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Athina Peidou

Geodesist | GRACE-FO Project Staff Scientist

About

Bio

My research focuses on Earth's mass in motion, utilizing geodetic observations such as time-variable gravity changes (GRACE/GRACE-Follow-On), satellite laser ranging (SLR), and in-situ measurements (GPS, terrestrial gravimetry, tide gauges). I develop processing schemes that enhance the scientific output of mass change missions and improve our understanding of hydrological patterns. Additionally, I undertake core geodetic operations, including orbit determination and reference frame realization, using space geodesy techniques (SLR, VLBI, LEO satellites, GNSS).

Education

  • Phd in Space Geodesy, York University, Toronto, Canada
  • MaSC in Geophysics/Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada
  • Dipl. Eng in Geodesy, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece

Research Interests

  • Time variable gravity
  • Orbit Determination
  • Reference Systems
  • Data analytics

Experience

Professional Experience

  • 2025-present: Research Scientist at Near Earth Tracking Applications group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA
  • 2021-2024: Research Technologist at Near Earth Tracking Applications group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA
  • 2020-2021: Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Sea Level and Ice group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA

Research Community Service

  • Chair of AGU Fall Meeting Program Committee - Geodesy 2024
  • Co-Chair of AGU Fall Meeting Program Committee - Geodesy 2023
  • Early Career Representative of the International Association of Geodesy - Gravity Field Commission

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

  • JPL Voyager Award | Development of visualization toolset for mapping ionosperhic variability (2025)
  • JPL Team Award | GRACE-FO Accelerometer Recovery Team (2024)
  • NASA Award | GRACE-FO prime mission project team (2023)
  • JPL Team Award | Multi-GNSS post-processing products development team (2021)
  • National Academies | Canada's Governor General's Academic Medal (2020)
  • Paper Award | Canadian Geophysical Union -Geodesy Section: Best student paper (2019)
  • Professional Society and External Organization Awards | International Association of Geodesy | International Association of Geodesy- Young authors award (important contribution from a young scientist in the JoGeodesy) (2018)
  • Paper Award | Canadian Geophysical Union -Geodesy Section: Best student paper (2018)

Publications

  1. Haines, B., Bertiger, W., Desai, S., Ellmer, M., Heflin, M., Kuang, D., Lanyi, G., Naudet, C., Peidou, A., Ries, P. and Sibois, A. (2024). A global combination of geodetic techniques at the observation level: New perspectives on the terrestrial reference frame. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 129(12), p.e2024JB029527. doi.org/10.1029/2024JB029527
  2. Peidou, A., Argus, D., Landerer, F., Wiese, D., and Ellmer, M (2024): GPS displacement dataset for study of elastic surface mass variations, Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss. doi.org/10.5194/essd-2023-183.
  3. Argus, D.F., Martens, H.R., Borsa, A.A., Knappe, E., Wiese, D.N., Alam, S., Anderson, M., Khatiwada, A., Lau, N., Peidou, A. and Swarr, M. (2022). Subsurface water flux in California's Central Valley and its source watershed from space geodesy. Geophysical Research Letters, p.e2022GL099583. doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099583.
  4. Peidou, A., Landerer, F., Wiese, D., Ellmer, M., Fahnestock, E., McCullough, C., Spero, R. and Yuan, D.N. (2022). Spatiotemporal characterization of geophysical signal detection capabilities of GRACE‐FO. Geophysical Research Letters, p.e2021GL095157. doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095157.
  5. Pagiatakis, S. and Peidou, A. (2021). The Intriguing Structure of Stripes in GRACE Geopotential Models. Remote Sensing, 13(21), p.4362. doi.org/10.3390/rs13214362
  6. Peidou A and Pagiatakis S (2020). Stripe mystery in GRACE geopotential models revealed. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2019GL085497. doi: 10.1029/2019GL085497.