Education
2016 Ph.D. Planetary Sciences - Minor in Geosciences (vv. 2016/07/05)
The University of Arizona
Dissertation: “The Poles of Mars, Past and Present: A high-resolution observational study of the Martian Polar Regions and their connection to climate”
2015 M.S. Planetary Sciences
The University of Arizona
2013 Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management
The University of Arizona
2007 B.S. Physics
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
The University of Arizona
Dissertation: “The Poles of Mars, Past and Present: A high-resolution observational study of the Martian Polar Regions and their connection to climate”
2015 M.S. Planetary Sciences
The University of Arizona
2013 Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management
The University of Arizona
2007 B.S. Physics
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Work Experience
Microcameras and Space Exploration (MCSE) SA
October 2021 – Present
Project Scientist
January 2021 - September 2021
Project Manager (50%)
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern
February 2017 – September 2021
Postdoctoral Researcher in Space Research and Planetary Sciences (50% between Jan '21 and Sep '21)
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona
August 2016 – January 2017
Research Specialist
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona
August 2009 – August 2016
Graduate Research Assistant (2009 – 2011), Graduate Research Associate (2011 – 2016), NASA Earth and Space Science Fellow (2013 – 2016)
National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA) – Peruvian Space Agency
March 2007 – May 2009
Research Assistant: Astronomy Department
October 2021 – Present
Project Scientist
January 2021 - September 2021
Project Manager (50%)
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern
February 2017 – September 2021
Postdoctoral Researcher in Space Research and Planetary Sciences (50% between Jan '21 and Sep '21)
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona
August 2016 – January 2017
Research Specialist
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona
August 2009 – August 2016
Graduate Research Assistant (2009 – 2011), Graduate Research Associate (2011 – 2016), NASA Earth and Space Science Fellow (2013 – 2016)
National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA) – Peruvian Space Agency
March 2007 – May 2009
Research Assistant: Astronomy Department
Planetary Mission Involvement
ESA JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) Monitoring Camera (JMC)
February 2021 – Present
Project Manager: MCSE RadCam colour calibration target for JMC
NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) Visible Imaging System (VIS)
MCSE Project Scientist
2019 NASA Discovery Mission Proposal: Climate Orbiter for Mars Polar Atmospheric and Subsurface Science (COMPASS)
September 2018 – Present
Co-Investigator: COMPASS Radar Observer for Mars Exploration (CROME) L-band SAR and Subsurface radar sounder
Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
February 2017 – Present
Science Theme Deputy Lead: Ice and Periglacial Processes
Operations Team Member
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
July 2016 – Present
Science Theme Lead: Climate Change
NASA Planetary Science Summer School
August 2014
Session III. Mission: Argus - Io Observer
Risk and Programmatics Chair
Principal Investigator for the Io GLobal Optical Observer (IGLOO) instrument
February 2021 – Present
Project Manager: MCSE RadCam colour calibration target for JMC
NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) Visible Imaging System (VIS)
MCSE Project Scientist
2019 NASA Discovery Mission Proposal: Climate Orbiter for Mars Polar Atmospheric and Subsurface Science (COMPASS)
September 2018 – Present
Co-Investigator: COMPASS Radar Observer for Mars Exploration (CROME) L-band SAR and Subsurface radar sounder
Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
February 2017 – Present
Science Theme Deputy Lead: Ice and Periglacial Processes
Operations Team Member
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)
July 2016 – Present
Science Theme Lead: Climate Change
NASA Planetary Science Summer School
August 2014
Session III. Mission: Argus - Io Observer
Risk and Programmatics Chair
Principal Investigator for the Io GLobal Optical Observer (IGLOO) instrument
Teaching Experience
Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Fall 2017, 2018, 2019
Teaching Assistant in Laborkurs Moderne Physik II
Spring 2018
Teaching Assistant in Physik Praktikum Studierende Biologie
Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Fall 2015
Guest Lecturer PTYS 554: Evolution of Planetary Surfaces (Graduate level course)
Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant PTYS 214: “Astrobiology: A Planetary Perspective”
