Francis M. McCubbin

Francis M. McCubbin is a Research Assistant Professor and Senior Research Scientist III at the University of New Mexico's Institute of Meteoritics. He serves as the High Pressure Lab Manager within the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. His work focuses on planetary geochemistry, particularly the role of volatiles (H2O, F, Cl, S, C) in magmatic systems of terrestrial and extraterrestrial bodies like Mars, the Moon, and Mercury. He employs experimental petrology, advanced micro-beam analysis (e.g., TOF-SIMS), and crystal-chemical modeling to study volatile-bearing minerals such as apatite and amphibole.

Education: Ph.D. in Geochemistry from Stony Brook University (2009).

Research interests include:

• Hydrous magmatism on Mars and its implications for subsurface habitability
• Lunar volatile content and its geologic history
• Mercury's surface mineralogy and magmatic processes
• Crystallography and petrogenetic roles of phosphate minerals

Recent publications emphasize detection methods for water in planetary materials and integrating laboratory experiments with remote sensing data (e.g., MESSENGER mission results for Mercury).

Lab responsibilities include managing high-pressure experimental facilities critical for simulating planetary interior conditions.