Dr. Sherry Fieber-Beyer

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Director of Undergraduate Studies

Ph.D. 2010 Earth System Science and Policy, University of North Dakota
M.S. 2006 Physics, University of North Dakota
B.S. 2003 Physics & Astronomy, Minnesota State University-Moorhead

• Photometry and Spectroscopy
• Asteroid-Meteorite Data Calibration and Interpretation
• Asteroid-Meteorite Inter-relationships
• 3:1 Kirkwood Gap Asteroids
• Asteroid Families
• Near-Earth Asteroids
• Public Education & Outreach

Sherry joined the UND Space Studies department as a NASA funded Post-Doctoral Research Scientist in January 2011. Prior to that, she was a graduate student in the departments of Earth System Science and Policy (2007-2010) and Physics (2004-2006) at UND. Sherry worked as a graduate research assistant to Mike Gaffey from 2005-2010. Sherry's doctoral research project, entitled "Mineralogical Characteristics of Asteroids near the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap," was supported by a competitively awarded NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship. Sherry is a Jamestown, ND native and was the first woman to receive a PhD. from the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at The University of North Dakota.

As research faculty, Sherry continues to focus on the study of mainbelt and near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), utilizing asteroid spectral investigations to test detailed models of the nature, origin, dynamics and inter-relationships of asteroids, meteorites, and early solar system conditions and processes. Sherry's research on the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap is aimed at the identification of probable/potential parent bodies of the various meteorite classes. She also studies the genetic and dynamical relationships of asteroid families including, but not limited to families such as the Maria and Gefion Asteroid Families. Her research extends to NEAs with the goal of better understanding the NEA population, paying particular focus on how physical and compositional properties vary within the population, properties affecting the hazard potential of individual NEAs, and the feasibility of mitigation strategies based upon the composition of target material derived from spectral analysis.

Sherry has authored/co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and many abstracts for professional meetings. Sherry is a visiting astronomer at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. She is also Co-I on NASA grants.