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Hi, I'm

Dr. Kara Brugman

Experimental Petrologist

More About Me
About Kara

Paid to make rocks, shoot ion beams at rocks, and go to amazing places to sledgehammer rocks.

Profile Picture

I am interested in magma genesis and volatile solubility on exoplanets, Earth, and solar system bodies, the timescales of events in magmatic systems, geothermometry, volcano science and hazards, high-silica magmatic systems, and how our planet's volcanologic and petrologic mechanisms can be used to understand those on other planets and moons.

Profile

  • Name: Kara Brugman
  • Hometown: Rural Township (seriously), IL
  • Interests: Food, board games, cute things, caves, sci-fi, & other assorted nerdery
  • Favorite Hikes: Brown's Peak (Four Peaks), AZ Angel's Landing, Zion N.P. Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch, Canyonlands N.P. Picacho Peak, AZ Havasupai, Grand Canyon N.P.
  • The Best Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, IMO

Composition [wt%]

  • 20%
    Tea
  • 25%
    Snacks
  • 15%
    Bouldering chalk
  • 15%
    Cat videos
  • 25%
    Star Trek
Research & Education

CV At A Glance

I use experimental petrology to study exoplanet magmas and use diffusion chronometry to examine timescales of effusive eruptions at Yellowstone.

Research

Exoplanet experiments

2015–current

End-Loaded Piston-Cylinder, Multi-Anvil, EPMA, NMR, FTIR, Raman, XRF

Partial melting and solubility experiments to determine crust compositions; anhydrous solidi; and volatile and bioessential element solubilities of rocky planets orbiting other stars.

Brugman, K., Dunning, S.G., Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Bullock, E., Steele, A., Badro, J., Shahar, A. (in revision) Hydrogen solubility and speciation in primitive silicate melt. To JGR: Planets.

Brugman, K., Phillips, M.G., Till, C.B. (2021) Experimental Determination of Mantle Solidi and Melt Compositions for Two Likely Rocky Exoplanet Compositions. JGR: Planets, 10.1029/2020JE006731.

Yellowstone diffusion chronometry

2014–2022

NanoSIMS, SIMS, EPMA, Python, LA-ICP-MS

Development of a new diffusion chronometry method to compare pre-eruptive timescales from Fe-rich clinopyroxene to timescales from other minerals. This project examines the last events recorded by minerals in the Scaup Lake flow, a Yellowstone post-caldera rhyolite.

Brugman, K., Till, C.B. Bose, M. (2022) Common Assumptions and Methods Yield Overestimated Diffusive Timescales, as Exemplified in a Yellowstone Post-Caldera Lava. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 10.1007/s00410-022-01926-5.

Cpx-liquid geothermometer

2017–2019

Cold-Seal Pressure Vessel, EPMA

Development of a new clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer specifically calibrated for the low-Al, high-Fe clinopyroxene found in high-silica igneous systems.

Brugman, K.K., and Till, C.B. (2019) A low-aluminum clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer for high-silica magmatic systems. American Mineralogist, 10.2138/am-2019-6842.

Appointments & Education

Assistant Professor

January 2026

Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences
Institution of Meteoritics
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

 

Associate Research Scientist

2023–2025

Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment (FORCE)
Arizona State University, Tempe

 

Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow

2020–2022

Earth & Planets Laboratory
Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, D.C.

 

Ph.D.: Geological Sciences

April 2020

School of Earth and Space Exploration, EPIC
Arizona State University, Tempe

Dissertation: Timescales and Characteristics of Magma Generation in Earth and Exoplanets

B.A.: Geological Sciences, minor in Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences

May 2014

University of Colorado, Boulder

Honors thesis: Understanding the History of Arabia Terra, Mars Through Crater-Based Tests

