معرفی
Mariek E. Schmidt is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Earth Sciences at Brock University, Faculty of Mathematics and Science. She is a leading planetary geologist with active research on both terrestrial and Martian volcanic systems. She has held key roles in multiple NASA Mars missions, including as a Participating Scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) and Mars 2020 (Perseverance) missions, and previously as a Postdoctoral Collaborator on the Mars Exploration Rover mission.
- PhD, Oregon State University
- BA, Colby College
Her research focuses on the petrology and geochemistry of igneous and volcanic rocks, particularly basalts on Mars and in volcanic fields across the western United States and Iceland. She integrates field geology, geochemical analysis, and data from planetary rovers to understand the eruptive and environmental histories of volcanic terrains. Her work has significantly contributed to understanding aqueous alteration, hydrothermal systems, and sedimentary processes in Gale Crater.
Her recent publications highlight trends in Martian geochemistry, including the detection of tridymite, potassium-rich sandstones, and hydrothermal mineralization—evidence of complex aqueous histories on Mars. She frequently publishes in top journals such as Science, Nature Communications, and Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
- NASA Participating Scientist, Mars Science Laboratory (2012–present)
- NASA Participating Scientist, Mars 2020 Mission (2020–present)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2020–present)
- Editorial Board, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (2007–2016)
She advises graduate students and leads a research group focused on planetary volcanism and crustal evolution. Her work is supported by the Canadian Space Agency and NASA. She has been involved in instrument development projects such as iSXRD and NeMO SAR. She teaches undergraduate courses in planetary science, mineralogy, and volcanology, and leads field camps in solid Earth geology.
She is actively involved in planetary analog studies through the GeoHeuristic Operational Strategies Test (GHOST) rover team, developing best practices for autonomous exploration. Her lab at Brock University supports research in igneous petrology and planetary surface processes.
