Svetlana's research interest involves life detection techniques and biosignature protocols on planetary surfaces. She uses multiwavelength Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques in her analyses. Her work has involved studies of false spectral biosignatures, spectral signatures of biogenic vs. abiogenic macromolecular carbon in terrestrial and meteoritic samples, protocols to aid the Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign, and spectroscopy instrument development to missions to astrobiologically relevant targets. She is a collaborator on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and a science team member on ESA's ExoMars rover. She is also active in engaging the community in defining and developing life detection mission technology strategies in her work with NASA's Center for Life Detection (CLD).
Svetlana Shkolyar
(POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW)
Org Code: 698
NASA/GSFCMail Code: 698
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: UNIV OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK
Brief Bio
Research Interests
NASA ISFM for developing tools and engagement strategies to inform life detection mission planning
Solar System: Astrobiology- Part of the NASA Network for Life Detection (NFoLD) Center for Life Detection team, an Ames-Goddard ISFM program.
- Informs science traceability and life detection technology definition
- Leads the community engagement strategy of the project to increase community awareness, use, participation, and vetting in tools for life detection mission planning efforts such as the Life Detection Knowledge Base (LDKB)
- Engages relevant communities by sharing the tool’s utility, broadening participation, and managing documentation / reporting of CLD engagement activities
NASA Astrobiology Program Education liason
Solar System: Astrobiology- Connects NASA astrobiology materials, subject matter experts (SMEs), and resources to the educators and partners (e.g. NASA Science Activation teams) who would benefit from using them with their learners
- Maintains and improves existing NASA Astrobiology Program education resources
Mars mission scientist
Solar System: Mars- Collaborator on Perseverance Rover (SuperCam instrument collaborator, SHERLOC instrument collaborator to asses organics data and inform sample selection for cache and return to Earth)
- Member of Perseverance Rover Biosignatures and Laboratory Analogs Working Groups
- Assessing shock signatures from SuperCam and SHERLOC data as indicators of sample pristinity and weathering to inform sample selection for cache and return to Earth
- Science team member for Raman Laser Spectrometer onboard ESA's ExoMars rover
Education
PhD, Geological Sciences, School of Earth & Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (2016)
Dissertation: "Informing Mars Sample Selection Strategies: Identifying Biosignatures and Assessing their Biosignature Preservation Potential”
MS, Space Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND (2011)
Thesis: “Intrinsic Sunspot Rotations and their Potential Association with Solar Energetic Events”
MA, Mass Communication, Science Track, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (2009)
Thesis: “The NASA Shuttle Program: A local and national newspaper content analysis”
BS, Physics with Interdisciplinary Honors, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL (2007)
Thesis: “Photo-Induced Charge Movement (PICM) Sensors"
Current Projects
NFoLD's Center for Life Detection (CLD) Community Engagement Coordinator
Astrobiology
I provide tools and expertise to bridge and enable community participation in the definition and development of life detection technologies and missions. This entails establishing awareness, building a user base, and increasing the use of the Life Detection Forum and associated tools.
Informing Mars 2020 rover sample selection and caching by assessing Raman spectral signatures of shock as indicators of weathering and pristinity
Cerium as a Biosignature Mimicker: Implications for UV fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy instruments for astrobiology missions
Detecting Kerogen as a biosignature using UV Time-Gated Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Positions/Employment
Visiting Assistant Research Scientist
Department of Astronomy, UMD - NASA GSFC
2021 - Present
NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) Postdoc
USRA - NASA GSFC
2019 - 2021
Postdoctoral Fellow
Carnegie Institution of Washington - Washington DC
February 2017 - March 2019
Graduate Student Research Assistant
School of Earth & Space Exploration - Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe AZ
September 2011 - 2016
Teaching Assistant, “Habitable Worlds" GLG 106 and "Intro to Astronomy," AST 111 courses
School of Earth & Space Exploration - ASU
September 2011 - September 2012
NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Assistant
Space Studies Department - UND, Grand Forks, ND
February 2009 - June 2011
John Mather Scholar Award Intern
USRA - NASA GSFC
July 2010 - September 2010
NASA Academy Intern
USRA - NASA GSFC
June 2009 - September 2009
Undergraduate Student Research Assistant
Department of Physics - University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
July 2005 - May 2007
Selected Public Outreach
Interviewed in article featured on NASA website
March 2023 - April 2023
I was interviewed for article featured on NASA's website which discusses my newest publication on analyzing meteorite-impacted and altered rocks with Perseverance rover spectroscopy instruments. The study examined the challenges with studies of shocked rock samples and the implications of collecting such samples for Earth return. Read it here.
