Short Biography: Dr. David A. Williams is currently serving as a Faculty Research Associate in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. He served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at ASU in 2001-2002, in which he cotaught Physical Geology and a graduate seminar in Planetary Volcanology. David is currently perfoming research in volcanology and planetary geology, with a focus on planetary mapping, geochemical, and remote sensing studies. His research has included computer modeling of seismic wave propagation through planetary interiors, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy of the lunar surface, planetary geologic mapping of the satellites of Jupiter, computer modeling of the physical and geochemical evolution of lava flows in a variety of planetary environments, and petrologic study of lava samples from Mount St Helens. He was involved with NASA's Magellan Mission to Venus and Galileo Mission to Jupiter, and he is currently serving as an Associate Investigator on the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission. David is currently the Second Vice Chair of the Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America, has served on several NASA committees including the 2007 Jovian System Observer Science Definition Team, and is currently a steering committee member of the NASA Outer Planets Advisory Group.

David received his Bachelor of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics (with minors in Mathematics and Geology) from Indiana University in 1989, and his Master of Science in Geology from Arizona State University in 1992. He received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Alabama in August 1998, where he was a three-time Graduate Council Research Fellow and received the award for Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student from the University of Alabama Graduate School in 1998. He has also performed geologic field studies in Hawaii, the Canadian subarctic, Western Australia, and South Africa. David has been part of the faculty at ASU for ten years, and has published papers in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Bulletin of Volcanology, the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, and the planetary science journal Icarus.

Career Objectives and Educational Background

Career Objectives Statement: I desire a permanent teaching-research position in volcanology and planetary geology, which may incorporate any combination of technical (e.g., remote sensing/image processing, computer/numerical modeling) and field (i.e., mapping, sampling) skills to study the physical/geochemical nature of planetary surfaces. Primary interest in working on current NASA planetary missions and terrestrial analogs, with emphasis on identification and study of planetary volcanism. I desire to produce scientific/technical reports, papers, proposals and presentations. I also desire to teach lower and upper division geology classes at the university level.

Education

Certifications

Employment Experience

• Perform data analysis and terrestrial analog studies in planetary volcanology, with an emphasis on Io volcanism using Galileo data and geochemical study of basalt flows at Mount St. Helens, Washington
• Perform mission operations and data analysis for HRSC experiment, ESA Mars Express mission under contract from NASA.

• Teach (w/Dr. Ronald Greeley) GLG 101 Physical Geology, 3 cr.
  (Undergraduate Level), Fall 2001

Course Offerings and Teaching Experience

Last taught Fall 2001, taught as needed upon request of the School of Earth and Space Exploration

Last taught Spring 2002, taught as needed upon request of the School of Earth and Space Exploration

Other Teaching Experience

• Taught 1 semester (3 sections) of Introductory Geology Laboratory

• Taught 3 semesters (2 sections each) of Introductory Geology Laboratory

• Assisted in lecturing 1 semester (1 section) of Introductory Planetary Geology course

• Graded 1 semester each (1 section) of Geochemistry and Geology of the Moon

Professional Distinctions

• Promotion to Faculty Research Associate, Geol. Sci. Dept., Arizona State University

• University of Alabama Award for Excellence in Research by a Doctoral Student

• Excellence in Research by a Doctoral Student Award, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Alabama

• Outstanding Research Award, Graduate Research Exposition, University of Alabama

• Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student, Geology Dept., University of Alabama

• Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student, Geology Dept., University of Alabama

• Steering Committee Member, Commission on Large-Volume Basaltic Provinces, International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior

• College of Arts & Sciences Award for Excellent Summer Research, Indiana University

During Postdoctoral Period

• Principal Investigator, NASA Education - Public Outreach (EPO) Grant, "Worlds of Fire: A Hands-On/Minds-On Investigation of Active Volcanism on Earth and Io" 2006-2009

• Principal Investigator, NASA Outer Planets Research Program (OPR) Grant, "Global Geologic Mapping of Io" 2004-2007

• Co-Investigator, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program (PGG) Grant, "Studies in Planetary Volcanology", R.Greeley, P.I., 2003

• Co-Investigator, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program (PGG) Grant, "Studies in Planetary Volcanology", R.Greeley, P.I., 2002

• Co-Investigator, NASA Jovian System Data Analysis Program (JSDAP) Grant, "Studies of the Galilean Satellites", R.Greeley, P.I., 1999-2001

• Co-Investigator, NASA Planetary Geology & Geophysics Program (PGG) Grant, "Studies in Planetary Volcanology", R.Greeley, P.I., 1999-2001

During Graduate School

Membership in Professional Societies

The Planetary Society

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) (Earth Science Honorary)

Geological Society of America, Cordillera Section and Planetary Geology Division (GSA)

American Astronomical Society, Division of Planetary Sciences (DPS)

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI)

National Space Society (NSS)

Alpha Epsilon Lambda (Graduate & Professional Student Honorary)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Published Papers

Personal Interests