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About

Brandi L. Carrier is a planetary scientist whose work sits at the intersection of astrobiology, in situ spectroscopy, and Mars sample return science. She is a key contributor to NASA’s Perseverance rover mission, most notably through her work on the SHERLOC instrument—a robotic arm-mounted spectrometer that maps organic compounds and minerals on the Martian surface. Her co-authored paper on the SHERLOC investigation (2021) has been cited over 230 times, reflecting its foundational role in the mission’s search for signs of ancient life. Carrier has also been instrumental in shaping the scientific framework for Mars Sample Return (MSR), co-authoring influential papers on the rationale for returning Martian samples and the specific scientific value of airfall dust. Her work highlights the importance of sample context and the need to capture fine-grained atmospheric particles, which could preserve unique records of Martian climate and habitability. Through her contributions to both instrument operations and mission-level science planning, Carrier is helping to define the next era of Mars exploration—one that moves from remote sensing to the direct analysis of returned samples in terrestrial laboratories.