Perianne Johnson
I am a Pluto climate scientist! Currently, I am a postdoctoral research associate at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I use physics-based models to understand how planetary landscapes evolve over time, including thermal modeling of Pluto's massive ice sheets, microstructural modeling of the Martian ice caps, and mechanical modeling of hypothetical sediments on ocean world seafloors. I am broadly interested in the icy and ocean worlds of the outer solar system. You can read more about what I do here.
Recent News
In September 2025, I am happy to announce that I have started a new position as postdoctoral research associate in the Bramson Group at Purdue University.
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In June 2025, I was the recipient of the "Outstanding Postdoc Award" for the 2024-2025 academic year from the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.
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In January 2025, I was elected to a leadership role within the Future Leaders of Ocean Worlds early career group (part of the NASA "Network for Ocean Worlds" Research Coordination Network)
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In March 2024, the IAU announced that main-belt asteroid 2001 RH155 had been named in my honor! You can see details about asteroid Perijohnson here.
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In September 2023, I began my tenure as a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics in Austin!
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In March 2023, I successfully defended my PhD dissertation!! You can find a copy of my complete dissertation here.
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In May 2023, I was awarded a PhD in Astrophysics and Planetary Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.​
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In May 2022, I was awarded the Ray Mace Smith Graduate Fellowship by the Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences department at CU Boulder. This award recognizes excellence in research.
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In February 2022, I competed in the Three Minute Thesis competition at University of Colorado, and received the second place award! You can watch my presentation here (my talk starts at 34:17).
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In October 2021, my research on the past episode of True Polar Wander on Pluto and its effect on Pluto's ancient climate was featured in a Physics magazine story. You can read the story here, and check out the journal article about this research as well!
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