Guest, Science Decoded podcast
October 2021 - October 2021
I was interviewed on work on biosignature mimickers in Perseverance Rover spectral data sets. Listen here.
Podcast guest, The Debrief Podcast, Episode #5
March 2021 - March 2021
I discussed Perseverance rover, astrobiology, and my career as a guest on this new media outlet's podcast series. Watch it here.
Interviewed for media article for The Debrief
March 2021 - March 2021
I discussed Perseverance Rover and NASA's Mars Sample Return Campaign. Read it here.
Guest, Cosmic Conversations, from California's Academy of Sciences Morrison Planetarium
March 2021 - March 2021
I discussed the history of Mars rovers and astrobiology, including Perseverance's exciting journey. Watch here.
Panelist, Ask an Astrobiologist, Mars 2020 Panel Episode
February 2021 - March 2021
I was invited to join two other colleagues in discussion about Perseverance Rover and all of its exciting planned activities. I focused on laser spectroscopy, biosignature studies, and my career trajectory. Watch it here.
Spotlight feature member
2019 - Present
Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN) newsletter, Nov. 2017 edition
Featured on NASA's Search for Life toolkit
2019 - Present
NASA tool to help science communicators to create products and prepare for external interactions with the public
NASA Astrobiology Booth participant, US Science and Engineering Festival
2018 - Present
Conference Meeting Mentor
2017 - Present
AGU 2017 (Undergraduate Mentoring Program) and 2017 AbSciCon (AbSciCon High School Meeting Mentor Program)
Panelist, Opportunities Beyond Academia Careers Panel, AGU Fall Meeting
December 2017 - 2017
Participated in an early career panel with over 100 student participants
Intern Supervisor
2017 - 2018
Mentored intern project on integrating Visible/IR imaging spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques to characterize Mars organics formation mechanisms.
Featured as Highlighted Graduate Student
October 2017 - November 2017
Newsletter of the Arizona Geological Society, Sep. 2017
Invited speaker, Mother Daughter Shine Brightly Summit
May 2015 - June 2015
Discussed careers in science at this workshop for middle school girls
Invited Talk, Mentor of the Month series, SAGANet.org
April 2014 - May 2014
Talk title: “Bringing 21st century science alive in the classroom through astrobiology and how you can get involved”
Show guest, STEM Journals TV show, season 3, Cox Channel 7
October 2014 - November 2014
Filmed Paleontology episode on fossil biosignature and Mars analog research
NASA FameLab competition participant
March 2013 - June 2014
Gave two 3-minute TED talk-style talks: “Life on Mars” (2013); “Graveyards of life on Mars?” at Phoenix ComicCon (2014).
Guest blogger
2014 - 2015
Wrote this post about conference speaking for a graduate student tips website
Executive Director, SAGANet.org
2013 - 2016
Fostering communication & outreach with community of 1000+ astrobiologists, early career scientists, and educators.
Panelist, Phoenix ComiCon
2013 - 2014
Coordinated with panelists across disciplines to run “Mad Scientists,” Astrobiology, and NASA Famelab for ComiCon’s science programming
Freelance Technical Writer
2006 - 2009
Wrote articles for the public for Institution of Engineering and Technology, UNF’s Spinnaker Newspaper, and NASA’s ASK Magazine. Examples available upon request.
