Link to full CV
Current Position
Postdoctoral Scholar, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech
Education
2022 Ph.D. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Earth and Planetary Sciences
Dissertation: Fan and Fracture Formation: Morphologic and Sedimentologic Characteristics of Alluvial Fans on Earth and Mars, and Fracture Population Distributions on Europa
2013 M.Sc. The Pennsylvania State University, Geosciences
Thesis: Deformation history of the Taiwan orogen from syntectonic pressure shadows
2010 B.S. The Ohio State University, Geological Sciences
2010 B.A. The Ohio State University, English
Peer-Reviewed Publications
underlined titles link to full paper
Published:
Mondro, C.A., J.P. Grotzinger, C.M. Fedo, M.P. Lamb, S. Gupta, W.E. Dietrich, S. Banham, C. Weitz, P. Gasda, D. Rubin, L. Thompson, A. Cowart, K. Lewis, A. Roberts, A.B. Bryk, R.M.E. Williams, W. Rapin, C. Seeger, E. Kite, J. Davis, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, A. Vasavada (2025) Depositional environment of the Amapari Marker Band: rising groundwater formed kilometer-scale lake in Gale Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130, e2024JE008606. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JE008606.
Roberts, A.L., S. Gupta, S.G. Banham, A. Cowart, L.A. Edgar, W. Rapin, W.E. Deitrich, E.S. Kite, J.M. Davis, G. Caravaca, C.A. Mondro, T. Kubaki, N. Moore, P. Gasda, J.R. Johnson, S. Le Mouelic, D.M. Fey, A.B. Bryk, E.R.A. Harris, A. Fraeman, A. Vasavada, (in press) Paleo-scours within the layered sulfate-bearing unit at Gale crater, Mars: evidence for intense wind erosion. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Mondro, C.A., C.M. Fedo, J.P. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, S. Gupta, W.E. Dietrich, S. Banham, C.M. Weitz, P. Gasda, L.A. Edgar, D. Rubin, A.B. Bryk, E.S. Kite, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, A.R. Vasavada (2025) Wave ripples in the Amapari Marker Band and Prow formed in ice-free lakes in Gale Crater, Mars. Science Advances. 11, eadr0010. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr0010
Mondro, C.A., J. Benner, B. Thomson, N. Lang, (2024). Utilization of an augmented reality sandbox as a topographic map teaching tool in 100-level geology classes led to an increase in student learning and classroom engagement. Journal of Geoscience Education, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2024.2436331
Mondro, C.A., J.E. Moersch, C. Hardgrove, (2024). Assessing surface grain size of alluvial fans on Mars from thermal inertia, as an indicator of depositional style. Icarus, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2024.115971
Seaton, K.M., S. Gyalay, G. Stucky de Quay, E.R. Burnett, C.A. Denton, B. Doerr, K. Ebadi, S. Eckert, I.T.W. Flynn, C.I. Honniball, S. Hume, C.L. Kling, J.C. Marohnic, J. Milton, C.A. Mondro, R.G. Nuno, C.M. Rooney, B.E. Strauss, A. Nash, J.E.C. Scully, (2023). Astrobiology eXploration at Enceladus (AXE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept Study. The Planetary Science Journal, 4(6), 116. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/acd119.
