Biography:
Dr. Claire L. Ricketts has been working with the Astrophysics & Astrochemistry Laboratory since 2008. Initially as a fellow of the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP), now as a Research Scientist through the Bay Area Environment Research Institute (BAER).
Dr. Ricketts is currently working in the ICEE Facility, led by Dr. Andrew Mattioda. Dr. Ricketts is using Raman and Infrared spectroscopy, as well as Mass spectrometry, to analyze polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and ices of relevance to a variety of astrophysical and planetary environments.
Previously, Dr. Ricketts was principal investigator (PI) on a Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research (LASER) grant to study the activation and reactivity of lunar dust. During her NPP fellowship, Dr. Ricketts was involved in the novel coupling of a Reflectron Time-Of-Flight (ReTOF) mass spectrometer to the NASA Ames Cosmic Simulation Chamber, developed by Dr. Farid Salama.
Dr. Ricketts obtained her Masters of Chemistry with Industrial Experience (MChem) from the University of Manchester, U.K., in 2003. Her MChem degree included a one-year placement at GlaxoSmithKline, and in the final year she researched the use of plasma as a tool to destroy CFCs, with Prof. Dr. C. Whitehead. Dr. Ricketts subsequently moved to London, where she obtained her PhD with Prof. S. D. Price, at University College London, U.K, researching reactions relevant to planetary atmospheres. Her research involved experimentation with a Position Sensitive Coincidence (PSCO) technique coupled with Time of Flight (TOF) mass spectrometry to probe the reactivity, dynamics and energetics of doubly charged ions with neutral species. Dr. Ricketts continued this line of research in 2007 during her post-doc in Prague working with the late Dr. D. Schröder.
In her free time Claire enjoys being with her husband, two daughters and son, and exploring California.
Claire's major publications can be found on the Astrochemistry Laboratory's Publications Pages.
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