Professional Experience
Assistant Professor
Virginia Tech, Department of Geosciences – Blacksburg, VA – 2019-present
Postdoctoral Associate
University of California Davis, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences – Davis, CA – 2018-2019
• Mentor: Sarah Stewart
Postdoctoral Associate
Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory – Washington, DC – 2015-2018
• Mentor: Yingwei Fei
Education and Research Experience
PhD Earth Science
Rice University – Houston, TX – 2010-2015
• Thesis: Carbon in silicate melt – Experimental constraints and applications for the subduction zone and magma ocean carbon cycles
• Advisor: Rajdeep Dasgupta
MS Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of New Mexico – Albuquerque, NM – 2008-2010
• Thesis: The partial molar volume of carbon dioxide in peridotite partial melt at high pressure
• Advisor: Carl Agee
BS Geology
Clemson University – Clemson, SC – 2003-2007
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors
• Senior Thesis: Characterizing fractured, crystalline aquifers using multi-level, interference slug tests
• Advisor: Larry Murdoch
Teaching Experience
Virginia Tech
GEOS 6704 The Deep Earth Volatile Cycle – Spring 2020
GEOS 5704 Geochemical Thermodynamics – Spring 2021 (online), Spring 2023
GEOS 2104 Elements of Geology – Fall 2020 (online), Fall 2021, Fall 2022
GEOS 3704 Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks – Spring 2024, Spring 2025
GEOS 5984 Seminars in Geosciences – Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Fall 2025
Rice University
Teaching Assistant – Spring 2012
• ESCI 214 The Planets (Professor: Adrian Lenardic)
Clemson University College of Engineering and Science
Tutor – 2005-2007
• Tutored freshmen in the Residents In Science and Engineering Program in calculus, chemistry, physics, and general engineering
Advising/Mentoring
Virginia Tech
• E. Mallick, Postdoc – 2025-present
• T. Ross, Ph.D. – 2022-present
• P. Bose, M.S. 2024 (co-advised with Scott King)
• F. C. McGroarty, M.S. 2021
Rice University
• Michelle Muth, B.S. – Rice University – 2013-2015
Committee membership
• L. Moore, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech – 2018
• A. Ehlers, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech – 2022-present
• A. Valop, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech – 2022-present
• A. Helm, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech – 2023-present
• D. Bunin, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech – 2023-present
Grants Funded
2024–2026: Thermochemical Evolution of Mercury. PI: M. S. Duncan (55%), co-PI: S. King. NASA award, 23-SSW23-0058. $764,892.
2020–2023: MRI: Acquisition of an Electron Microprobe. PI: M. Caddick, co-PIs: R. Bodnar, R. Law, S. Xiao, M. S. Duncan (15%). NSF Major Research Instrumentation, award EAR-2018840. $975,000.
Awards Received
Leroy Caleb Gibbon Award in Geology – 2016
Torkild Rieber Award – 2013
New Mexico Space Grant – 2009
Outstanding Junior in Geology – 2006
Clemson University’s President’s List – 2006, 2007
Clemson University’s Dean’s List – 2003-2007
Clemson University’s Calhoun Honor’s College – 2004-2007
Skills
Scientific Computing and Data Analysis – Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access; Adobe Illustrator; Perple_X; HeFESTo; Matlab; ArcGIS; Python
Analytical Instrumentation – Electron Microprobe, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, SIMS, Raman spectroscopy
Project and Laboratory Management – High pressure-temperature experimental systems (Piston Cylinder, Walker and Split sphere-style Multi-anvil, Depths of the Earth Quickpress),Organization/Planning, Budgeting, Safety management, Employee training, Equipment maintenance and calibration, Vendor management and procurement
Physical – Operating hand tools, Machining, Welding, High pressure hydraulic plumbing
Language – French-conversational level, Russian-beginner level
Interests – Community outreach and science education, Astronomy, Video editing, Equine care volunteer work
Organizations/Service
American Geophysical Union
Member – 2008-Current
• Co-convened 2016 Fall Meeting session: DI002: An integrated view of planetary bodies: insights from geochemistry, petrology, geophysics and modeling