Contact Download CV
Publications

Read My Research

Journal Articles

  1. Brugman, K., Dunning, S.G., Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Bullock, E., Steele, A., Badro, J., Shahar, A. (in revision) Hydrogen solubility and speciation in primitive silicate melt. To Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
  2. Kim, J., Cave, S., Arrowsmith, J.R., Clarke, A.B., Roggensack, K., Semken, S., and Brugman, K. (accepted) Low shield eruptive behavior: A case study of Sentinel-Arlington Volcanic Field (USA). USGS Special Volume: Distributed Volcanism.
  3. Edmund, E., Chuvashova, I., Konopkova, Z., Husband, R., Strohm, C., Appel, K., Bähtz, C., Ball, O., Bouffetier, V., Brugman, K., et al. (2024) The thermal conductivity of bridgmanite at lower mantle conditions using a multi-technique approach. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 129(6), 10.1029/2024JB028823.
  4. Kueter, N., Brugman, K., Miozzi, F., Cody, G.D., Yang, J., Strobel, T.A., Walter, M.J. (2023) Water speciation and hydrogen isotopes in hydrous stishovite: implications for the deep Earth water cycle. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 178(48), 10.1007/s00410-023-02028-6.
  5. Piette, A.A.A., Gao, P., Brugman, K., Shahar, A., Lichtenberg, T., Miozzi, F., Driscoll, P. (2023) Rocky planet or water world? Observability of low-density lava world atmospheres. The Astrophysical Journal, 954(29), 110.3847/1538-4357/acdef2.
  6. Brugman, K., Till, C.B., Bose, M. (2022) Common Assumptions and Methods Yield Overestimated Diffusive Timescales, as Exemplified in a Yellowstone Post-Caldera Lava. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 177(63), 10.1007/s00410-022-01926-5.
  7. Brugman, K., Phillips, M.G., Till, C.B. (2021) Experimental Determination of Mantle Solidi and Melt Compositions for Two Likely Rocky Exoplanet Compositions. JGR: Planets, 126(17) 10.1029/2020JE006731.
  8. Brugman, K.K. and Till, C.B. (2019) A Low-Aluminum Clinopyroxene-Liquid Geothermometer for High-Silica Magmatic Systems. American Mineralogist, 104(7), 996–1004, 10.2138/am-2019-6842.
  9. Till, C.B., Pritchard, M.E., Miller, C.A., Brugman, K.K., Ryan-Davis, J. (2018) Super-volcanic Investigations. Nature Geoscience, 11(4), 10.1038/s41561-018-0100-1.
  10. Hynek, B.M., McCollum, T.M., Marcucci, E.C., Brugman, K., Rogers, K.L. (2013) Assessment of environmental controls on acid-sulfate alteration at active volcanoes in Nicaragua: Applications to relic hydrothermal systems on Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research—Planets, Special Issue: Early Mars, 118, 2083–2104, 10.1002/jgre.20140.

White Papers

  1. Meadows, V., Stapelfeldt, K., Crisp, D., Robinson, T.D., Mayorga, L., Quick, L.C., Kane, S.R., Azevedo Silva, T., Brugman, K., Head, J.W., Mamajek, E., Dong, C. (2025) Identifying Solar System Investigations Most Impactful to Exoplanet Science. Community White Paper for NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy.
  2. Community Consensus Report (2022) A Consensus Report on Recommendations from the 2022 Advancing IDEA in Planetary Science Conference, submitted to NASA, 10.5281/zenodo.6656887.
  3. Izenberg N., R.T. Daly, K.E. Mandt, C.R. Richey, L.R. Ostrach, J.T. Keane, S.J. Robbins, R.N. Watkins, J.A. Cordova, L. Riesbeck, J.H. Roberts, I. Daubar, J. Scully, S. Howell, S. Hosseini, R. Pappalardo, M. Vidaurri, N. Zellner, S. Vance, M. Bose, M.W. Busch, L. Feaga, P.A. Yanamandra-Fisher, K.K. Brugman, G. Arney, E. Kohler, A.M. Tárano, J. Noviello, C. Ernst, M.M. Daswani, H. Hartnett (2021) Planetary and Astrobiology Blank Papers: Science White Papers Cancelled or Downscaled Due to Direct Impact of COVID-19 and National-scale Civil Action, Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032 and Bulletin of the AAS 53(4), 10.3847/25c2cfeb.d2881794.
  4. Kohler, E., C. He, S.H. Shim, K.K. Brugman, A.C. Johnson, P.C. Vergeli, M.A. Thomson, H. Graham, M.S. Gudipati, B. Fleury, B.L. Henderson (2020) The Importance of Prioritizing Exoplanet Experimental Facilities, Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032, arXiv:2007.13924.
  5. Marley, M.S., S. Harman, H.B. Hammel, P.K. Byrne, J. Fortney, A. Accomazzi, S.E. Moran, M.J.Way, J.L. Christiansen, N.R., Izenberg,T. Holt, S. Vahidinia, E. Kohler, K.K. Brugman (2020) Enabling Effective Exoplanet/Planetary Collaborative Science, Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023–2032, arXiv:2007.10549.