Spring 2012
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer PTYS 170B1: “The Universe and Humanity”
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Graduate Teaching Excellence Award
Fall 2017, 2018, 2019
Teaching Assistant in Laborkurs Moderne Physik II
Spring 2018
Teaching Assistant in Physik Praktikum Studierende Biologie
Department of Planetary Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Fall 2015
Guest Lecturer PTYS 554: Evolution of Planetary Surfaces (Graduate level course)
Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant PTYS 214: “Astrobiology: A Planetary Perspective”
Spring 2012
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer PTYS 170B1: “The Universe and Humanity”
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Graduate Teaching Excellence Award
First Author Peer-Reviewed Publications
Becerra, P., I.B. Smith, C. Andres, A.M. Bramson, P. Buhler, A. Coronato, S. Diniega, J.A. Emmett, A. Grau Galofre, C. Herny, S. Hibbard, M.A. Kahre, J.P. Knightly, S. Nerozzi, G. Portyankina, J. Rabassa, L. Tamppari, T. Titus, J.L. Whitten, Z. Yoldi (2021), Past, Present and Future of Mars Polar Science: Outcomes and Outlook from the 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration, The Planetary Science Journal, 2:209, https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac19a5
Becerra, P., I.B. Smith, A. Coronato, J. Rabassa (2020). Mars Polar Science visits the End of the World. Nature Astronomy Meeting Report. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1127-y
Becerra, P., Sori, M.M., Thomas, N., Pommerol, A., Tulyakov, S., Sutton, S.S., Simioni, E., Cremonese, G., (2019). Timescales of the climate record in the south polar ice cap of Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, (12) doi:10.1029/2019GL083588
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, and S. Byrne (2017). Signals of astronomical climate forcing in the exposure topography of the North Polar Layered Deposits of Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44 (1), 62–70, doi:10.1002/2016GL071197 (*AGU EOS Research Spotlight).
Becerra, P., S. Byrne, M. M. Sori, S. Sutton, and K. E. Herkenhoff (2016). Stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars from high-resolution topography, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 121, 1445–1471, doi:10.1002/2015JE004992.
Becerra, P., Byrne, S., Brown A. J. (2015). Transient Bright “halos” on the South Polar Residual Cap of Mars: Implications for mass balance. Icarus 251: 211-225. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.050.
Becerra, P., I.B. Smith, A. Coronato, J. Rabassa (2020). Mars Polar Science visits the End of the World. Nature Astronomy Meeting Report. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1127-y
Becerra, P., Sori, M.M., Thomas, N., Pommerol, A., Tulyakov, S., Sutton, S.S., Simioni, E., Cremonese, G., (2019). Timescales of the climate record in the south polar ice cap of Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, (12) doi:10.1029/2019GL083588
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, and S. Byrne (2017). Signals of astronomical climate forcing in the exposure topography of the North Polar Layered Deposits of Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44 (1), 62–70, doi:10.1002/2016GL071197 (*AGU EOS Research Spotlight).
Becerra, P., S. Byrne, M. M. Sori, S. Sutton, and K. E. Herkenhoff (2016). Stratigraphy of the north polar layered deposits of Mars from high-resolution topography, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 121, 1445–1471, doi:10.1002/2015JE004992.
Becerra, P., Byrne, S., Brown A. J. (2015). Transient Bright “halos” on the South Polar Residual Cap of Mars: Implications for mass balance. Icarus 251: 211-225. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.050.
Latest First Author Conference Abstracts
Becerra, P., Mateu, I., Halser, L., Pommerol, A., Bullock, L., Kinch, K.M., Madsen, M.B., Kraehenbuehl, D., Beauvivre, S. (2022). Effects of Ionising Radiation on Ceramic Colour Standards: Implications for Space and Planetary Imaging. Joint Conference on Materials in the Space Environment (ISMSE15/ICMPSE13).
Becerra P., *L. Affolter, A. Pommerol, C. Feller, A. Lethuillier, T. Plüss, L. Neves, N. Thomas (2021). Measurements of the electrical properties of new planetary soil simulants. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference LII. Poster. Abs. 2422
Becerra P., C. Herny, A. Valantinas, S. Byrne, N. Thomas, S. Conway (2020). Avalanches of the Martian North polar cap. Europlanet Science Congress 2020. Poster. EPSC2020-1093.
Becerra, P., Conway, S., N. Thomas. (2020). Avalanches of the Martian North polar cap. EGU General Assembly 2020. Poster. EGU2020-22331.
