Brief Bio

My main research interests are planetary exploration and astrobiology, the search for the origins, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe.

Specifically, I seek to understand whether oceans on other worlds harbor life by simulating their physics and chemistry, through laboratory and field studies of similar places on Earth where microbial life thrives, and by developing future space missions to explore these ocean worlds.

Positions/Employment

Education

2011-2015 PhD, Astrophysics, School of Earth & Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Dissertation: “Hydrothermal Habitats: Measurements of Bulk Microbial Elemental Composition, and Models of Hydrothermal Influences on the Evolution of Dwarf Planets.” Advisors: Drs. Steve Desch & Ariel Anbar.

2010-2011 MS, Astrophysics-Space Sciences-Planetology, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
Thesis: “Evolution and Role of Minerals in Primordial Planetary Environments.” Advisor: Dr. Steve Benner.

2007-2011 MS, Aerospace Engineering, Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace, Toulouse
Major: Space Sciences. Selective 3-year “Supaero” program.

2005-2007 Preparation in physics, chemistry, and math for entrance exams to top French engineering schools, Lycée Stanislas, Paris, France

Professional Service

2020-2022 Served on Ocean Worlds & Dwarf Planets panel of the National Academies' 2023-2032 Planetary Science & Astrobiology Decadal Survey.

2016-2017 Helped draft a Roadmap to Ocean Worlds in response to Congress’ direction to NASA. Theme team lead: “Understand how life might exist within ocean worlds and search for life.” Organized in-person meeting in Tempe, AZ.

Conference Organization & Session Chairing

• 2022 Future of the Search for Life workshop co-chair.
• 2021 Proposal Writing Retreat co-organizer for the Astrobiology Graduate Conference.
• 2020 "Ocean Worlds: A Long Swim Off a Deep Core" and "Protoplanetary Disk Evolution", 51^st Lunar & Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX [conference cancelled].
• 2019 “Origins and Evolution Pathways of Organics in Ocean Worlds”, Astrobiology Science Conference, Seattle, WA.
• 2018 Ocean Worlds 3 co-organizer, Houston, TX, USA.
• 2017 “Assessing Ceres' Past and Present Habitability”, Astrobiology Science Conference, Mesa, AZ.
• 2017 “Ceres Surface and Interior Processes”, Joint 48^th Division of Planetary Sciences/11^th European Planetary Science Congress, Pasadena, CA, USA.
• 2016 Astrobiology Graduate Conference co-organizer, Boulder, CO, USA.
• 2016 “Chemistry of the outer solar system”, 26^th Goldschmidt Conference, Yokohama, Japan.

Peer Reviewer: Astrobiology, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Geophysical Research Letters, Icarus, Journal of Geophysical Research, Life, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Minerals, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Nature Astronomy, Nature Communications, Nature Geoscience, Planetary Science Journal, Planetary & Space Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science, Scientific Reports, Space Science Reviews, and a book chapter.

NASA Review Panels as Group Chief, Panelist, Executive Secretary, and External Reviewer.

Reviewer for American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research in Astrobiology, and for French National Research Agency.

Professional Societies

Awards

• 2020 Scialog Fellow, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
• 2018 US Antarctica Service Medal
• 2017 NASA Postdoctoral Management Program Fellowship
• 2016 NASA Early Career Fellowship
• 2015, 2014 Graduate Excellence Award, ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• 2014 NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship
• 2014 Ultra-Disciplinary Student Award, ASU School of Earth & Space Exploration
• 2014 Career Development Award, Lunar & Planetary Institute
• 2013 Outstanding Student Poster Award, American Geophysical Union
• 2013 David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship, American Geophysical Union
• 2011 3rd Mayoux-Dauriac Aeronautics Prize, Inst. Sup. Aéronautique & Espace Alumni Association
• 2011 University Graduate Fellowship, Arizona State University
• 2011 Vocation Prize, French Aerospace Society [3AF] Space Exploration & Observation Section
• 2009 John Mather Nobel Scholarship

Other Professional Information

2011-2015 Graduate Research Assistant, School of Earth & Space Exploration, Arizona State U.
Modeled thermal and geochemical evolution of icy worlds to inform spacecraft missions.
Studied elemental composition of microbial communities from extreme hot springs.

