Melissa Dykhuis, Ph. D.

I'm an asteroid girl, occasionally practicing science from my home near Boulder, Colorado. I graduated in 2015 from the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory with a PhD in Planetary Science. My research focused on solar system dynamics of small bodies (asteroids, comets, KBOs), both theoretical modeling and observation. I did my undergraduate work with Dr. Larry Molnar at Calvin College, and my PhD work with Dr. Richard Greenberg at the University of Arizona. My dissertation, "Asteroid Family Dynamics in the Inner Main Belt," is available in pdf form here.

I currently work as a Planetary Science consultant for the Southwest Research Institute, as a contractor offering research expertise in asteroid dynamics. If you are interested in hiring me, please fill out the contact form below. 

P.S. I'm also a novelist, writing books for adults and teens under the pen name Melissa J. Roche. (Yes, I chose that name because of the Roche limit...) If that's the Melissa you're looking for, head over to melissajroche.com and find my latest writing shenanigans, as well as skating, art, books, and occasional cosplay.