Warren-Rhodes, K., N.A. Cabrol, M. Phillips, C.Tebes-Cayo, F. Kalaitzis, D. Ayma, C. Demergasso, G. Chong-Diaz, K. Lee, N. Hinman, K.L. Rhodes, L.N. Boyle, J.L. Bishop, M.H. Hofmann, N. Hutchinson, C. Javiera, J. Moersch, C.A. Mondro, N. Noffke, V. Parro, C. Rodriguez, P. Sobron, P. Sarrazzin, D. Wettergreen, K. Zacny, the SETI Institute NAI Team. (2023) Orbit to Ground Framework to Decode and Predict Biosignature Patterns from Terrestrial Analogues. Nature Astronomy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01882-x
Mondro, C.A., J.E. Moersch, J. Emery, W.M. Dunne (2023). Regional variations in observed fracture abundance and associated predictions for smaller fractures on Europa with implications for regional plume origins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 602C, 117928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117928
Mondro, C.A., J.E. Moersch, C.M. Fedo. (2023). An updated global survey of alluvial fans on Mars: Distinguishing alluvial fans from other fan-shaped features through morphologic characterization. Icarus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115238
Mondro, C.A., D.M. Fisher, E-C. Yeh, (2017). Strain histories from the eastern Central Range of Taiwan: A record of advection through a collisional orogen. Tectonophysics 705, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2017.03.007
Under Review:
Banham, S.G., J.W. Cosgrove, G. Paar, S. Gupta, M.N. Hughes, J.A. Grant, C.A. Mondro, R. Barnes, A.A. Fraeman, (under review) A burial history of the sedimentary succession preserved in Aeolis Mons as recorded by fracture networks at Maria Gordon notch, Gale crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Kite, E., P. Gasda, C.J. Tino, C. Weitz, L. Thompson, B.M. Tutolo, C.A. Mondro, W.H. Farrand, S. Gupta, J. Schieber, W.E. Dietrich, N. Mangold, K.W. Lewis, (under review) Hypotheses for the water and metal fluxes to the rippled Amapari Marker Band, Gale Crater, Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Conference Abstracts
*invited; †oral presentation
underlined titles link to abstract
†Mondro, C.A., J.P. Grotzinger, C.M. Fedo, M.P. Lamb, S. Gupta, W.E. Dietrich, S. Banham, C. Weitz, P. Gasda, A. Cowart, K. Lewis, A. Roberts, A.B. Bryk, R.M.E. Williams, W. Rapin, C. Seeger, E. Kite, J.M. Davis, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, L.A Edgar, A.R. Vasavada (2025) Depositional environment and paleoclimate implications of the Amapari Marker Band wave ripples. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Wilson, S.A., R.M.E.Williams, L.M. Thompson, W.E. Dietrich, J. M. Davis, A.B. Bryk, A.C. Cowart, J.A. Grant, E.S. Kite, C.A. Mondro, and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Channel Surfers Working Group (2025) Curiosity’s Keyhole Wall Campaign: Investigating the Upper Gediz Vallis Ridge in Gale crater. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Caravaca, G., S. Gupta, W. Rapin, L. Le Deit, N. Mangold, S. Le Mouelic, C. O’Connell-Cooper, C.A. Mondro, J.M. Davis, E.S. Kite, O. Gasnault, N.L. Lanza, A. Fraeman, A. Vasavada (2025) Prow & Co.: Inside the fluvial lenses of Gale’s Lower Sulfate unit. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Banham, S.G., J.W. Cosgrove, G. Paar, M. Hughes, J.A. Grant, C.A. Mondro, R. Barnes, S. Gupta, A. Fraeman (2024) The burial and exhumation of Mount Sharp, as recorded by the fracture sets at Maria Gordon Notch, Gale crater, Mars. Geofutures Planetary Geoscience Conference.
Roberts, A.L., S. Gupta, A. Cowart, L.A. Edgar, W.E. Dietrich, W. Rapin, E. Kite, S.G. Banham, J.M. Davis, C.A. Mondro, B. Farrand, A.B. Bryk, T. Kubacki, N. Moore, R. Sheppard, L. Kah, G. Caravaca, A. Fraeman, A. Vasavada (2024) What depositional processes and paleoenvironments formed the layered sulfate unit in Gale crater, Mars? Insights from Marker Band Valley. Geofutures Planetary Geoscience Conference.
Mondro, C.A., J. Grotzinger, C.M. Fedo, G. Paar, S. Banham (2024) Fracture mapping and associated stress fields represented by veins (filled fractures) in the Mont Mercou outcrop, Gale Crater. 10th International Conference on Mars, July 2024
Banham, S.G., J.W. Cosgrove, G. Paar, M. Hughes, J.A. Grant, C.A. Mondro, R. Barnes, S. Gupta, A.A. Fraeman (2024) Analysis of fractures at Maria Gordon Notch (Gale crater, Mars): Implications for fluid migration history and present-day cliff stability. 10th International Conference on Mars, July 2024
Roberts, A.L., S. Gupta, A. Cowart, L.A. Edgar, W.E. Dietrich, W. Rapin, E. Kite, S.G. Banham, J.M. Davis, C.A. Mondro, B. Farrand, A.B. Bryk, T. Kubacki, N. Moore, G. Caravaca, A. Fraeman, A. Vasavada (2024) Depositional processes and environments of the Layered Sulfate unit, Gale crater, Mars. 10th International Conference on Mars, July 2024
Gasda, P.J., E.S. Kite, L.M. Thompson, C.A. Mondro, W. E. Dietrich, et al. (2024) The Amapari Marker Band, Gale Crater: Metal enrichments and potential mechanisms of formation. 10th International Conference on Mars, July 2024
Roberts, A.L., S. Gupta, A. Cowart, L.A. Edgar, W.E. Dietrich, W. Rapin, E. Kite, S.G. Banham, J.M. Davis, C.A. Mondro, A.B. Bryk, T. Kubacki, N. Moore, P.J. Gasda, J.R. Johnson, G. Caravaca, A. Fraeman, A. Vasavada (2024) What Depositional Processes and Paleoenvironments Formed the Layered Sulphate Unit in Gale Crater, Mars?: Insights from Marker Band Valley. British Planetary Science Conference.
