Dr. Retherford is a planetary scientist specializing in the use of space-based UV observations to study planetary atmospheres and surfaces. His research interests include the aurorae and airglow of the Galilean satellites, Jupiter, the Moon, Mars, and gas giant planets. He has published several technical papers in refereed journals regarding the atmospheres of the Galilean satellites and their interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere, and his dissertation titled "Io's Aurora: HST/STIS Observations."
As an observationalist, Dr. Retherford uses several NASA observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Gemini South, and the IRTF (Infrared Telescope Facility). Mission activities include Principal Investigator for the LRO Lyman-Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP), Deputy PI of the JUICE Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS), U.S. CoI on Mars Express SPICAM, and New Horizons Alice Instrument Team member. Lab work includes development of a vacuum-UV chamber at SwRI used in planetary volatile FUV reflectivity studies. He has experience with several instrument and mission design studies with a focus on ultraviolet spectrographs, and leads a PIDDP program to optimize CMOS imaging arrays for far-UV instruments.