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CURRICULUM
EDUCATION

PhD. Candidate, Earth and Planetary Science Department
Harvard University, 2002 - Present
Research Topic: Internal Structure, Formation and Evolution of super-Earths
Thesis Advisor: Professor Richard O'Connell and Dimitar D. Sasselov

Master's of Science Degree, Physics Department
University of Toronto, 2002
Thesis: Constraining Love Numbers with the use of Long Period Seismic Data
Thesis Advisor: Professor Jerry X. Mitrovica
Numerical solutions in Fortran to an inverse problem. Proved the viability of using long period seismic data for the study of Love Number theory (visco-elasticity of the Earth) with simulated synthetic data and obtained preliminary results with real seismic data.

Bachelor of Science in Physics Specialist Program
University of Toronto, 2001

Bachelor of Science in Physics, minor in Economics
Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
transfered to Toronto in 1998

PUBLICATIONS

Valencia, D., R. J. O'Connell and D. D. Sasselov. Inevitability of Plate Tectonics on super-Earths. ApJL, submitted, 2007

Valencia, D., D. D. Sasselov and R. J. O'Connell. Detailed models of super-Earths: How well can we infer bulk properties, ApJ, 665: 1413-1420, 2007

Valencia, D., D. D. Sasselov and R. J. O'Connell. Radius and Structure models of the First Super-Earth Planet, ApJ, 656: 545-551, 2007

Valencia, D., R. J. O'Connell and D. D. Sasselov. Internal Structure of Massive Terrestrial Planets, Icarus, 181: 545-554, 2006

Valencia, D. Constraining Love numbers using long period seismic data. Thesis. University of Toronto. 2002.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Origins of Life Fellowship, Harvard University, 2006
  • GSAS Merit Fellowship Award, Harvard University, 2006
  • Stickney Fellowship, Harvard University, 2005
  • Dean's List at the University of Toronto 2001
  • Don Salt Award given by the Canadian Exploration Geophysics Society for research in geophysics, 2001
  • Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysics Award, 2000
  • NSERC Undergraduate Research Student award, 1999
  • Golden Key member
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    EXPERIENCE

    Teaching Fellow, Spring 2007, Harvard University
    Course: Fluid Mechanics with Professor Howard Stone

    Research Intern, summer 2005
    Shell Oil Company, Exploration and Production
    Project: Sensitivity study in seismic imaging. 'How much can the top salt structure be smoothen without losing imaging resolution in the subsurface structure?'
    Supervisor: Dr. William Butler

    Teaching Fellow, Spring 2004, Harvard University
    Course: The Dynamic Earth with Professor Richard J. O'Connell

    Teaching Fellow, Spring 2004, Harvard University
    Course: Terrestrial Planets with Professor Sarah Stewart-Mukhopadhyay

    Teaching Assitant, Fall 2001, University of Toronto
    Course Foundations of Physics for physics majors with Professor Kim Strong

    Research Assistant, Summer 2000, University of Toronto
    Researched under the advisory of Professor Jerry X. Mitrovica
    Developed Fortran code to filter and process long term seismic data. Analized large data sets and implemented signal processing.

    Research Assistant, Summer 1999, University of Toronto
    Summer Intern under the Natural Science and Engineering Research Center undergraduate fellowship
    Supervisor: Professor Jerry X. Mitrovica
    Developed from scratch Fortran code to predicts body tides at the Earth's surface
    Teaching Assistant, Fall 1999, University of Toronto
    Course: 'Physics for the Life Sciences' with Professor George Luste

    PERSONAL

  • Founding president of the Harvard Colombian Society and Director of the Colombian Colloquium at Harvard.
  • Former volleyball varsity player.
  • Completed first marathon Toronto 2003.
  • Enjoy all kinds of sports: volleyball, running, swimming, snowboarding, etc