Davis, J.M., W.E. Dietrich, C.A. Mondro, S.A. Wilson, G. Caravaca, R.M.E. Williams, L. Thomson, O. Gasnault, G. Paar, E.S. Kite, A.S. Bryk, S.G. Banham, S. Gupta, A.L. Roberts, J.P. Grotzinger. The Upper Gediz Vallis Ridge at Gale Crater: Sedimentary Rock Clasts Transported by a Late-Stage Debris Flow on Mars? EGU General Assembly 2024.
Gupta, S., W. E. Dietrich, L. Edgar, K.W. Lewis, E.S. Kite, C.A. Mondro, C. Weitz, A. Bryk, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, C. Fedo, D. Rubin, R. Williams, W. Rapin, A. Roberts, T. Seeger, J. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, A. Cowart, J. Davis, S. Banham, J. Grant, S. Le Mouelic, R.A. Yingst, M. Minitti, N. Mangold, L. Kah, D. Fey, T. Kubacki, O. Gasnault, R. Wiens, A. Vasavada, A. Fraeman. Rippled to bits: tales of transient lakes in a martian desert. AGU Annual Meeting 2023.
Kite, E.S., P. J. Gasda, L.M. Thompson, C.M. Weitz, N. Lanza, W. E. Dietrich, K.W. Lewis, C.A. Mondro, C.D. O'Connell-Cooper, A. Cowart, D. Rubin, S. Gupta, W. Rapin, A. Roberts, J. Berger, H. Newsom, A. Bryk, M.P. Lamb, J. Davis, S. VanBommel, J. Schieber, W. Goetz, S. P. Schwenzer, A. Bryk, W.W. Fischer, C. House, J. Johnson, E. Dehouck, A. Essunfeld, J. Lasue, O. Gasnault, S. Clegg, J. Frydenvang, D. Delapp, R.M.E. Williams, G. Caravaca, A. Vasavada. Metal enrichment of wave-rippled sediments on ancient Mars. AGU Annual Meeting 2023.
*†Mondro, C.A., J.E. Moersch, C.M. Fedo. Morphology of alluvial fans and fan-like features on Mars as an indicator of depositional environments. GSA Connects 2023.
†Mondro, C.A., J. Grotzinger, C.M. Fedo, G. Paar. Fracture patterns in Mont Mercou record changing stress fields during burial and exhumation of Mount Sharp, Gale Crater, Mars. GSA Connects 2023.
Gupta, S., W. E. Dietrich, L. Edgar, K.W. Lewis, E.S. Kite, C.A. Mondro, C. Weitz, A. Bryk, G. Caravaca, J. Schieber, C. Fedo, D. Rubin, R. Williams, W. Rapin, A. Roberts, T. Seeger, J. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, A. Cowart, J. Davis, S. Banham, J. Grant, S. Le Mouelic, R.A. Yingst, M. Minitti, N. Mangold, L. Kah, D. Fey, T. Kubacki, O. Gasnault, R. Wiens, A. Vasavada, A. Fraeman. Aeolian-fluvial-lacustrine interactions recorded in the stratigraphy of Aeolis Mons, Gale crater. ESA Fluvial Aeolian Interactions on Planetary Surfaces (FAIRPLAY) Workshop 2023.
†Mondro, C.A., J. Grotzinger. High thermal conductivity of water-saturated pore space in Mount Sharp stratigraphy reduces burial temperatures during sediment accumulation. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023, 1323.
