Research interests include planetary interiors and evolution; building equation of state and phase diagram models of matter at extreme conditions; kinetics of phase transitions at extreme conditions.

We strive to better understand how planet-scale observables are fundamentally controlled by the behavior of atoms at extreme conditions. Using X-ray scattering techniques, we probe interactions of nuclei and electrons at high pressures and temperatures. Our work informs the physical properties and dynamic history of the Earth and other planets both within and without our solar system.

A common theme for many of our research projects is atomic mobility. As we push the boundaries of high pressure and fast timescales, kinetics and rate-dependent phenomena control experimental access to properties such as phase stability, phase transformation mechanisms, and defect propagation.