Laura Grenot Jones

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Research Interests

• Planetary surface mapping and comparative geomorphology, including radar image interpretation and volcanic feature classification on Venus

• Applications of spatial analysis and geospatial data visualization to explore the relationships between environmental risks and human systems

• Exploring the role of cartography in shaping public understanding of environmental and planetary processes

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Environmental Studies · Expected Spring 2027
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Associate of Science in Geographic Information Systems & Technology · Spring 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

Associate of Arts for Transfer in Geography · Spring 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

Associate of Science in Natural Science · Spring 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

Certificate of Achievement in Geographic Information Systems & Technology · Spring 2024
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA

Research Experience

Undergraduate Researcher - Planetary Aeolian Processes · Fall 2026 - Present
GALE Lab, Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Mentor: Dr. Mackenzie Day
Research Project: Building co-registered Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical image pairs of terrestrial dune fields to train machine-learning models that generate optical-like imagery of dunes on Titan and Venus. Results will be presented as an LPI-style abstract.

Research Collaborator - Planetary Volcanology · Winter 2026 - Present
University of Pittsburgh / Independent Collaboration, Remote
Mentor: Dr. Ian T. W. Flynn
Research Project: Investigating channelized lava flows on Venus using the VCFC dataset to identify features within stereo DEM coverage. Measuring flow thickness from Magellan stereo-derived topography, conducting morphometric analysis of flow geometry and topographic context, and advancing reproducible mapping workflows for Venusian volcanic feature characterization.

Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Intern · Summer 2026
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Mentor: Dr. Ahmed Elbanna
Research Project: Developed and executed physics-based earthquake scenarios to generate high-fidelity ground motion maps for downstream hazard and loss analysis.

Planetary Mapping Intern - NASA VERITAS Mission · Summer 2025
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Whitten
Research Project: Geologic mapping of Venusian lava flows using Magellan SAR imagery in ArcGIS Pro. Integrated SAR, topography, and emissivity datasets to characterize surface morphology, and tested semi-automated and machine-learning classification methods to compare manual and automated mapping approaches.

Independent Researcher · Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Advisors: Dr. Hector Agredano & Dr. Brennan Wallace
Research Project: Conducted an independent GIS-based spatial analysis examining the intersection of seismic hazards and socioeconomic vulnerability in Los Angeles and Bay Area counties. Mapped liquefaction zones and Quaternary faults in relation to per capita income. Presented findings at multiple academic conferences, and the research earned awards for excellence in undergraduate scholarship.

Selected Field Experience

Field Assistant & Chaperone (Geoscience) · 2018 – 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Assisted faculty on multi-day field courses, student research trips, and Dana Club excursions across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Served as primary student driver, safely operating college vans on 10–14+ hour drives through remote regions and variable conditions. Coordinated logistics, gear transport, and group communication. Supported student well-being and reinforced field techniques including stratigraphic measurement, geologic sketching, and site interpretation.

Colorado Plateau: Problems in Regional Stratigraphy Field Study · May 2023
Pasadena City College · Grand Staircase Region, UT, AZ, & CO
12-day expedition focused on interpreting sedimentary environments, unconformities, and geologic time across the Colorado Plateau. Field methods included stratigraphic section measurement, facies analysis, and regional correlation. Faculty Advisors: Dr. Michael Vendrasco & Dr. Bryan Wilbur

Historical Geology: Death Valley Region Field Study · Spring 2019
Pasadena City College · Basin and Range Province - Eastern California & Western Nevada
Field study focused on regional stratigraphy, fossil-bearing units, and basin evolution across Proterozoic and Paleozoic formations. Field methods included section measurement, geologic mapping, fossil identification, and structural interpretation of thrust faults and unconformities.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Vendrasco

Historical Geology: Death Valley & Grand Canyon Field Study · Fall 2018
Pasadena City College · CA, NV, & AZ
5-day expedition focused on stratigraphic correlation, geologic time, and sea-level change from the Proterozoic through the Paleozoic. Investigated Cryogenian glaciation evidence, Cambrian fossil assemblages, major unconformities, and extensional structures. Field methods included section measurement, fossil identification, and interpretation of transgressive-regressive sequences.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bryan Wilbur

Intermountain West: Problems in Structural Geology Field Study · Summer 2018
Pasadena City College 14-day expedition examining the structural evolution of the Intermountain West, with a focus on fold-thrust belts, fault systems, and foreland deformation related to the Laramide and Sevier orogenies. Field methods included geologic mapping, cross-section construction, and interpretation of deep crustal processes.
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Michael Vendrasco & Dr. Bryan Wilbur

Eastern Sierra Nevada: California Geology Field Study · Spring 2018
Pasadena City College · Sierra Nevada & Owens Valley, Eastern California
7-day field course examining plutonism, volcanism, glaciation, and extensional faulting across the Sierra Nevada and Basin and Range transition. Investigated granitic intrusions in Yosemite, glacial landforms, hydrothermal features, and volcanic centers including Mammoth Mountain, Long Valley Caldera, and Panum Crater. Field methods included stratigraphic interpretation, landscape analysis, and structural mapping.
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Martha House & Dr. Bryan Wilbur

