Max Collins

PhD Student @ Northwestern University | Planetary Sciences, Modeling

Chicago, Illinois, United States

About

As a PhD student and planetary scientist at Northwestern, I work with Daniel Horton on solar geoengineering in the troposphere and Elvira Mulyukova to model the processes defining the solid state convection of Europa's ice shell. Before Northwestern, I worked as a Physical Scientist at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I was with the Air Quality and Modeling Center Design Team, developing and applying emissions models for the Office of Transportation and Air Quality. We used analytical skills, SQL, and the Go programming language to process and model large datasets of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from various sources and sectors. Before joining the EPA, I obtained my Masters of Philosophy in Geology/Earth Science from the University of Hong Kong, where I focused on using modeling techniques to understand Titan's coupled climate systems, including its equatorial sand seas, and paleoEarth. I used the NASA GISS ROCKE-3D general circulation model, Fortran, and Python to simulate and visualize the effects of different parameters on the intertropical convergence zone and the atmospheric circulation. I also have a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington, where I gained experience in modeling changes in the aquaplanet based on boundary layer humidity and worked with Jonathan Toner and David Catling to understand the water activity of perchlorates on Mars.

Experience

  • PHD Student at Northwestern University
    Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Physical Scientist at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    Oct 2022 - Sep 2024 · 2 yrs

    Emissions modeling in the Office of Transportation and Air Quality - Air Quality and Modeling Center Design Team

  • Masters Student at The University of Hong Kong
    Jan 2021 - May 2022 · 1 yr 5 mos

  • Research Assistant at University of Washington
    Mar 2019 - May 2019 · 3 mos

    Daehyun Kim, Ph.D. Modeled changes in intertropical convergence zone on an aquaplanet based on changes in parameters (i.e. planetary humidity at boundary layer) through Fortran and visualized using python

  • University of Washington (Greater Seattle Area)
    • Research Assistant
      Jun 2017 - Dec 2018 · 1 yr 7 mos

      David Catling Ph.D., Jonathan Toner Ph.D. Astrobiology lab at UW-Seattle focusing on Mars’ habitability. Used custom-made isopiestic apparatuses to run experiments in water activity as well as solubility tests and using a differential scanning calorimeter based on salts found at the Phoenix Lander Site. Worked with a lab partner and helped train a graduate student.

    • Research Assistant
      Mar 2017 - Sep 2017 · 7 mos

      Laura M. Hinkelman, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist at Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean Provided maintenance and upkeep to a pyrometer and used data to visualize trends in solar radiation (global, horizontal, and diffuse). Used this data to compare accuracy of measurement to other available monitoring stations using Matlab