Alian Wang

Alian Wang is a Research Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, affiliated with the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences. She holds a PhD from Université des Sciences et Techniques de Lille Flandres Artois, France (1987). Her research focuses on planetary spectroscopy, studying the chemical properties of planetary materials through phase transformations of hydrous salts on Mars, planetary mission data analysis (e.g., Mars Exploration Rover and ExoMars), and extraterrestrial materials like lunar samples and Martian meteorites. She leads instrument development for space missions and conducts fieldwork in global analog sites such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Svalbard, and the Atacama Desert. Her team maintains international collaborations and organizes conferences like the 11th GeoRaman International Conference.

Research interests include mineralogy, geochemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics of planetary materials, alongside mission preparation and instrument testing. Her work bridges laboratory studies with field investigations to advance understanding of planetary processes.