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Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Planetary Science
Planetary Science
Geochemistry
Geochemistry
Astrobiology
Astrobiology
Machine Learning
Machine Learning
Regolith in Jezero Crater:
Regolith in Jezero Crater:
Read more about this work in my 10th International Conference on Mars abstract!
The surface of Mars is mostly covered with loose, granular material called regolith (aka soil). Several missions across Mars have found that a regolith has a geochemically uniform component, no matter where you are on the planet - though, local geology does influence the composition. By studying regolith, we can learn about the processes that formed and subsequently altered it, which offer insights into what Mars looked like in the distant past. New instruments (such as PIXL, on NASA's Perseverance rover) allow us an unprecedented look at regolith. I am using PIXL to understand how the regolith forms, and what it can tell us about the past environments of Jezero Crater and Mars broadly.
Martian regolith, as seen by the WATSON instrument on the Perseverance Rover. Credit: NASA/JPL - Caltech.
Soil, Salt, and Water on Mars:
Soil, Salt, and Water on Mars:
Read more about this work in my paper published in the Planetary Science Journal!
Water plays many fascinating roles on Mars: it can alter the surface chemically and physically, and potentially even support life! But today, liquid water is extremely rare on Mars. Freezing temperatures and low pressure make pure liquid water impossible. Even in the face of these extreme conditions, liquid water could persist on Mars in the form of salty solutions known as brines. These brines form when salts in the soil absorb water vapor from the air and dissolve. Once formed, brines can stay liquid - even at extremely low temperatures - because salty water freezes at a lower temperature than pure water. My research strives to understand these processes and how water, salt, and soil interact to allow water to exist on Mars today.
Unfortunately, I can't go to Mars and investigate brines in situ. Instead, I study how Martian brines behave by recreating a little piece of Mars in the lab. Using salts and simulated Martian dirt, my experiments reveal the thermodynamic properties of cold brines in soil. How much water is available in these brines? Can they remain liquid despite Mars' cold, arid environment? Could they possibly even support life? Through experiments and modelling, I seek to answer these questions and more!
A laboratory analog of Martian regolith mixed with brine. Credit: Andrew Shumway
Machine Learning in Planetary Science:
Machine Learning in Planetary Science:
Planetary science is rapidly evolving from a field that is data-scarce into one that is data-rich. With an increasing number of successful planetary missions sending fresh data back to Earth each day, new techniques are needed to parse through these massive, growing datasets. Existing data science and machine learning techniques can be extremely helpful for recognizing patterns in these large datasets, but such techniques have yet to be widely adopted in planetary science. I'm interested in applying these techniques to planetary datasets to unveil new discoveries that are hidden among existing data.
Examples of various clustering techniques. Credit: scikit-learn.
Planetary Protection:
Planetary Protection:
As our efforts to explore the Solar System grow, so too does the risk of inadvertently spreading life between planets. Planetary protection seeks to minimize the risk of interplanetary cross-contamination. I am particularly interested in understanding potentially habitable environments on Mars, both for their astrobiological potential and to ensure such environments remain protected from contamination by terrestrial biology.
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