I am a PhD candidate in Planetary Sciences at the University of Arizona, where I study microbial life in volcanic environments as a model for potential life on Mars and other planetary bodies. My research combines fieldwork in extreme environments like Icelandic lava flows with molecular biology, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics to understand how microbial communities colonize and persist in harsh conditions. By applying machine learning and statistical modeling, I aim to identify ecological and metabolic signatures that could inform life-detection strategies for future missions to Mars and beyond.

Before beginning my PhD, I earned a B.S. in Astrobiology from the Florida Institute of Technology. I’ve conducted fieldwork across a range of analog environments, including deserts, glaciers, and newly erupted lava flows, and have experience with remote sensing and microbial ecology. My work is also supported by the Department of Defense through the NDSEG Fellowship, where I explore potential biotechnology and national security applications related to microbial survival and dispersal in extreme environments.

During my Space Grant fellowship, I will explore how complexity in geologic systems (topography, geochemistry, and mineralogy) impact biosignature distribution in extreme environments. I am also passionate about science communication and outreach and look forward to working with the Space Imagery Center and Arizona Astrobiology Center to develop outreach activities that inspire the next generation of planetary scientists. Whether in the lab, the field, or the classroom, I’m driven by curiosity about life’s adaptability and the search for life elsewhere in the universe.