Dietrich, W.E., A.B. Bryk, E.S. Kite, K.W. Lewis, S. Gupta, C.M. Weitz, T. Parker, J. Schieber,P. Gasda, O. Gasnault, A. Fau, S. Le Mouélic, L.M. Thompson, A.L. Roberts, R.M.E. Williams, H. Newsom, C.A. Mondro, J.P. Groztinger, W. Rapin, J.M. Davis, G. Caravaca. Implication of the local topography of the Marker Band contact, Gale Crater. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023, 1421.
Gasda, P.J., N. Lanza, W. Rapin, J. Frydenvang, W. Goetz, S.P. Schwenzer, W.E. Dietrich, C. Weitz, A. Bryk, E. Kite, K. Lewis, J. Schieber, W.W. Fischer, C.A. Mondro, J. Johnson, E. Dehouck, H.E. Newsom, A. Essun-feld, J. Lasue, O. Gasnault, S. Clegg, D. Delapp. Chemcam observations of the Marker Band, Gale Crater, Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023, 2023.
Gupta, S., W.E. Dietrich, K.W. Lewis, E.S. Kite, C.A. Mondro, J. Schieber, C. Weitz, A. Bryk, L. Edgar, C. Fedo, D. Rubin, R. Williams, W. Rapin, G. Caravaca, A. Roberts, T. Seeger, J. Grotzinger, M.P. Lamb, A. Cowart, J. Davis, S. Banham, J. Grant, R.A. Yingst, M. Minitti, D. Fey, T. Kubacki, A. Vasavada, A. Fraeman. ‘High’ but not so dry on Aeolis Mons: Transient lake systems in Hesperian deserts in Gale Crater. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023, 2707.
Weitz, C.M., K.W. Lewis, E.S. Kite, W.E. Dietrich, L.M. Thompson, C.D. O'Connell-Cooper, J. Schieber, D. Rubin, P. Gasda, C.A. Mondro, C. Seeger, W. Rapin, S. Gupta, A. Roberts, J. Frydenvang, J. Berger, H. Newsom, A. Bryk, M.P. Lamb, J. Grotzinger, W.W. Fischer, A. Cowart, J. Davis, J. Grant, A. Yingst, W. Farrand, T. Parker, A. Vasavada, A. Fraeman, R. Milliken, R. Sheppard, M. Minitti, D. Ming, S. Simpson, E. Rampe, S. McLennan, D. Fey, T. Kubacki, R.M.E. Williams, R. Arvidson, G. Caeavaca. The Marker Band in Gale Crater; A synthesis of orbital and ground observations. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2023, 1560.
Mondro, C.A., C.M. Fedo, J.E. Moersch. A morphologic approach to distinguishing alluvial fans from other depositional features on Mars. Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference 2022, 2348.
Seaton, K.M., E.R. Burnett, C.A. Denton, B. Doerr, K. Ebadi, S. Eckert, I.T.W. Flynn, S. Gyalay, C.I. Honniball, S. Hume, C.L. Kling, J.C. Marohnic, J. Milton, C.A. Mondro, R.G. Nuno, C.M. Rooney, B.E. Strauss, G. Stucky de Quay, A. Nash, J. Scully. Science Objectives for a Mission Concept to Enceladus: The Astrobiology eXploration at Enceladus (AXE). Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference 2022, 2152.
Seaton, K.M., E.R. Burnett, C.A. Denton, B. Doerr, K. Ebadi, S. Eckert, I.T.W. Flynn, S. Gyalay, C.I. Honniball, S. Hume, C.L. Kling, J.C. Marohnic, J. Milton, C.A. Mondro, R.G. Nuno, C.M. Rooney, B.E. Strauss, G. Stucky de Quay, A. Nash, J. Scully. Mission Implementation for a New Frontiers Mission Concept: The Astrobiology eXploration at Enceladus (AXE). Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference 2022, 2168.
Engel, A., C.A. Mondro, T. Grambling, A.T. Paterson, J.S. Benner, N. Grambling, the EPS URGE Pod. Efforts to Unlearn Racism in Geoscience (URGE) at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville uncovered programmatic inequality and gatekeeping. AGU Fall Meeting 2021.
†Mondro, C.A., C.M. Fedo, J.E. Moersch. Depositional styles of alluvial fans sourced from primarily basaltic catchments. GSA Connects 2021.
