Elizabeth Spiers

Elizabeth Spiers is a Researcher at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics within the Jackson School of Geosciences. Her work focuses on understanding the dynamic habitability of ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus through systems modeling and planetary mission development.

• Ph.D. in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences – Planetary Science, Georgia Institute of Technology
• B.S. in Applied Physics, Purdue University
• B.S. in Planetary Science, Purdue University

Her research involves quantifying global-scale energy and chemical changes in extraterrestrial oceans, contributing to NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and other concepts like the Tiger mission for Enceladus and the VERNE drilling project. She specializes in life detection strategies for ocean worlds.

At the University of Texas, she operates from the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, engaging in planetary mission projects and collaborating with institutions such as the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and the Center for Planetary Systems Habitability. Her expertise includes subsurface access mechanisms and ice-penetrating radar technologies.