NATHAN J. MCGREGOR
Ph.D. Student in Planetary Science
University of California, Santa Cruz
about // research // teaching // contact // cv
About
I am a Ph.D. student in Planetary Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a member of the UCSC Planetary Science Group. My advisor is Professor Francis Nimmo.
I am currently investigating whether convection models can reproduce the convective uplift associated with the topographic alteration of Venus’ longest canali, Baltis Vallis.
I completed my B.S. in Physics and Astrophysics at Boise State University where I worked with Professor Daryl Macomb on long-term optical monitoring of BL Lacertae objects. I also hold a B.A. in Political Science from Boise State and was a member of Professor Brian Jackson’s Planetary Science Research Group.

Research
Baltis Vallis
Baltis Vallis is a lava channel on Venus that shows non-monotonic topography, so it must have been deformed after emplacement. Using Venusian convection models, I am currently investigating whether Baltis Vallis can tell us something about Venus’ convection and evolution.

Teaching
Lab Instructor, Boise State University
- PHYS 212L, Physics II with Calculus, Summer 2021
- PHYS 105, Stars and Cosmology, Spring 2021 (2 sections)
- PHYS 101, Introduction to Physics, Fall 2020
- PHYS 111, General Physics I, Summer 2020
- PHYS 111, General Physics I, Spring 2020
- PHYS 112, General Physics II, Fall 2019
Teaching Assistant, Boise State University
- PHYS 341, Classical Mechanics, Spring 2021
- PHYS 111, General Physics I, Spring 2020
- PHYS 111, General Physics I, Fall 2019
- MATH 170, Calculus I, Fall 2013
- MATH 175, Calculus II, Summer 2012
- MATH 170, Calculus I, Spring 2012
- MATH 170, Calculus I, Fall 2011
Contact
University of California, Santa Cruz
Earth and Planetary Sciences
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
njmcgreg@ucsc.edu