Awards
2018, Cover Art, Astrobiology Journal, Nov. 2018 issue
2016, Outstanding Graduate Student Award (ASU)
2016, Graduate and Professional Student Association Graduate Research Award
2015, NASA Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award
2015, Graduate Excellence Award, ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
2014, Strategic University Research Partnership Proposal (SURP)
2013, ASU Space Grant Fellowship
2013, Summer PhD Student Research Award
2011, Robert H. Goddard Memorial Scholarship
2011, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Foundation Scholarship
2011, NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Graduate Assistantship
2009, John Mather Nobel Scholarship
2007, NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium Undergrad Research Grant
2006, UNF Hercules Endowed Scholarship in Physics
Publications
Refereed
Davila, A., T. Hoehler, N. Parenteau, et al. M. Neveu, S. Shkolyar, D. J. Des Marais, S. L. Cady, A. Rios, G. Lau, L. Jahnke, S. Perl, J. L. Eigenbrode, A. Pohorille, and R. Quinn. 2023. Life Detection Knowledge Base: Taxonomy of Potential Biosignatures Astrobiology
Scheller, E. L., J. R. Hollis, E. L. Cardarelli, et al. A. Steele, L. W. Beegle, R. Bhartia, P. Conrad, K. Uckert, S. Sharma, B. L. Ehlmann, W. J. Abbey, S. A. Asher, K. C. Benison, E. L. Berger, O. Beyssac, B. L. Bleefeld, T. Bosak, A. J. Brown, A. S. Burton, S. V. Bykov, E. Cloutis, A. G. Fairén, L. DeFlores, K. A. Farley, D. M. Fey, T. Fornaro, A. C. Fox, M. Fries, K. Hickman-Lewis, W. F. Hug, J. E. Huggett, S. Imbeah, R. S. Jakubek, L. C. Kah, P. Kelemen, M. R. Kennedy, T. Kizovski, C. Lee, Y. Liu, L. Mandon, F. M. McCubbin, K. R. Moore, B. E. Nixon, J. I. Núñez, C. R. Sanchez-Vahamonde, R. D. Roppel, M. Schulte, M. A. Sephton, S. K. Sharma, S. Siljeström, S. Shkolyar, D. L. Shuster, J. I. Simon, R. J. Smith, K. M. Stack, K. Steadman, B. P. Weiss, A. Werynski, A. J. Williams, R. C. Wiens, K. H. Williford, K. Winchell, B. Wogsland, A. Yanchilina, R. Yingling, and M.-P. Zorzano. 2022. Aqueous alteration processes in Jezero crater, Mars−implications for organic geochemistry Science [10.1126/science.abo5204]
Hickman-Lewis, K., K. R. Moore, J. J. Hollis, et al. M. L. Tuite, L. W. Beegle, R. Bhartia, J. P. Grotzinger, A. J. Brown, S. Shkolyar, B. Cavalazzi, and C. L. Smith. 2022. In Situ Identification of Paleoarchean Biosignatures Using Colocated Perseverance Rover Analyses: Perspectives for <i>In Situ</i> Mars Science and Sample Return Astrobiology 22 (9): 1143-1163 [10.1089/ast.2022.0018]
Hollis, J. R., K. R. Moore, S. Sharma, et al. L. Beegle, J. P. Grotzinger, A. Allwood, W. Abbey, R. Bhartia, A. J. Brown, B. Clark, E. Cloutis, A. Corpolongo, J. Henneke, K. Hickman-Lewis, J. A. Hurowitz, M. W. Jones, Y. Liu, J. Martinez-Fr?as, A. Murphy, D. A. Pedersen, S. Shkolyar, S. Siljestr?m, A. Steele, M. Tice, A. Treiman, K. Uckert, S. VanBommel, and A. Yanchilina. 2022. The power of paired proximity science observations: Co-located data from SHERLOC and PIXL on Mars Icarus 115179 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115179]
Shkolyar, S., S. J. Jaret, B. A. Cohen, et al. J. R. Johnson, O. Beyssac, J. M. Madariaga, R. C. Wiens, A. Ollila, S. Holm-Alwmark, and Y. Liu. 2022. Identifying Shocked Feldspar on Mars Using Perseverance Spectroscopic Instruments: Implications for Geochronology Studies on Returned Samples Earth, Moon, and Planets 126 (2): 4 [10.1007/s11038-022-09546-6]
Lalla, E. A., M. Konstantinidis, M. Veneranda, et al. M. G. Daly, J. A. Manrique, E. A. Lymer, J. Freemantle, E. A. Cloutis, J. M. Stromberg, S. Shkolyar, C. Caudill, D. Applin, J. L. Vago, F. Rull, and G. Lopez-Reyes. 2022. Raman Characterization of the CanMars Rover Field Campaign Samples Using the Raman Laser Spectrometer ExoMars Simulator: Implications for Mars and Planetary Exploration Astrobiology [10.1089/ast.2021.0055]
