SCOTT SANDFORD - NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER

Astrophysics Branch, Mail Stop 245-6, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
Phone:  650-604-6849     Fax:  650-604-6779     Email:  ssandford@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Title and Role

Co-Investigator - Responsible for exploring the connections between interstellar and Solar System materials through the interpretation of deuterium labeling experiments and enrichments in extraterrestrial samples.

Related Experience Summary

Dr. Sandford has over 15 years experience in studying ice photochemistry and over 20 years experience with the interpretation of astrophysical IR data.  He is Co-I on the Stardust discovery mission, and the PI of the proposed Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) mission, which is a space borne IR telescope that has been selected for study in 2002. 

Employment History

As a scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, (1986-present) Dr. Sandford authored and co authored many successful grants and peer reviewed research papers. Co-I on STARDUST Discovery Mission, P.I. of the Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) Concept MIDEX Mission, took part in ground-based, airborne, and space borne observations. Served on Origins Review Panel where he was the Cosmochemistry Group Chief, and Panel Chief. Associate Editor, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, where he serves on the Joint Publication Committee of the Meteoritical and Geochemical Societies.

Education

B.S. in Math and Physics, 1978, NM Inst. Mining & Technology
M.A. in Physics, 1981, Washington University
Ph.D. in Physics, 1985, Washington University

Professional Societies

American Astronomical Society, American Physical Society, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Meteoritical Society, The Antarctican Society, International Astronomical Union

Awards and Honors

2000 - Group Achievement Award - STARDUST Project Team
2000 - Group Achievement Award - NASA Astrobiology Team
2000 - Named an Ames Associate Fellow (5/18/00)
1996 - NASA/Ames Scientist Honor Award

Selected Relevant Publications

Sandford, S.A. (2002) Interstellar Processes Leading To Molecular Deuterium Enrichment And Their Detection, Planetary and Space Science, 50, 1145 –1154.

Sandford, S.A. (2001) The Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) Midex Mission Concept-Exploring the Links Between the Interstellar Medium & Meteorites. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 36, A181.

Sandford, S.A., Bernstein, M.P., Allamandola, L.J., Goorvitch, D., & Teixeira, T.C.V.S. (2001) The Abundances of Solid N2 and Gaseous CO2 in Interstellar Dense Molecular Clouds. Astrophys. J. 548, 836-851.

Dworkin, J.P., Deamer, D.W., Sandford, S.A., & Allamandola, L.J. (2001) Self-Assembling Amphiphilic Molecules: Synthesis in Simulated Interstellar/Precometary Ices. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 98, 815-819.

Sandford, S.A., Bernstein, M.P., & Dworkin, J.P. (2001) Assessment of the Interstellar Processes Leading to Deuterium Enrichment in Meteoritic Organics. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 36, 1117–1133.

Sandford, S.A., Dworkin, J.P., Deamer, D.W., & Allamandola, L.J. (2001) Self-Assembling Amphiphilic Molecules: A Possible Linkage Between Interstellar Chemistry and Meteoritic Organics. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 36, A181-182.

Dworkin J. P., Deamer, D. W., Sandford, S. A., Allamandola, L. J., Gillette, J. S., & Zare, R. N. (2000). Simulations of Cometary Ice: Large Molecule Synthesis and Self-assembly Properties. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 30, 228-229.

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