EducationPh. D. (2015), Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ B. S. with Honors in Physics, minors in Astronomy and Mathematics (2010), Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI AwardsGalileo Circle Scholar ($2000 total, 2014, 2015) LPL Graduate Student Service Award ($100, 2014) Ray Duncombe Prize (2014, $900) Susan Niebur Professional Development Award (2013, $250) NSF Graduate Research Program Fellowship (2011-present, full graduate stipend) Carson Graduate Fellowship (2010, full graduate stipend) [U. of A. Planetary Sci. dept.] Barry M. Goldwater Scholar (2008-2010, $15,000 total) John and Lilian Van Oosten Scholarship (2009, $2000) [Calvin College Physics dept.] Hartmann Student Travel Grant (2009, $300) [DPS meeting] National Merit Scholarship (2006-2010, $8000 total) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship (2006, $2500) PublicationsDykhuis, Melissa J. et al. “Efficient spin sense determination of Flora-region asteroids via the epoch method.” Icarus 267 (2016) 174-203.Sanchez, J. A., Reddy, V., Dykhuis, M. J., Lindsay, S., Le Corre, L. “Composition of Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (214869) 2007 PA8: An H Chondrite from the Outer Asteroid Belt.” The Astrophysical Journal 808 (2015), 93.Dykhuis, Melissa J.; Greenberg, R. J. “Collisional family structure within the Nysa-Polana complex.” Icarus 252 (2015) 199-211.Dykhuis, Melissa J.; Molnar, L. A.; van Kooten, S. J.; Greenberg, R. J. “Defining the Flora family: Orbital properties, reflectance properties and age.” Icarus 243 (2014) 111-128.Molnar, Lawrence A., Dykhuis, M. J. “Detailed dynamical properties of recent asteroid collisions: Re-evaluation of the Karin cluster and discovery of the Koronis cluster.” Icarus, submitted.Maejess, Daniel J.; Higgins, David; Molnar, Larry A.; Haegert, Melissa J.; Lane, David J.; Turner, David G.; Nielsen, Inga. “New Constraints on the Asteroid 298 Baptistina, the Alleged Family Member of the K/T Impactor.” Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (2009), 103:1, p.7. LinkMolnar, Lawrence A.; Haegert, Melissa J.; Hoogeboom, Kathleen M. “Lightcurve Analysis of an Unbiased Sample of Trojan Asteroids.” Minor Planet Bulletin (2008), 35:2, p. 82-84. LinkMolnar, Lawrence A.; Haegert, Melissa J.; 16 co-authors. “Lightcurve Analysis of a Magnitude Limited Asteroid Sample.” Minor Planet Bulletin (2008), 35:1, p. 9-12. LinkMolnar, Lawrence A.; Haegert, Melissa J.. “Lightcurve Analysis of Five Main-Belt Asteroids at the Calvin-Rehoboth Observatory.” Minor Planet Bulletin (2007), 34:4, p. 126-128. Link Abstracts presented at national conferencesLe Corre, L.; Reddy, V.; Bottke, W. F.; Dykhuis, M.; Nathues, A. “Exploring Sources of Exogenic Material on Ceres.” LPSC #46, #1431. (2015)Dykhuis, M. J.; Molnar, L. A.; van Kooten, S. J.; Greenberg, R. J. “Defining the Flora family: Reflectance properties and age.” American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #45, #103.06. (2014) LinkDykhuis, M. J. “Possible Evidence for Two Subsequent Collisions on a Differentiated Parent Body, (135) Hertha.” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #46, #400.04. (2014) LinkSpitz, A. H.; Dykhuis, M. et al. “Communicating Science on YouTube and Beyond: OSIRIS-REx presents 321Science!” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #46, #212.07. (2014) LinkSpitz, A. H.; Dykhuis, M. et al. “OSIRIS-REx Launches 321 Science - Engaging the Public in Science and Engineering Through YouTube Videos.” LPSC #45, #2464. (2014) LinkSpitz, A. H.; Lebofsky, L. A.; Higgins, M. L.; Dubois, R.; Dykhuis, M. et al. “OSIRIS-REx, JWST, and Girl Scouts Partner with Local Libraries for Women's History Month and Beyond.” LPSC #45, #2475. (2014) LinkDykhuis, Melissa J.; Molnar, L. A.; Van Kooten, S. J.; Greenberg, R. J.; Bottke, W. F. “Reflectance Properties and Age of the Baptistina Family.” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #45, #205.04. (2013) LinkDykhuis, Melissa J.; Samarasinha, N.; Mueller, B. E. A.; Storm, S. “New Techniques for Investigating the Morphology and Rotation of Component C of the Periodic Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3.” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #44, #314.10. (2012) LinkHaegert, Melissa J.; Molnar, L. A. “Flora Spin Axis Survey: Confirmation of the Yarkovsky Effect.” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #56.02. (2009) LinkMolnar, Lawrence A.; Haegert, M. J. “Details of Recent Collisions of Asteroids 832 Karin and 158 Koronis.” American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #27.05. (2009) LinkMolnar, Lawrence A.; Haegert, M. J. “The Yarkovsky Effect in the Flora and Baptistina Asteroid Families.” American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #39, #2.03. (2008) Link Professional affiliationsAmerican Astronomical Society Division of Planetary Sciences, American Astronomical Society Division on Dynamical Astronomy, American Astronomical Society EmploymentScience Consultant, Charlotte Mason Institute High School Astronomy Curriculum Review (Sept-Oct 2019)Graduate Assistant, OSIRIS-REx Education and Public Outreach (May-July 2013) Graduate Teaching Assistant, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona (2012-2013) Teaching Assistant, Calvin College Physics Department (2007-2009) Head Observer, Calvin College Observatory and Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory (2007-2009) Observatory Assistant, Calvin College Observatory and Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory (2006-2007) Education and public outreachCreated the 321Science! brand and logo for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission; ongoing volunteer work to write scripts for, narrate, illustrate and produce YouTube fast-draw videos about science (May 2013 to present). Watch the videos here.Co-founded Women’s Stories, a new start-up project designed to highlight women in STEM careers and inspire women in science, supported by the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc. (January 2014 to present). Learn more about the project at womens-stories.org.Volunteered as an OSIRIS-REx ambassador, helping the public engage and understand the science of the OSIRIS-REx mission (September 2012 to present).