Shkolyar, S., E. Lalla, M. Konstantinidis, et al. K. Cote, M. Daly, and A. Steele. 2020. Detecting Ce3+ as a biosignature mimicker using UV time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy: Implications for planetary missions Icarus 354 114093 [10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114093]
Lalla, E., S. Shkolyar, C. Gilmour, et al. A. Lozano-Gorrín, M. Konstantinidis, J. Freemantle, and M. Daly. 2020. Structural and vibrational analyses of CePO4 synthetic monazite samples under an optimized precipitation process Journal of Molecular Structure 1223 129150 [10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.129150]
Shkolyar, S., and J. D. Farmer. 2018. Biosignature Preservation Potential in Playa Evaporites: Impacts of Diagenesis and Implications for Mars Exploration Astrobiology 18 (11): 1460-1478 [10.1089/ast.2018.1849]
Shkolyar, S., E. J. Eshelman, J. D. Farmer, et al. D. Hamilton, M. G. Daly, and C. Youngbull. 2018. Detecting Kerogen as a Biosignature Using Colocated UV Time-Gated Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy Astrobiology 18 (4): 431-453 [10.1089/ast.2017.1716]
Suer, T.-A., S. Padovan, J. L. Whitten, et al. R. W. Potter, S. Shkolyar, M. Cable, C. Walker, J. Szalay, C. Parker, J. Cumbers, D. Gentry, T. Harrison, S. Naidu, H. J. Trammell, J. Reimuller, C. J. Budney, and L. L. Lowes. 2017. FIRE - Flyby of Io with Repeat Encounters: A conceptual design for a New Frontiers mission to Io Advances in Space Research 60 (5): 1080-1100 [10.1016/j.asr.2017.05.019]
Hardersen, P., K. Balasubramaniam, and S. O. Shkolyar. 2013. Chromospheric mass motions and intrinsic sunspot rotations for NOAA Active Regions 10484, 10486, and 10488 using ISOON data. The Astrophysical Journal 773 (1): 60
Non-Refereed
Phillips-Lander, C., A. Agha-mohamamdi, J. Wynne, et al. T. Titus, N. Chanover, C. Demirel-Floyd, K. Uckert, K. Williams, D. Wyrick, J. Blank, P. Boston, K. Mitchell, A. Kereszturi, J. Martin-Torres, S. Shkolyar, N. Bardabelias, S. Datta, K. Retherford, L. Sam, A. Bhardwaj, A. Fairén, D. Flannery, and R. Wiens. 2021. Mars Astrobiological Cave and Internal habitability Explorer (MACIE): A New Frontiers Mission Concept Vol. 53, Issue 4 (Planetary/Astrobiology Decadal Survey Whitepapers) 53 (4): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.cf124da3]
Perl, S., S. Adeli, C. Basu, et al. B. K. Baxter, J. Bowman, E. Boyd, M. Cable, A. J. Celestian, C. S. Cockell, F. A. Corsetti, K. L. Craft, A. Engelhart, A. G. Fairen, S. Karunatillake, K. Lynch, S. Potter-McIntyre, F. Rivera-Hernandez, M. Schneegurt, S. Schwenzer, S. Shkolyar, B. Theiling, B. Wade, and J. Zaloumis. 2021. Salty Environments: The importance of evaporites and brine environments as habitats and preservers of biosignatures Vol. 53, Issue 4 (Planetary/Astrobiology Decadal Survey Whitepapers) 53 (4): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.d0fffbba]
Edwards, C., V. Stamenkovic, P. Boston, et al. K. Lynch, J. Tarnas, B. Sherwood-Lollar, S. Atreya, A. Templeton, A. Freeman, W. Fischer, T. Spohn, C. Webster, A. G. Fairén, J. (. Mustard, M. Mischna, T. C. Onstott, M. R. Osburn, T. Kieft, R. E. Grimm, W. B. Brinckerhoff, S. Johnson, L. Beegle, J. Head, A. Haldemann, C. Cockell, J. Hernlund, B. Wilcox, D. Paige, G. Etiope, D. Glavin, M.