About the Bramson Group

Our research group studies processes that affect the surfaces (and subsurfaces!) of planets and the distribution of ice in our Solar System. We tackle knowledge gaps using data from spacecraft missions, theoretical modeling, field work at terrestrial analog sites, and experimental studies. We are involved in active NASA spacecraft missions, including selecting sites for operations to target new data acquisition. Our work is helping shape the future of robotic spacecraft missions for planetary science as well as the future of in situ resource utilization and human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

PI Bramson's Google Scholar Profile

 

Our group values and welcomes diverse perspectives and backgrounds — science is a human endeavor and belongs to everyone, regardless of race, sex, gender identification and expression, romantic and sexual orientation, age, religion, ethnic background, national origin, veteran status, and/or disability status. We often tackle problems at the intersection of many fields, and our group members have come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including geology, physics, astronomy, engineering, computer science, math, and even space policy, archaeology, environmental science, and more. We strive to create a research group culture that is collaborative and inquisitive, fostering curiosity and technical expertise while supporting each person's authenticity. All group members are expected to abide by our research group's Code of Conduct.

Interested in joining the Bramson group?
Please reach out to Prof. Bramson via email to inquire about availability of open spaces in the group, potential research topics, and projects. Note that Prof. Bramson gets many inquiries and while she tries her best to respond to such emails, she may not always be able to reply in a timely fashion, especially during busy times and when she knows the group does not have the capacity to take on new members. Please don't take it personally if you don't get a response right away! Please do feel free to send a follow up email a couple weeks later if you haven't gotten a reply yet to bring it to the top of her inbox. For prospective graduate students, please also read the content below.

Considering applying to graduate school at Purdue EAPS?
There are a few opportunities to learn more before you even apply!

• List of anticipated graduate research opportunities within the EAPS department. We try our best to keep this up to date for the upcoming graduate admissions cycle (i.e., updating the page sometime in mid-Fall for an application deadline of December/January for consideration to the program starting the next August).
  • If Prof. Bramson anticipates having an opening in her research group for a new graduate student, she will post an ad there by early October.
  • Prof. Bramson does not generally evaluate off-cycle applications (i.e., applications that come in outside of the typical admission cycle described above).
  • Her group usually focuses on applications to the PhD program directly, and she does not require a MS degree before applying to the PhD program.
    
    
• Discover Purdue: a virtual visitation program. The program is packed with valuable information, including an opportunity to learn from Purdue faculty and staff, interaction with current Purdue graduate students, and tips for crafting a competitive application. Note that space is limited, and nomination selection is competitive. For 2026, the nomination period is open July–September and the program will occur on September 21.