Presentations

Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting 24, Boulder, CO · October 2026
"Measuring the Thickness of Channelized Lava Flows on Venus Using Magellan Stereo-Derived Topography" (Oral)

Statewide California Earthquake Center Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA · September 2026
"ShakeOut Scenario 2.0: Dynamic Rupture Modeling of the M7.8 Earthquake on Southern San Andreas Fault and the Resulting Long-Period Ground Motion" (Poster)

Geological Society of America – GSA Connects Conference, San Antonio, TX · October 2025
"Preparing for VERITAS: Integrating Manual and Machine-Learning Approaches to Lava Flow Mapping on Venus" (Poster)

Association of Pacific Coast Geographers Conference, Santa Clarita, CA · October 2025
"Geospatial Mapping of Lava Flows on Venus Using Manual Digitization and Machine-Learning Techniques" (Poster)

Los Angeles Geographical Society Student Research Symposium, Pasadena, CA · June 2025
"Where the Ground Gives Way: Liquefaction Hazards and Socioeconomic Vulnerability in Los Angeles and Bay Area Counties" (Poster)

California Geographical Society Conference, Turlock, CA · April 2025
"Where the Ground Gives Way: Liquefaction Hazards and Socioeconomic Vulnerability in Los Angeles and Bay Area Counties" (Poster)

Association of Pacific Coast Geographers Conference, Arcata, CA · October 2024
"Shaky Foundations: Exploring the Spatial Relationship Between Liquefaction Hazards and Economic Disparities in Los Angeles County" (Poster)

Geological Society of America – Cordilleran Section Meeting, Portland, OR · May 2019
"Educational Applications of Metallurgy in Laboratory Settings for Early Physics, Chemistry, and Geosciences Classrooms" (Poster) Ashcroft, J., Grenot Jones, L., Jory, B., Polcino, C., Rodriguez, B., Sabety, J.

Publications

Polcino, C., Jory, B., Sabety, J., Jones, L. G., Ashcroft, J., & Rodriguez, B. (2020). Advancing alloys: Bringing solid mixtures to the high school classroom. The Science Teacher, 87(7), 40–49. Co-authored an interdisciplinary science education article presenting a metallurgy lab activity designed to integrate chemistry, physics, and geoscience concepts for high school classrooms.

Awards & Honors

• President's Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation (Undergraduate) - Association of Pacific Coast Geographers Conference · Fall 2025

• Chancellor's Blue and Gold Scholarship - University of California, Los Angeles · Fall 2025 - Spring 2027

• Honors Extraordinaire in Geography - Pasadena City College · Spring 2025

• First Place, Outstanding Poster - Los Angeles Geographical Society Student Symposium · Spring 2025

• First Place, Joe Beaton Undergraduate Poster Award - California Geographical Society Conference · Spring 2025

• David Lantis Scholarship - California Geographical Society · Spring 2025

• William Miller Geology Scholarship - Pasadena City College · Spring 2019

• Freshman Award in Geology - Pasadena City College · Spring 2019

Service

Student Representative, Board of Directors · Spring 2026 - Present
California Geographical Society (CGS)

Director of Outreach · Fall 2025 - Present
Geography Association at UCLA

Student Representative, Board of Directors · Spring 2025 - Spring 2026
Los Angeles Geographical Society (LAGS)

President, Secretary · Spring 2019 - 2021, Spring 2024 - 2025
Dana Club, PCC Geosciences

Professional Experience

Peer Advisor - Pasadena City College Partnership · Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
UCLA Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP), Los Angeles, CA
Mentored community college transfer students through advising and workshops.

Team Lead - Science Success Center · August 2024 - June 2025
Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Supervised tutoring operations and supported student success initiatives.

Academic Support Assistant - Geology, Geography, & GIS Tutor · August 2024 - June 2025; Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Provided academic support across geoscience and GIS coursework.

Professional Memberships

• Los Angeles Geographical Society (LAGS), Student Member · 2025 - Present

• California Geographical Society (CGS), Student Member · 2025 - Present

• Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG), Student Member · 2024 - Present

• Geological Society of America (GSA), Student Member · 2019 - Present

• Women in GIS (WiGIS), Student Member · 2025 - 2026

Technical Skills

GIS & Spatial Analysis ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, StoryMaps, Survey123, Field Maps; QGIS; JMARS; georeferencing, spatial analysis, and cartographic design for terrestrial and planetary datasets; raster processing and classification; image segmentation and machine-learning workflows (Random Trees, ISO Cluster, SVM); zonal and statistical analysis; coordinate system and projection customization (Venus equirectangular, sinusoidal, and Earth-based systems)

Remote Sensing & Data Interpretation Magellan Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data analysis and interpretation; Magellan stereo-derived topography; Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery co-registration; backscatter tone and texture assessment; composite band stacking (SAR, topography, emissivity); image segmentation and supervised classification; spectral and statistical refinement of training samples; comparative analysis of terrestrial and planetary surface processes; Quaternary fault and geomorphic mapping

Computational Modeling Physics-based 3D dynamic rupture simulations in SeisSol on the SDSC Expanse supercomputer (via the Quakeworx science gateway); SCEC Community Velocity Models

Programming & Scripting Python for data analysis and for parsing and visualizing simulation output; basic automation in GIS environments

Software & Operating Systems Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Apple iWork; Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat; macOS and Windows