Mackenzie Day

Mackenzie Day is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she conducts research on sedimentary processes across terrestrial and planetary environments with focus on aeolian (wind-driven) systems.

Her research spans modern Earth systems, planetary bodies (particularly Mars), and ancient geological records, utilizing field studies, orbital remote sensing of Martian dune fields in Gale crater, and experimental work in a 7-meter wind tunnel. She investigates dune formation/preservation mechanisms and draws critical parallels between terrestrial and extraterrestrial aeolian processes governed by universal physics, with recent work identifying preserved dune-dune interactions in Colorado Plateau sandstones.

Professor Day mentors undergraduate and graduate students through the GALE lab at UCLA, where she directs research on wind-surface interactions across spatial and temporal scales. Her team integrates field sampling, remote sensing analysis, and wind tunnel experimentation to advance understanding of sedimentary dynamics in both contemporary and ancient contexts.

The GALE lab serves as the operational hub for Professor Day's multidisciplinary research, coordinating field expeditions, Mars orbital data analysis, and controlled aeolian experiments. The lab fosters collaboration between students and researchers to explore dune dynamics across planetary environments and geologic time periods through integrated terrestrial-planetary comparative studies.