1987)
Visiting Graduate Fellow, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX (Jan. 1981)
NERC Postgraduate Assistant, University of Hull, England (Sept. 1978-Oct. 1979)
Summer Undergraduate Intern, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX, (June-Aug. 1978)

Spacecraft Experience:

Science Team Member, New Horizons Pluto mission, with responsibility for remote sensing observations and Kuiper Belt search.
Science Team Associate, Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument, with responsibility for planning of icy satellite thermal observations (2001 - ).
Co-investigator, Galileo Photopolarimeter/Radiometer (PPR), with primary responsibility for planning and analysis of Galilean satellite thermal observations (1987 - ).
Voyager imaging team assistant, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune encounters (1980-1989).

Awards, etc.:

Lowell Observatory Employee of the Year, 2001.
Asteroid 7554 Johnspencer, named July 1999.
Icarus Editor's Letter of Commendation for excellence in reviewing, 1990
First recipent Kuiper Memorial Prize, University of Arizona, 1985
Graduate Academic Scholarship, University of Arizona, 1980--1986
Taylor Scholarship and Tripos Prize, University of Cambridge, 1976, 1977

Committees, Etc.:

HST solar system review panel, 1992, 1993. KAO time allocation committee, 1993, 1994. SL9 time allocation committees for KAO and IRTF, 1994. IRTF time allocation committee 1995-1997. NASA Keck time allocation committee, 2002- . Planetary Astronomy Review Panel, 1994, 2000, 2001. Planetary Geology Review Panel, 1996-1998. DPS Nominating Committee, 1994-1997. DPS Program Committee, 1996. MOWG Subcommittee on the future of the IRTF, 1997-1998. DPS Committee, 1998-2001. Icarus Editorial Board, 2002- . Astrophysical Analogs Campaign Science Working Group, for NASA Solar System Exploration Strategic Plan, 1998-1999. Discovery program review panel, 1998. JSDAP review panel, 1999.

Leader of International Jupiter Watch Satellite Discipline, 1993-2000.
Organizer, Io During the Galileo Era, conference at Lowell Observatory, September 1997.
Community Representative, Site Council, Marshall Elementary School, Flagstaff, 1996-1997
Executive Board and Allocations Committee, United Way of Northern Arizona, 1997-2000

Public Outreach

Generated computer animation of SL9 impact on Jupiter, widely broadcast before and during impact week, 1994.
Participating scientist, Jason Project VI, Island Earth, 1995, and Jason Project XII, Hawaii, 2001.
Numerous public talks, TV appearances, etc.


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