Nalin Samarasinha

Senior Scientist Planetary Science Institute nalin @psi.edu

Please visit my Personal Homepage for additional information.

Research Interests:

• Physics and Chemistry of Cometary Nuclei and Comae
  — including substantial original contributions to rotational studies of nuclei and interpretation of coma morphologies
• Structural Properties of Small Bodies in the Solar System
• Rotational and Physical Properties of Trans-Neptunian-Objects
• Physical Studies of Asteroids

Education and Public Outreach Activities:

• Research Mentor for a Number of Undergraduate and Graduate Students
• Outreach Activities (Talks and Star Parties) at Area Schools and at Other Outreach Events
• Co-Investigator of NASA EPO and multiple NASA IDEA grants
• Project ASTRO Astronomer Partner

Education:

• Ph.D. in Astronomy — Univeristy of Maryland at College Park, 1992
• M.S. in Astronomy — University of Maryland at College Park, 1985
• B.Sc. First Class Honours in Physics — University of Colombo, 1982