Becerra, P., D. Nunes, I. Smith, M.M. Sori, Y. Brouet, N. Thomas. (2020). Two views of the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits: Toward a correlation of radar and visible stratigraphic records. 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration. Talk. Abs. 6055.
Becerra, P., D. Nunes, I. Smith, M.M. Sori, Y. Brouet, N. Thomas. (2019). Correlating Radar and Visible Stratigraphic Records in the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits. Poster. EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019-1705
Becerra, P., N. Thomas, A. Pommerol, M. Almeida, C. Cesar, E. Simioni, S. Tulyakov, G. Cremonese, and The CaSSIS Team. (2019). CaSSIS Observations of Polar and Circumpolar Layered Deposits on the Martian Southern Hemisphere. Poster. EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019-707
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, N. Thomas, A. Pommerol, S. S. Sutton, S. Tulyakov, E. Simioni, G. Cremonese. (2019). Timescales of the Climate Record in the Martian South Polar Layered Deposits. Ninth International Conference on Mars. Talk. Abs. 6273
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, N. Thomas, S. Tulyakov, S. S. Sutton, A. Pommerol, G. Cremonese, The HiRISE Team, The CaSSIS Team. (2019). Climate Record Signals in the South Polar Cap of Mars from HiRISE and CaSSIS Stereo Imaging. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference L. Abs. 1283. Talk
Becerra P., *L. Affolter, A. Pommerol, C. Feller, A. Lethuillier, T. Plüss, L. Neves, N. Thomas (2021). Measurements of the electrical properties of new planetary soil simulants. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference LII. Poster. Abs. 2422
Becerra P., C. Herny, A. Valantinas, S. Byrne, N. Thomas, S. Conway (2020). Avalanches of the Martian North polar cap. Europlanet Science Congress 2020. Poster. EPSC2020-1093.
Becerra, P., Conway, S., N. Thomas. (2020). Avalanches of the Martian North polar cap. EGU General Assembly 2020. Poster. EGU2020-22331.
Becerra, P., D. Nunes, I. Smith, M.M. Sori, Y. Brouet, N. Thomas. (2020). Two views of the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits: Toward a correlation of radar and visible stratigraphic records. 7th International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration. Talk. Abs. 6055.
Becerra, P., D. Nunes, I. Smith, M.M. Sori, Y. Brouet, N. Thomas. (2019). Correlating Radar and Visible Stratigraphic Records in the Martian North Polar Layered Deposits. Poster. EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019-1705
Becerra, P., N. Thomas, A. Pommerol, M. Almeida, C. Cesar, E. Simioni, S. Tulyakov, G. Cremonese, and The CaSSIS Team. (2019). CaSSIS Observations of Polar and Circumpolar Layered Deposits on the Martian Southern Hemisphere. Poster. EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019-707
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, N. Thomas, A. Pommerol, S. S. Sutton, S. Tulyakov, E. Simioni, G. Cremonese. (2019). Timescales of the Climate Record in the Martian South Polar Layered Deposits. Ninth International Conference on Mars. Talk. Abs. 6273
Becerra, P., M. M. Sori, N. Thomas, S. Tulyakov, S. S. Sutton, A. Pommerol, G. Cremonese, The HiRISE Team, The CaSSIS Team. (2019). Climate Record Signals in the South Polar Cap of Mars from HiRISE and CaSSIS Stereo Imaging. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference L. Abs. 1283. Talk
Press Coverage
2019 "Peeling back the Layers of the Climate of Mars", A. Dombard, Editors' Highlights, EOS.
2017 “How Mars Got Its Layered North Polar Cap”, E. Underwood, AGU Research Spotlight, EOS, 98.
2016 Interview. M. Delta, Radio Capital.
2015 Interview. D. Grimaldo, Punto edu (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú).
2017 “How Mars Got Its Layered North Polar Cap”, E. Underwood, AGU Research Spotlight, EOS, 98.
2016 Interview. M. Delta, Radio Capital.
2015 Interview. D. Grimaldo, Punto edu (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú).
Languages
- Spanish/English balanced bilingual
- Italian: Upper-Intermediate (B2/C1)
- German: Pre-intermediate (A2/B1)
- French: Beginner (A1)