Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Postdoctoral Fellow

Exploring the interiors
of icy moons and beyond

I am a planetary scientist at Caltech's Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. My primary interest is the structure and evolution of icy moons, which I study using numerical models and fundamental theory. I occasionally extend to other solid bodies (e.g., Earth's Moon, Io, planetesimals) when there are overlapping themes. My ultimate goal is to understand the processes responsible for planetary evolution, diversity, and habitability.

GitHub Google Scholar BlueSky ktt@caltech.edu
Kevin T. Trinh

The long-term evolution
of planetary interiors

I use computer models to investigate how deep interior processes shape the magnetic fields, surface expression, and habitability of solar system bodies: with the ultimate goal of understanding planetary diversity. I am an affiliate of the NASA Europa Clipper mission, working within the Gravity and Radio Science team. I am best known for championing the 'cold start' hypothesis — the idea that icy moons accreted as cold mixtures that slowly differentiated hundreds of millions (or billions!) of years after formation.

Ice-rich core formation diagram
Structure and Thermal Evolution
Exploring the timing of ocean and metal core formation, the likelihood of seafloor volcanism, and periods of enhanced heat and fluid transport. Developing new techniques to constrain thermal evolution models.
Dynamos and Magnetic Fields
Hypothesizing alternative dynamo mechanisms while reassessing conventional dynamos. Recent emphasis on Ganymede, Triton, and the early lunar dynamo.
Interior-Surface Dynamics icon
Interior–Surface Dynamics
Exploring whether rock-water reactions and heat fluxes at the seafloor of ice-covered ocean worlds can modify the tectonics and surface features of ice shells.
Ocean World Habitability
Investigating the possible temperature, composition, and processes at ocean-world sea floors. Modeling rock-water reactions to estimate energy available for an ocean biosphere.

Research output

Peer-reviewed articles and manuscripts in preparation. "In preparation" denotes a completed manuscript draft. Check out my Google Scholar page here.

First-Author

3 published/accepted 2 under consideration
5
Challenges with Powering the Early Lunar Dynamo with Asymmetric Core Formation
KT Trinh and DJ Stevenson
Planetary Science Journal · in review
4
Metamorphic Fluids May Power Methanogenesis at Europa
KT Trinh, G Boyer, E Trembath-Reichert, EL Shock
Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets · in review
10.1029/2026JE010028 ↗ Preprint ↗
3
Powering Ganymede's Dynamo with Protracted Core Formation
KT Trinh, F Petricca, DJ Hemingway, SD Vance
Science Advances · 2026
10.1126/sciadv.aed8021 ↗
2
A Critical Core Size for Dynamo Action at the Galilean Satellites
KT Trinh, CJ Bierson, JG O'Rourke
Geophysical Research Letters · 2024
10.1029/2024GL110680 ↗
1
Slow Evolution of Europa's Interior: Metamorphic Ocean Origin, Delayed Metallic Core Formation, and Limited Seafloor Volcanism
KT Trinh, CJ Bierson, JG O'Rourke
Science Advances · 2023
10.1126/sciadv.adf3955 ↗

Co-Author

3 published/accepted
3
Deuterated Water and the Formation of the Satellites of Uranus
ME Brown, M Belyakov, S Chandra, M Davis, M McDowell, A Pandya, KT Trinh, SK Trumbo
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2026
10.1073/pnas.2519276123 ↗
2
A Modern Dynamo as a Consequence of Triton's Capture at Neptune
LJ Tilke, KT Trinh, JG O'Rourke
Nature Astronomy · 2026
10.1038/s41550-026-02868-9 ↗
1
Jupiter's Early Luminosity May Have Driven Off Io's Initial Water Inventory
CJ Bierson, JJ Fortney, KT Trinh, M Kreslavsky
Planetary Science Journal · 2023
10.3847/PSJ/ace2c7 ↗

Updated May 2026.

Education
Ph.D. in Geological Sciences
2025
Arizona State University
Thesis: The Long-Term Evolution of Icy Moon Interiors: Geophysics, Geochemistry, and Habitability.
B.A. in Physics
2019
Bowdoin College
Professional Experience
Barr Postdoctoral Fellow (GPS Prize Postdoc)
2025–now
California Institute of Technology
Graduate Research Associate
2020–2025
Arizona State University
Radar Systems Analyst
2019–2020
Dynetics Inc.
Awards & Funding
Melza M. and Frank Theodore Barr Fellowship, Caltech $258,000 2026
NASA FINESST $150,000 2020
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (declined) $146,000 2019
NASA Europa Clipper ICONS (Science PI) $16,507 2026
Section Award for Graduate Research (AGU Honor), Study of the Earth Deep Interior 2026
3-Minute Thesis Competition (2nd / 170+ grad students) 2024
Achievement Reward for College Scientists (finalist) 2023
Selected Invited Talks
University of California Los Angeles, Planetary Science Seminar
2026
University of California Berkeley, CIPS Seminar
2026
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Science Journal Club (x2)
2026
Institute of Science Tokyo, ELSI Special Seminar
2026
NASA Europa Clipper Lecture Series
2025
California Institute of Technology, DIX Planetary Science Seminar
2025
Stanford University, Geophysics Department Seminar
2025
Chungnam National University (Korea), Special Seminar
2024
NASA Europa Clipper, Interiors/Habitability Working Group
2023
Selected Teaching Experience · *denotes an online course
Teaching Assistant
*AST 112: Introduction to Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology — Arizona State University2025
*SES 421: Foundations of Planetary Science — Arizona State University2024
GLG 101: Introduction to Physical Geology — Arizona State University2024
PHYS 1140: Introduction to Physics II — Bowdoin College2017
Guest Lecturer / Semester Mentorship
GE 194: The Physics, Chemistry, and Biology of Ocean Worlds — Caltech2026
PHY 594: Sundial Physics Mentoring and Leadership — Arizona State University2023–2024
SES 598: SESE Prison Education Program — Arizona State University2021