-P. Zorzano, Y. Sekine, S. Fabien, J. Kirschvink, C. Magnabosco, R. Orosei, M. Grott, J. D. Rummel, A. Kobayashi, F. Inagaki, J. Bishop, V. Chevrier, M. S. Bell, B. N. Orcutt, J. McIntosh, K. Miljkovic, D. Breuer, T. Usui, K. Zacny, E. Heggy, E. G. Rivera-Valentín, N. J. Barba, R. Woolley, O. Warr, M. Malaska, J. G. Blank, D. F. Ruffatto, H. M. Sapers, L. H. Matthies, L. Ward, S. Shkolyar, C. Schmelzbach, T. S. Gabriel, C. Parker, H. H. Bolivar-Torres, B. Pál, D. Schulze-Makuch, J. A. Celis, A. Kereszturi, J. A. Spry, K. Uckert, M. A. Hesse, R. Harris, A.-C. Plesa, R. Hu, A.-A. Agha-mohammadi, B. D. Wade, S. Chatterjee, P. McGarey, H. V. Graham, S. Suzuki, M. Schrenk, K. Sherrill, S. Howe, R. Manthena, M. Burgin, K. Carpenter, L. Giersch, V. Cormarkovic, N. Smith, J. J. McDonnell, J. Michalski, D. Jha, M. L. Cable, E. Gloesener, V. Paul, S. Gault, S. Kedar, E. Marteau, O. Temel, S. Krieger, and R. Timoney. 2021. Deep Trek: Mission Concepts for Exploring Subsurface Habitability & Life on Mars — A Window into Subsurface Life in the Solar System Vol. 53, Issue 4 (Planetary/Astrobiology Decadal Survey Whitepapers) 53 (4): [10.3847/25c2cfeb.5f50cebc]
Carrasco-Martos, S., G. Cataldo, L. Cully, et al. H. Fingerhut, T. Garrett, H. Hui, F. Keels, E. Lee, V. Martin, K. McCoy, Z. Merceruio, M. Neveu, M. Piltz, E. Reiff, L. Sandberg, S. Shkolyar, E. Timmons, and A. Willingham. 2009. "The Odysseus Project: NASA's Vision for Reaching the Stars" NASA GSFC Report
Talks, Presentations and Posters
Invited
Informing Perseverance Mars Rover Raman and Fluorescence Studies of Fossil Biosignatures: Predictions and Recent Mission Data.
2023
Invited talk, Agenastro 3rd International Astrobiology Conference.
Biosignature Detection with Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy: Informing Perseverance Rover
2021
Invited talk (virtual), GA Tech Planetary & Astrobiology Seminar series.
Introduction to Astrobiology and my path there
2019
NASA Space Science Education Consortium (NSSEC) 2019 Annual Meeting, Greenbelt, MD.
Mars biosignature studies: From the field to the lab to the rover.
2018
Presentation at several seminars, June through August 2018:
- Inaugural JHU Applied Physics Lab astrobiology seminar
- GSFC Solar system exploration seminar
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) weekly seminar
Other
The Life Detection Forum: Building a framework for life detection
2023
Presented at the April 2023 Code 600 GSFC Director's Seminar Series
Mineral and Trace Element Identification in Jezero Crater, Mars, with SuperCam’s Time-Resolved Raman (TRR) and Luminescence Techniques.
2021
A. Ollila, O. Beyssac, and the SuperCam Raman Working Group, incl. S. Shkolyar. EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-13939.
SuperCam on the Perseverance Rover for Exploration of Jezero Crater: Remote LIBS, VISIR, Raman, and Time-Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopies Plus Micro-Imaging and Acoustics.
2021
R. C. Wiens, et. al., including S. Shkolyar. LPI Contrib. No. 1182 (virtual).
Professional Service
2022 - Reviewer, NASA Early Career Collaborator Award
2020 - present, Proposal Reviewer, NASA GSFC Red Team
2017 - present, NASA Panel Reviewer, in-person and external (NESSF, MDAP, Exobiology, FINNEST, ECA)
2017-2018, Member, Carnegie Institution of Washington, GL-DTM Joint Department Library Committee
2017, Session Convener, Conference Session Convener, AbSciCon 2017
2015, Grant reviewer for ASU’s Graduate and Professional Student Association
2014, Astrobiology Theme Group integrator, 8th International Mars Conference
2012-2016, Reviewer, ASU Graduate and Professional Student Association Student Grant
2011, Seminar Coordinator, ASU Astrobiology Coffee Hour Seminars
2009, Volunteer, Mars Society 12th Annual International Convention
2004-2007, UNF Society of Physics Students; President (2005-2007); Treasurer (2004).