A Professional Portfolio

Dr. Sean I. Peters

Volcanologist | Planetary Scientist | Writer

About Dr. Peters

As of January 2023, I am a Postdoctoral Fellow and faculty member at Middlebury College.

From August 2021 – December 2022, I served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Idaho. Prior to that, I worked as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for the Himeji Board of Education in Himeji, Japan teaching English. Previously, I was a senior research specialist and graduate research assistant at Arizona State University studying volcanic processes across the Solar System.

My graduate work focused on the formation and evolution of shield volcanoes on Mars, estimating emplacement conditions and flow properties of Martian lava flows, and using analog experiments to address how unsteady effusion rates impact lava flow propagation and morphology. I have also been active in efforts to promote accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within the geological and planetary sciences and broader academia.

From the lab to the field

Researched the effects of unsteady effusion rates on lava flow morphology and emplacement: results from laboratory analogue experiments

peters_cv-1Download PDF

Academic Interests

Teaching / Mentoring

Teaching provides an opportunity to nurture the next generation of critical thinkers. I am passionate about sharing knowledge with students, igniting creativity, and inspiring students to pursue their ambitions.

Teaching and advising and mentoring go hand-in-hand. I’ve developed a passion for mentoring and advising students in research and career development. Mentorship offers the opportunity to guide students through difficult, and sometimes, foreign spaces to help them actualize their potential.

Writing

I enjoy writing in all forms, both fiction and non-fiction. I have published three peer-reviewed manuscripts to date and I am preparing one more for submission this fall and two more for submission in 2024. I am second author on a manuscript currently under review.

With respect to fiction writing, I have written several short stories, submitted some to contests, and published a couple of poems (long ago). Currently, I’m working on two novels (one completed awaiting revision; one in progress). I am also actively writing a variety of short stories.

DEIJA/ Outreach

Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, Justice, and Accessibility is paramount to the scientific enterprise. Different perspectives and backgrounds results in more creative thinking and better science. However, DEIJA isn’t just about doing better science, it’s also about valuing people.

Whether it’s judging science fairs, giving talks, or serving on review panels, I want to serve the scientific community and engage the public in science.

Select Publications

peters_and_christensen_2017-journal_of_geophysical_research-_planets-1Download
jgr-planets-2021-peters-lava-flow-eruption-conditions-in-the-tharsis-volcanic-province-on-mars-1Download
peters_et_al_2022-1Download

Contact

Don’t hesitate to reach out with the contact information or send a message using the form.

✉️ General: speters102@gmail.com

🏫 Institutional: seanp@middlebury.edu