The Faculty at SESE

Steve Desch is a theoretical astrophysicist who models the formation of solar systems and planetary processes. His modeling draws on his expertise in magnetohydrodynamics, radiative transfer, dust microphysics, meteoritics, and other astrophysics, as well as numerical computing. His research interests include: chondrule formation; origin of the Solar System's short-lived radionuclides; star formation and protoplanetary disk evolution; astromineralogy; Martian dust devils; and cryovolcanism on Kuiper Belt Objects. Steve Desch is the 2003 recipient of the Meteoritical Society's Alfred O. Nier Prize.