STEM Faculty

Professional biography:

• 2020 - BSc, Natural Sciences (Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology), University College London, UK
• 2023 - MSc, Planetary Science, University College London, UK
• 2024 - PhD, Cosmochemistry, The Open University, UK

Research interests:

I specialise in cosmochemistry and astrobiology and have a particular interest in the volatile element chemistry of geological samples from the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, along with the resultant implications for habitability and the origin of life in the Solar System.

For my current role as a UK Space Agency-funded PhD researcher at The Open University, I employ laser fluorination, IRMS, SEM, EPMA, and XCT techniques to investigate ancient environmental conditions on Mars through triple oxygen isotope anomalies in Martian meteorites. Martian meteorites are key samples to investigate and further develop analytical protocols for highly-precise triple oxygen isotope analyses in preparation for the arrival of returned Martian samples in the next decade. 

Publications:

Lee, K.M., Findlay, R., Malley, J., White, L.F., Martin, P.-E.M.C., Delbey, T., Johnson, D., Schwenzer, S.P., Anand, M. & Greenwood, R.C. (2026) Developing micro-sampling techniques for high-precision laser fluorination analysis of Martian polymict breccias. Oral presentation; Abstract #5492 at the 88th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, 9-14 Aug 2026, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Lee, K.M., Findlay, R., Malley, J., White, L.F., Schwenzer, S.P., Anand, M. & Greenwood, R.C. (2026) Investigating potential oxygen isotope heterogeneity within Martian polymict breccias. Oral presentation; Abstract at the 5th British Planetary Science Conference, 9-11 Jun 2026, St Andrews, UK

Professional memberships and appointments:

• Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)
• Member of the Meteoritical Society
• Member of the Astrobiology Society of Britain (ASB)
• Member of the German Astrobiological Society (DAbG)