Dr. Natalia Duxbury's scientific interests involve numerical modeling of surface/subsurface dynamic processes with phase transitions on Earth, Mars and other celestial bodies, subsurface - surface - climate interactions. She focuses on nonlinear thermal processes with phase changes in permafrost, gashydrates/clathrate hydrates (with any number of emerging and vanishing phase fronts) and various ices, such as nitrogen and methane ices, on different planetary bodies.
The methane enigma on Mars is of special interest to her, since Natalia was one of the first to propose the existence of methane on Mars by suggesting its origin from the dissociation of subsurface methane clathrate hydrate deposits and supporting it by numerical modeling. Martian methane was observed from Earth and by several space missions (NASA's Curiosity TLS - SAM and ESA's Mars Express Orbiter), but was not measured above 20 pptv by the ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter instruments. Attempts will be made to reconcile the multi mission data. Natalia is a science team member on the ESA's ExoMars, both the orbiter and the future lander.
Also, her work includes comparative studies of the famous Lake Vostok in central East Antarctica under 3,768 m of water ice. Natalia has proposed and supported with mathematical modeling an alternative Lake's origin and considered the Lake as a terrestrial analog for the potential water under the Mars's south polar cap.
Natalia has NASA's 1st class innovator awards for proposing and substantiating a new methane prospecting technique and for a novel method for the greenhouse gases sequestration, especially carbon dioxide.
In addition, Natalia is developing theoretical models in quantum physics. Since light is one of the main tools in space sciences, the investigation of its quantum nature is of special interest.
Natalia supports public outreach by helping students and prospective students on different internet platforms. She is a published, awards winning writer, as well.