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Hire Dr. Kevin R.

United States

USD 150 /hr

Remote Sensing & Mineralogy Scientist with 12+ Years of Experience | Hyperspectral Imaging, Spectroscopy & XRD

Profile Summary

I am a Ph.D. scientist with more than 12 years of research and laboratory experience specializing in hyperspectral remote sensing, mineral spectroscopy, quantitative mineralogy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and materials characterization. My work combines laboratory measurements, quantitative spectral and mineralogical analysis, and remote sensing to understand complex geological and planetary materials. My expertise includes VIS-NIR-SWIR-MIR spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, XRD and Rietveld analysis, spectral unmixing, radiative transfer modeling, optical constant determination, mineral identification, and quantitative analysis of mineral mixtures. I have extensive experience integrating complementary analytical techniques, including spectroscopy, XRD, SEM/microprobe analysis, and hyperspectral microscopy, to address complex mineralogical and materials-characterization problems. At Brown University, I have served as Principal Investigator and technical lead on multiple NASA-funded research programs involving hyperspectral remote sensing, quantitative spectroscopy, mineral characterization, and development of analytical data products. My research has included analysis of lunar materials and Apollo samples, Mars analog materials, meteorites, asteroid-return samples, hydrated minerals, glasses, clays, sulfates, and other geological materials. I have also developed quantitative methods for translating laboratory spectral measurements into interpretations of satellite hyperspectral observations. In addition to research, I have substantial experience with scientific instrumentation and laboratory operations. I have participated in the evaluation, procurement, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and user training for analytical instrumentation including XRD and µFTIR hyperspectral imaging systems. I currently support operations at Brown University's NASA-funded Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB), where I work with researchers to develop appropriate measurement strategies, troubleshoot analytical problems, and interpret spectroscopic data. My experience also extends to geological remote sensing and mineral-resource applications. I hold an M.S. in Mining and Materials Engineering from McGill University in addition to my Ph.D. in Planetary Science and B.S. in Geological Sciences. I am particularly interested in applying spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, XRD, and quantitative mineralogy to mineral exploration, critical-mineral characterization, and other terrestrial remote-sensing applications. I am available for consulting projects involving: Hyperspectral and remote-sensing data analysis Mineral and material identification using VIS-NIR-SWIR-MIR spectroscopy XRD interpretation, quantitative mineralogy, and Rietveld analysis Spectral unmixing and radiative transfer modeling Geological and mineral-exploration remote sensing Critical-mineral and resource characterization Scientific instrumentation and analytical workflow development Experimental design and analytical troubleshooting Technical review and interpretation of scientific datasets Planetary spectroscopy, mineralogy, and resource assessment I have authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications and have extensive experience communicating complex technical results to researchers, students, and multidisciplinary collaborators. I particularly enjoy projects where a client has a difficult analytical problem and needs help determining what the data actually show, which analytical approach is appropriate, and what conclusions can reasonably be supported.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Materials Science & Engineering
• ☆ Crystallography
• ☆ X-Ray Crystallography
• ☆ Spectroscopy
• ☆ UV Spectroscopy
• ☆ IR Spectroscopy
• ☆ Powders & Bulk Materials
• ☆ Microscopy
• ☆ Remote Sensing
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Earth & Atmospheric Science
• ☆ Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• ☆ Mining
• ☆ Geochemistry
• ☆ Geology
• ☆ Sedimentology
• ☆ Deserts & Arid Regions
• ☆ Mineralogy

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Technical Writing

Research Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Image Processing, Image Analysis

Work Experience

Senior Research Associate

Brown University

July 2017 - Present

Education

PhD in Geology

Indiana University at Bloomington - United States

September 2007 - November 2010

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Czernik, T. B., Robertson, K., Meyers, C., McCarthy, C., Hirth, G., Cooper, R. F.(2025). Synthesized Microstructures and Reflectance Spectra of Solids in the Ice I -- Magnesium Chloride Salt-hydrate System: Implications for Europa . Icarus.

Wilk, K. A., Bishop, J. L., Maturilli, A., Pieters, C. M., Mustard, J. F., Robertson, K.(2025). Spectral Hydration Features in Nominally Anhydrous Minerals and Implications for Lunar Remote Sensing . Icarus.

Breitenfeld, L. B., Dyar, M. D., Tokle, L., Robertson, K.(2024). Raman Spectroscopy of the Ilmenite-Geikielite Solid Solution . American Mineralogist.

Schultz, C., Anzures, B. A., Milliken, R. E., Robertson, K.(2023). Assessing the Spatial Variability of the ~3 μm OH/H2O Absorption Feature in CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrites. Meteoritics and Planetary Science. 58. (2).

Meyer, M. J., Milliken, R. E., Hurowitz, J. E., Robertson, K.(2023). Ancient Siliciclastic-Evaporites as Seen by Remote Sensing Instrumentation with Implications for the Rover-Scale Exploration of Sedimentary Environments on Mars. Astrobiology. 23. (4).

Robertson, K., Milliken, R., Pieters, C., Tokle, L., Cheek, L., Isaacson, P.(2021). Textural and Compositional Effects of Ilmenite on the Spectra of High-Titanium Lunar Basalts . Icarus. 375.

Yang, Y., Li, S., Milliken, R. E., Zhang, H., Robertson, K., Hiroi, T.(2019). Phase Functions of Typical Lunar Surface Minerals Derived for the Hapke Model and Implications for Visible to Near-Infrared Spectral Unmixing . Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 124.

Tokle, L., Robertson, K.(2019). Fe-Mg Compositional Calibration for the Ilmenite-Geikielite Solid Solution Using X-Ray Diffraction: Application to Apollo 17 High Titanium Lunar Basalts. European Journal of Mineralogy. 31. (3). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 473--483.

Vaniman, D. T., others(2018). Gypsum, Bassanite, and Anhydrite at Gale Crater, Mars . American Mineralogist. 103. (7).

Robertson, K., Li, S., Milliken, R.(2016). Estimating Mineral Abundances of Clay-Gypsum Mixtures Using Visible-Near Infrared Radiative Transfer Models. Icarus. 277. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 171--186.

Kaplan, H. H., Milliken, R. E., Fernández-Remolar, D., Amils, R., Robertson, K., Knoll, A. H.(2016). Orbital Evidence for Clay and Acidic Sulfate Assemblages on Mars Based on Mineralogical Analogs from Rio Tinto, Spain. Icarus. 275. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 45--64.

Greenberger, R. N., Mustard, J. F., Cloutis, E. A., Mann, P., Wilson, J. H., Flemming, R. L., Robertson, K., Salvatore, M. R., Edwards, C. S.(2015). Hydrothermal Alteration and Diagenesis of Terrestrial Lacustrine Pillow Basalts: Coordination of Hyperspectral Imaging with Laboratory Measurements. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 171. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 174--200.

Robertson, K., Bish, D.(2013). Constraints on the Distribution of CaSO4·nH2O Phases on Mars and Implications for Their Contribution to the Hydrological Cycle. Icarus. 223. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 407--417.

Robertson, K., Bish, D.(2010). Determination of the Crystal Structure of Magnesium Perchlorate Hydrates by X-Ray Powder Diffraction and the Charge-Flipping Method. Acta Crystallographica B. 66. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 579--584.

Robertson, K., Bish, D.(2010). Stability of Phases in the Mg(ClO4)2·nH2O System and Implications for Perchlorate Occurrences on Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 116. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString E07006.