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Selby Cull is a planetary scientist whose work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of Mars’ subsurface environment, particularly its water-ice reservoirs. Her research centers on planetary geology, remote sensing, and the geochemistry of extraterrestrial surfaces. Cull’s most significant contributions come from her involvement with NASA’s Mars Phoenix Lander mission, where she analyzed data from the Robotic Arm experiment. Her 2009 paper on this topic, cited over 130 times, detailed how the lander’s 2.4-meter arm excavated trenches and acquired icy soil samples, revealing the physical properties of Martian regolith. In a landmark 2010 study (46 citations), Cull used spectral data from the Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager to distinguish between two types of subsurface ice: a bright, slab-like ice and a darker icy deposit. This work provided critical evidence for the composition and distribution of water ice on Mars, directly informing future exploration strategies. Cull’s findings have been instrumental in guiding the search for habitable environments and resources on the Red Planet, cementing her reputation as a leading voice in Martian geoscience.