معرفی
Pierre Haenecour is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, and a researcher at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL). His work bridges astromaterials analysis, cosmochemistry, and astrobiology, focusing on presolar grains, asteroid samples, and bioessential compounds in extraterrestrial materials.
- B.A. and M.S. in Geology and Geochemistry, Free University of Brussels
- M.A. and Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
His research employs nano- and microanalytical techniques at the Kuiper-Arizona Laboratory for Astromaterials Analysis to study presolar grains from meteorites and stardust from supernovae and AGB stars. He investigates thermal processes on asteroids using in-situ electron microscopy, aiming to understand solar system formation and the origins of life. His group prepares for Bennu sample analysis under NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission and contributes to the NASA Alien Earths project.
Recent publications highlight collaborations on Bennu's organic matter (2025), irradiation experiments on SiC grains (2019), and presolar grain characterization in CO chondrites (2023-2025). Grants include TRIF-funded acquisitions of microscopy equipment. Students include graduate researcher Lucas Smith (PTYS). Outreach activities feature lectures on stardust and the OSIRIS-REx mission.
