Benjamin Fernando

Benjamin Fernando is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on seismology and planetary science, with a specialization in simulating seismic waves on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other Solar System bodies. He is a member of NASA's InSight, Dragonfly, and VIPER mission science teams. Previously, he conducted his PhD and a diversity-focused fellowship at the University of Oxford, and completed his undergraduate studies at Imperial College London. His work bridges planetary exploration, computational geophysics, and science policy, emphasizing equity in STEM education and inclusion in polar research.

Education:

• PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Oxford (UK)
• Bachelor's Degree, Imperial College London (UK)

Research Interests:

• Computational modeling of seismic waves in extreme environments (e.g., Mars, icy moons)
• Impact cratering dynamics and seismic detection on planetary surfaces
• Science policy initiatives to improve diversity in geosciences and accessibility to higher education
• Instrumentation development for lunar and Martian seismology missions

Recent Research Trends:

Recent publications highlight his work on Martian impact detection using InSight data, lunar seismology for future missions, and seismoacoustic analysis of spacecraft re-entries. His interdisciplinary approach integrates planetary science with societal impact topics like equity in STEM education. He actively contributes to mission design and public outreach through programs like the InSightSeers initiative.

Labs/Teams:

• NASA InSight Science Team
• Dragonfly Titan Exploration Mission Team
• VIPER Lunar Volatile Mapping Mission Team