Dr. Samuel Birch

Biography

Sam Birch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University. He received his B.A. in Geophysics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004 and completed his Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences at Cornell University in 2018. Birch has engaged in significant research, including receiving the 51 Pegasi b Research Fellowship from the Heising-Simons Foundation, which involved conducting research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Taylor Perron. His research group investigates the physical processes that shape planetary surfaces and climates within our Solar System. Through mathematical and computational modeling, as well as laboratory experiments, Birch aims to understand the implications of surface formations on the ever-changing climates of planets. His work emphasizes the importance of landscapes as records of planetary climate evolution, enabling a deeper comprehension of how planets have developed and what changes they may face in the future. He actively teaches courses related to planetary surface processes and fosters a learning environment that encourages exploration and discovery in planetary science.

Research Interests

Experience