JESSICA BARNES

CLASS OF 2007

Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

My love for rocks and exploring our solar system stems from my time at Belfast High School. Early at school, I developed a passion for physical geography, especially volcanoes and their effects on people. This interest led me to the University of St Andrews where I initially studied geography but switched to Geoscience after my first year. Scotland offered an ideal setting for geology, with rock cliffs and outcrops just metres from the department. Throughout my studies, I became captivated by how the rock record reveals Earth’s history, particularly ancient volcanic and metamorphic events.

In my final year of undergrad, I applied to several PhD programmes in the UK that focused on both laboratory analysis of rocks and fieldwork. During one interview, a potential advisor suggested I consider a planetary science project they had available. At first, I dismissed it due to my lack of background in planetary geology and my love for fieldwork. However, after learning I hadn't secured the initial position, the professor encouraged me to reconsider the planetary science project. Intrigued by the project description – studying rocks from outer space with advanced laboratory equipment – I decided to apply, and my perseverance finally paid off.

I began my PhD in lunar geochemistry with The Open University and Natural History Museum in London in 2011 and graduated in 2015. I stayed at The Open University for another year as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2016, I moved to Texas to accept a postdoctoral fellowship position at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. There, I continued my work unravelling how the Moon formed and evolved and pursued new research on Mars and asteroids.

In 2019, I joined the faculty at the University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor. Since then, I have established a brand-new laboratory, graduated two PhD students of my own, and joined NASA’s OSIRIS-REx space mission, which recently returned samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

Looking back on my journey, I realise that teaching was never at the top of my career ambitions. Yet teaching and mentoring have become the most rewarding aspects of my job. I find joy in introducing students to the fascinating worlds within our solar system and beyond. I often think about my time at Belfast High School with fondness and am incredibly grateful for the teachers including Mr Morrison, Ms McElrea, and Dr Gaston, who introduced me to rocks, volcanoes, and chemistry and ultimately set me on the path to explore space and our place in it.