Karen M. Donaldson
Papers
1
Total Citations
38
H-Index
1
About
Karen M. Donaldson is a leading figure in the development of portable and remote spectroscopic techniques for soil analysis, with a particular focus on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Her work bridges the gap between terrestrial agriculture and planetary exploration, demonstrating how portable LIBS can be used to measure critical soil nutrients like nitrogen. In her highly cited 2018 study, Donaldson systematically investigated how sample pretreatment and particle size affect nitrogen determination, achieving a strong correlation (R² = 0.82) between LIBS and conventional microanalysis. This foundational research not only advances precision agriculture by enabling rapid, on-site soil nutrient assessment but also paves the way for robotic-borne LIBS systems on future Martian missions. With 38 citations, this work has become a key reference for researchers developing field-deployable sensors for both Earth and space applications. Donaldson’s contributions are particularly notable for their interdisciplinary approach, combining geochemistry, instrumentation, and planetary science to create practical solutions for real-world soil analysis challenges.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1