* invited # talk

Conference Abstracts

  1. #Brugman, K., Till, C.B. (2025). Geochemical Habitability: Experiments to Improve HWO ROI. Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory Symposium, Washington, D.C.
  2. #Brugman, K., Thompson, M.A., Miozzi, F., Dunning, S.G., Bower, D.J, Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Steele, A.S., Badro, J., Sossi, P.A., Shahar, A. (2025). Experimental Determination of Hydrogen Solubility in Silicate Magma Oceans. Goldschmidt, Prague, Czech Republic.
  3. Brugman, K., Leinenweber, K., Navrotsky, A., Sharp, T., Smith, D., Shim, S.H., Tsuno, K., Leinbach, L. (2025). FORCE: The United States' Newest IHPV Laboratory. IAVCEI Scientific Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland.
  4. #Brugman, K., Dunning, S.G., Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Bullock, E.S., Steele, A., Badro, J., Shahar, A. (2025). Hydrogen Solubility in Terrestrial Magma Oceans. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX.
  5. Sharp, T., Shim, S.H., Leinenweber, K., Smith, D., Navrotsky, A., Brugman, K., Chen, S., Tsuno, K., Leinbach, L., (2024). FORCE (Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment) Progress, instrumentation and Initial Experiments. AGU Fall Meeting Abstract MR31B-2986, San Francisco, CA.
  6. Brugman, K. (2024). FORCE: A hub for exoplanet experiments from crust to mantle. Exoplanets in Our Backyard III, Louisville, TN.
  7. #Brugman, K., Dunning, S.G., Badro, J., Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Shahar, A. (2024). Experimental Determination of Hydrogen Solubility in Silicate Magma Oceans. Goldschmidt, Chicago, IL.
  8. Brugman, K., Dunning, S.G., Badro, J., Cody, G.D., Wang, J., Shahar, A. (2024). Hydrogen Solubility in Rocky Silicate Magma Oceans. Earth and Planets Origin and Evolution, Paris, France.
  9. #Piette, A.A.A., Gao, P., Brugman, K., Shahar, A., Lichtenberg, T., Miozzi, F., Driscoll, P. (2024). Rocky planet or water world? Observability of low-density lava world atmospheres. Rocky Worlds III, Zurich, Switzerland.
  10. #Goncharov, A.F., Edmund, E., McWilliams, R.S., Sanchez-Valle, C., Brugman, K., Badro, J. (2023). X-ray Free Electron Laser flash measurements of thermal conductivity of bridgmanite in Earth's lower mantle. AGU Fall meeting Abstract MR24A-02, San Francisco, CA.
  11. Leinbach, L., Brugman, K., Leinenweber, K., Navrotsky, A., Sharp, T., Shim, S.H., Smith, D., Tsuno, K. (2023). FORCE (Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment) Progress and Future Advances. AGU Fall Meeting Abstract MR21B-0049, San Francisco, CA.
  12. #Brugman, K., Shahar, A., Badro, J., Cody, G.D., and Wang, J. (2023). Solubility of H2 in Primitive Melts as Determined by Experiments. XVIII International Symposium on Experimental Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, Milan, Italy.
  13. #Kueter, N., Brugman, K., Miozzi, F., Cody, G.D., Yang, J., Strobel, T.A., and Walter, M.J. (2022). Water Speciation and Hydrogen Isotopes in Hydrous Stishovite. XVIII International Symposium on Experimental Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, Milan, Italy.
  14. #Edmund, E., McWilliams, R.S., Brugman, K., Badro, J., Sanchez-Valle, C., Goncharov, A.F. on behalf of EuXFEL Proposal 3160 (2023). Thermal Conductivity of Bridgmanite at Lower Mantle Conditions. Joint 28th AIRAPT and 60th EHPRG International Conference on High Pressure Science and Technology, Edinburgh, Scotland.
  15. #Leinenweber, K., Navrotsky, A., Smith, D., Sharp, T., Shim, S.H., Tsuno, K., Brugman, K. (2022). FORCE — A Newly Created "Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment". AGU Fall Meeting Abstract MR45A-03, Chicago, IL.
  16. #Kueter, N., Brugman, K., Miozzi, F., Cody, G.D., Walter, M.J., Yang, J., and Strobel, T.A. (2022). Water Speciation in Partially Deuterated Hydrous Stishovite at 450 °C and 9 GPa. GeoMinKöln Abstract 264, University of Cologne, Germany.
