Bio/CV

+ Biography

Dr. Adrian Brown is currently working as a planetary science researcher at the NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. in the United States of America. Adrian has a background in computer science and electrical engineering - his first degree was in Electrical Engineering from the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, Australia.

After receiving his Electrical Engineering degree, Adrian served with the Royal Australian Navy as a Weapons Engineer and Fire Control Officer on Her Majesty's Australian Ships CANBERRA and ARUNTA, in addition to numerous shore postings around Australia.

Adrian is a certified Java programmer, and has worked as a Software Engineer for a variety of commercial projects for IBM, Zurich and other businesses. He has a Masters in Computer Science from the University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales.

Adrian completed his PhD in Earth and Planetary Science at Macquarie University, in Sydney, Australia. The topic of his defence was "Hyperspectral Mapping of Ancient Hydrothermal Systems". His advisors were Prof. Malcolm Walter of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology and Dr. Thomas Cudahy of CSIRO Exploration and Mining in Perth, Western Australia. Further information is available here.  

After completing his PhD, Adrian was selected as a 2006 NASA Postdoctoral Scholar at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Adrian then became a research scientist at the non profit SETI Institute where he conducted planetary science research, primarily on Mars using the CRISM instrument on NASA's MRO spacecraft. While at the SETI Institute, Adrian ran the research and public SETI Seminar series and was the program chief for the SETICON II convention.

In 2015, Adrian moved to the East coast and has since taken up his current role at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C..

Adrian is a fully qualified Private pilot, and has used this skill to enhance his knowledge of remote sensing by flying over study regions in Western Australia. He holds current endorsements on C172 and Piper Warrior single engine aircraft. Adrian is qualified in remote first aid and as an outback four wheel drive exponent.

Adrian is a dual United States and Australian citizen, and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria. He is a fan of the Australian Rules football club Essendon, and an avid listener to JJJ and TAL.