Mondro, C.A., J. Emery, J.E. Moersch. Modeling fracture populations in Europa’s brittle ice shell and implications of fracture-added porosity. Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference 2021, virtual (2357).
†Mondro, C.A., B.J. Thomson, J.S. Benner. Augmented reality (AR) sandboxes as interactive visualization tools for investigating planetary morphology in the classroom. GSA Annual Meeting Virtual 2020.
Mondro, C.A., and J.E. Moersch. Sedimentary characteristics of Martian alluvial fans from thermal inertia. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2020 (2546).
Moersch, J.E., C.A. Mondro, C.J. Leight, M.S. Phillips. A new community resource for terrestrial analog field research: A visible to shortwave infrared (400-2500 nm) drone- and ground-based hyperspectral imager for high resolution compositional mapping. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2020 (1865).
†Mondro, C.A., and J.E. Moersch. A new field method for determining relative grain size from aerial thermal images: Comparison of rate of morning heating and ∆Tmax methodologies for measuring relative thermal inertia and sediment grain sizes. GSA Annual Meeting 2019.
†Mondro, C.A., J.A. Benner, B.J. Thomson. Augmented Reality Sandboxes as a topographic map teaching tool in 100-level geology classes: Measuring the impact on student learning and classroom engagement. GSA Annual Meeting 2019.
Mondro, C.A., C.M. Fedo, J.E. Moersch. Identification and morphologic characterization of small and medium alluvial fans on Mars using the CTX global mosaic. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019 (2739)
Banerjee, S., J. Phelps, and C. Mondro. Along-trend variation of shortening and timing in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). AAPG International Conference Exhibition 2017.
Phelps, J., S. Banerjee, C. Mondro. Unraveling the Qara Dagh Anticline, Zagros Mountains, Southeastern Kurdistan Region of Iraq. AAPG International Conference Exhibition 2017.
Mondro, C.A. and D.M. Fisher. Incremental strain history of the Taiwan orogenic belt, measured from syntectonic pressure shadows. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (Vol. 1, p. 2725). AGU Fall Meeting 2012.
Trierweiler, A.M., C.A. Mondro, C. Restrepo, A.E. Carey. Landslide disturbance and scale in watershed studies of fluvial carbon and nutrient yields. GSA Annual Meeting 2010.
Mondro, C.A., S.T. Goldsmith, A.M. Trierweiler, B.M. Johnson, S.A. Welch, A.E. Carey. Organic carbon transport in small mountainous rivers on Dominica, Lesser Antilles. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA (Vol. 74, No. 12, pp. A721-A721). Goldschmidt Annual Meeting 2010.
Trierweiler, A.M., C.A. Mondro, S.A. Welch, C. Restrepo, A.E. Carey. Carbon and nutrient export dynamics in small mountainous watersheds prone to landsliding in Guatemala. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA (Vol. 74, No. 12, pp. A1055-A1055). Goldschmidt Annual Meeting 2010.
Von Bargen, J.M., S.T. Goldsmith, K.M. Deuerling, C.A. Mondro, J.E. Stutz, S.A. Welch, A.E. Carey. Impact of anthropogenic bioturbation on nutrient chemistry of a small urban pond. GeoResearch Forum (vol. 5, p. 15. 2010). Goldschmidt Annual Meeting 2010.
Mondro, C.A., S.T. Goldsmith, A.E. Carey, A.M. Trierweiler, B.M. Johnson, S.A. Welch. Transport of dissolved organic carbon in mountainous rivers of Dominica, Lesser Antilles. GSA Annual Meeting 2009.
Von Bargen, J.M., S.T. Goldsmith, A.E. Carey, S.-J. Kao, S.A. Welch, C.A. Mondro. Controls on soil development and carbon storage on the high-standing island of Taiwan. GSA Annual Meeting 2009.
Goldsmith, S.T., S.A. Welch, A.M. Trierweiler, J.M. Von Bargen, C.A. Mondro, J.E. Stutz, A.E. Carey. Periodic anthropogenic bioturbation of a small urban pond. GSA Annual Meeting 2009.
Trierweiler, A., C.A. Mondro, A.E. Carey, S.A. Welch, C. Restrepo. Carbon and nutrient export dynamics in small mountainous watersheds prone to landsliding. GSA Annual Meeting 2009.