• Co-convened 2020 Fall Meeting session: DI025: A multidisciplinary approach to understanding volatiles in Earth’s mantle
• Outstanding Student Paper Award Judge – 2016-2020
Geological Society of America
Member – 2014-2025
• Dwornik Award Judge (Lunar and Planetary Science Conference) – 2016-2019, 2022, 2023
Goldschmidt Meeting
• Co-convened 2018 Annual Meeting session: 02d: Geochemical and geodynamical constraints on the origin and evolution of planetary bodies
COMPRES
Education Outreach Infrastructure and Development Committee Member – 2019-present
CIDER (Cooperative Institute for Dynamic Earth Research)
Participant – Summer 2016
• Participated in collaborative research projects: “Metastability in the Mantle Transition Zone: A Collaborative Geodynamic, Petrologic, and Seismological Approach” and “On the Origin of High Shear Wave Velocities in the Deep Roots of Cratons”
• Received $5,000 grants to continue work
Participant – Summer 2014
• Participated in collaborative research project: “Mars Thermal History: Core, Atmosphere, Mantle, Phobos and Surface”
• Received $5,000 grant to continue work
GeoUnion (Rice Earth Science graduate student organization)
Crawfish Boil Co-coordinator – 2012, 2013
• Organized campus-wide crawfish boil activities
Wednesday Pre-Seminar Paper Reading Coordinator – 2012-2013
• Organized weekly, department-wide paper discussion of the invited seminar speaker
Treasurer – 2011-2012
• Organized service projects and meetings; managed budget
Clemson Geology Club
President – 2006
Vice President – 2005
Secretary/Treasurer – 2004
• Organized field trips, service projects, and meetings; managed budget
Clemson University College of Engineering and Science
Tour Guide – 2003-2006
• Gave tours of the Geology Department to high school juniors and seniors
Reviewer
Journals
Am. Mineral., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, Nat. Astron., Nat. Comm., Nat. Geo., Geophys. Res. Lett., J. Geophys. Res., Planet. Sci. J., J. Petrol., Geochem. Persp. Lett.
Funding Organizations
• NASA – Panelist, external reviewer
• NSF – External reviewer
• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) – • External reviewer
• French National Research Agency – External reviewer
Outreach
Explore Science Summer Camp (VT)
• Presented impact-related demonstrations with the Department of Geosciences and the College of Science for rising 7th to 9th graders (12 July 2022, 06 June 2023)
LAB Chat (Science Museum of Western Virginia)
• Presented current research to the local community: Woodland Hills retirement community (23 June 2021)
Virginia 4-H
Mars Base Camp Presenter – 2020
• Made a short video describing aspects of the project to students
Hokie Village
Presenter – 2019
• Presented Carbon-related demonstrations with the Department of Geosciences and the College of Science to students and parents before the Homecoming football game
VT Geofair
Presenter – 2019
• Presented petrology and microscope demonstrations with the Department of Geosciences to students and parents
UC Davis Picnic Day
Presenter – 2018, 2019
• Presented planetary science and petrology topics and demonstrations with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences to students and parents
Planetary Science Palooza
Presenter – 2018
• Presented planetary science topics to students and parents in association with the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
· A Trip to Mars
· Solar System Scale
USA Science & Engineering Festival
Presenter – 2016
• Presented Earth Science topics at the Carnegie Science booth to students and parents
DC STEM Fair
Judge – 2016, 2017
• Judged high school and middle school science fair projects (19 March 2016, 11 March 2017)
• Judged elementary school science fair projects (4 June 2016, 3 June 2017)
Sally Ride Science Festival
Organized Earth Science presentations – 2012, 2013
Presenter – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
• Organized and presented various topics in Earth Science to middle school students and parents
· Explosive Earth: The Science of Volcanoes
· How did we get our Solar System?
· Rock as we roll around campus/The Geology of Texas – Adult workshop—-
Megan S Duncan 