  17. #Brugman, K., Shahar, A., Badro, J., and Cody, G. (2022). Experimental Determination of H2 Solubility in Primitive Melts. Goldschmidt, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  18. *#Brugman, K. (2021). Exoplanet Research at the Intersection of Geosciences and Astronomy. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract 907377, New Orleans, LA.
  19. *#Brugman, K. K., Phillips, M. G., & Till, C. B. (2021). Using Experimental Petrology to Explore Exoplanet Melts and Solidi: Preliminary Implications for Habitability. Goldschmidt, Lyon, France.
  20. #Brugman, K.K., Phillips, M.G., and Till, C.B. (2021). Petrological Experiments On Rocky Exoplanet Compositions Reveal Clues To Habitability. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX.
  21. #Brugman, K.K., Phillips, M.G., and Till, C.B. (2020). Exoplanet Crust Compositions as Determined by Petrological Experiments. Exoplanets in Our Backyard, Houston, TX.
  22. Brugman, K.K., Phillips, M.G., and Till, C.B. (2019) Experimental Determination of Rocky Exoplanet Crust Compositions. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract, San Francisco, CA.
  23. #Brugman, K.K. and Till, C.B. (2019) New clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer indicates a broad crystallization interval for low-Al clinopyroxene in high-silica magmatic systems. GSA Annual Meeting abstract 337075, Phoenix, AZ.
  24. *# Brugman, K.K., Phillips, M.G., and Till, C.B. (2019) Stars to Planets: Experimental Determination of Exoplanet Mantle Solidi and Crust Compositions. Goldschmidt, Barcelona, Spain.
  25. Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till (2018) Clinopyroxene-Liquid Thermometry Hints at Cold Storage for High-Silica Systems. IAVCEI Commission on Collapse Calderas: VII International Workshop on Collapse Calderas, Toba Caldera, Sumatra, Indonesia.
  26. Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till (2018) A Revised Low-Al Clinopyroxene-Liquid Geothermometer for High-Silica Igneous Systems. EOS AGU Chapman: Merging Geophysical, Petrochronologic, and Modeling Perspectives of Large Silicic Magma Systems, Abstract P-28, Quinamávida, Maule Region, Chile.
  27. *#Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till (2017) Taking Yellowstone's Temperature: A New Clinopyroxene Geothermometer to Improve Timescales of Pre-Eruptive Events. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract U13B-03, New Orleans, LA.
  28. Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till (2017) A Revised Clinopyroxene-Liquid Geothermometer for Silicic Igneous Systems with Applications to Diffusion Chronometry of the Scaup Lake Rhyolite, Yellowstone Caldera, WY. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract V11C-0365, New Orleans, LA.
  29. Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till (2017) Investigation of the Applicability of Clinopyroxene Geothermometers to Silicic Igneous Systems. IAVCEI Scientific Assembly Abstract ME43C-044, Portland, OR.
  30. #Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till, M. Bose (2016) Clinopyroxene Diffusion Chronometry of the Scaup Lake Rhyolite, Yellowstone Caldera, WY. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract V13F-02, San Francisco, CA. Recipient of an AGU Outstanding Student Paper Award
  31. Brugman, K.K., C.B. Till, M. Bose and R. Hervig (2015) Development of Clinopyroxene as an Igneous Geospeedometer Using NanoSIMS. EOS AGU Fall Meeting Abstract V31B-3030, San Francisco, CA.
  32. Brugman, K.K., B.M. Hynek, S.J. Robbins (2015) Crater-based tests unlock the mystery of the origin and evolution of Arabia Terra, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX.
#SciComm

Media & Outreach

FORCE's DIA multi-anvil, Jasmine, has been commissioned
| Watch the installation video |

I created a couple videos that document the construction of Ichiban
| Watch the full assembly video | Watch the timelapse only |

FORCE's 6000 ton uniaxial multi-anvil, Ichiban, is complete!
| Read the construction update |

I had a brush with fame when my (blurry) photograph was featured in a Washington Post article about high pressure research at ASU
| Read the WaPo article |

I joined Dr. Michael Wong and other Carnegie Earth & Planets Lab postdocs for a Neighborhood Lecture about "The Science of Star Trek"
| Watch the full video |

I was featured on the Carnegie Earth & Planets Lab website
| Read the Postdoc Spotlight |

During quarantine/CoronaTimes/The Wrong Timeline I've been continuing my experimental work at EPIC (ASU), including some drop-quench experiments conducted in our vertical furnace
| Watch slow-motion videos |

I recorded a lab tour video for ASU SESE's new students,
since they can't visit labs in person during the pandemic
| Visit the EPIC lab |

I talked about my exoplanet experiments and 'Star Trek: Picard' on the
'Strange New Worlds' science and Trek podcast
| Listen to Episode 89: Strange New Melts |

Where in the world is Kara?

Recent & Upcoming Events

  • January 2026: Conference Talk — 247th American Astronomical Society Meeting
  • August 2025: Conference Talk — Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory Symposium
  • July 2025: Conference Talk & Exoplanets Session — Goldschmidt
  • June 2025: Conference Presentation — IAVCEI Scientific Assembly
  • March 2025: Conference Talk — LPSC
  • November 2024: Conference Presentation — Exoplanets in Our Backyard III
  • August 2024: Conference Talk — Goldschmidt
  • May 2024: Conference Presentation — Earth and Planets Origin and Evolution
  • March 2024: Materials at High Pressure Seminar — Corning
Information for

Prospective Students

Prospective graduate students

Graduate study at UNM

I highly recommend you read the graduate degree info on the Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPS) department website for admissions requirements, program details, scholarship opportunities, and graduate classes. You should also peruse the UNM Graduate College website. Many of your questions about the program and application can be answered here.

Please register to attend the EPS prospective student information webinar and Q&A. This zoom will be held on Nov. 20 at 4 pm Mountain. If at all possible, you should attend this webinar. This information will help you decide whether the program seems like a good fit for you.

Other useful links:

Questions about me, my lab, research, and funding

I will hold three 45 minute info zooms in late November and early December. Each zoom will be restricted to 20 participants; if you cannot register, please pick another date. If you are not able to attend any of these dates, please let me know and I will try to schedule another date; however I cannot guarantee I will be able to accommodate all special requests.

  1. Monday, Nov. 24 - 1 pm Mountain Register
  2. Tuesday, Dec. 2 - 10 am Mountain Register
  3. Thursday, Dec. 4 - 10 am Mountain Register

If you still have burning questions that we didn't get to in the main info session, I will have a few 1:1 meeting slots available Dec. 8–9 for 20 minutes each. You should attend one of the main info sessions first; this where the sign-up link will be given. I do not have enough time to meet with everyone who has contacted me, unfortunately, so please do try to get your questions answered in the main info zoom and think about whether a 1:1 is necessary. That being said, if all of the slots are full, please let me know and I'll see if I am able to fit in another block of times.

Prospective undergraduate researchers/workers

In general, for research projects, preference will be given to students who have completed Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology and Mineralogy due to the type of science done in this research group. If you are interested, please reach out at the email address below.

Contact

I'd Love To Hear From You!

Currently

FORCE: Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Email Me

brugman [at] unm [dot] edu