2011 Intern, Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Gainesville, FL
Performed experiments combining organic chemistry, astrochemistry, and planetary science to study the processing of prebiotic materials in the presence of minerals.

2010 Research Assistant, CNES – French Space Agency, Toulouse, France
Reviewed and tested techniques to detect organic contaminants onboard spacecrafts.

2009 Research Assistant, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Developed a bench top radiometer for mapping trace gases on Mars.

2008 Intern, Thales Alenia Space, Toulouse, France
Created spacecraft mechanical parts database.

Special Experience

2019-20 Planetary Science Winter School, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
2018 NSF Antarctic Biology Training Program, McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
2016 NExSS Exoplanet/Astrobiology Winter School, Biosphere 2, Arizona.
2014 Planetary Science Summer School, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
2014 Josep Comas i Solà International Summer School in Astrobiology, Santander, Spain.
2012 Nordic-NASA Astrobiology Summer School, Iceland.
2009 NASA Academy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
2008 Star tracker development for European Space Agency student Earth/Moon orbiters.

Teaching Experience

Since 2020 Mentor/Advisor of junior researchers:

• 2021: PhD Dissertation Committee member for Ryan Felton (Catholic Univ. of America) on carbon cycling aspects of his work.
• 2020-2021: Mariam Naseem on ice shell composition project.
• 2020-2021: Undergraduate student Taylor Bartlow on exoplanet carbon outgassing project.
• Spring 2020: High school student Sarah Doney for STEM Capstone project titled: "Modeling and predicting the growth of deep sea saltwater mussels on Jupiter's moon Europa".

Guest Lecturer

• 2022 Chemistry in Space class, Hamilton College: "Chemistry and habitability of Europa and Enceladus".
• 2016 Exploring Ocean Worlds class, ASU.: "Enceladus Sample Return".

2011-2012 Teaching Assistant, School of Earth & Space Exploration, Arizona State University

Taught innovative online class, Habitable Worlds, for non-science majors:

• Designed learning software bringing to life concepts otherwise static in textbook pages.
• Developed, tested, and improved undergraduate course content for three semesters.
• Built class project, putting students in the shoes of scientists to find habitable worlds.
• Guided students; discussed trending science topics in live video sessions.

Selected Public Outreach

Publications

Refereed

Castillo‐Rogez, J., B. Weiss, C. Beddingfield, et al. J. Biersteker, R. Cartwright, A. Goode, M. Melwani Daswani, and M. Neveu. 2022. "Compositions and Interior Structures of the Large Moons of Uranus and Implications for Future Spacecraft Observations." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 128 (1): [10.1029/2022je007432]

Noviello, J. L., S. J. Desch, M. Neveu, B. C. Proudfoot, and S. Sonnett. 2022. "Let It Go: Geophysically Driven Ejection of the Haumea Family Members." The Planetary Science Journal, 3 (9): 225 [10.3847/psj/ac8e03]

Neveu, M., R. F. Coker, R. D. Lorenz, et al. S. M. MacKenzie, J. I. Lunine, and A. F. Davila. 2022. "Planetary Protection Assessment of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG)–Powered Landed Missions to Ocean Worlds: Application to Enceladus." Astrobiology, 22 (9): [10.1089/ast.2020.2432]

Theiling, B. P., L. Chou, V. D. Poian, et al. M. Battler, K. Raimalwala, R. Arevalo, M. Neveu, Z. Ni, H. Graham, J. Elsila, and B. Thompson. 2022. "Science Autonomy for Ocean Worlds Astrobiology: A Perspective." Astrobiology, [10.1089/ast.2021.0062]

Lisse, C. M., G. R. Gladstone, L. A. Young, et al. D. P. Cruikshank, S. A. Sandford, B. Schmitt, S. A. Stern, H. A. Weaver, O. Umurhan, Y. J. Pendleton, J. T. Keane, J. M. Parker, R. P. Binzel, A. M. Earle, M. Horanyi, M. El-Maarry, A. F. Cheng, J. M. Moore, W. B. McKinnon, W. M. Grundy, J. J. Kavelaars, I. R. Linscott, W. Lyra, B. L. Lewis, D. T. Britt, J. R. Spencer, C. B. Olkin, R. L. McNutt, H. A. Elliott, N. Dello-Russo, J. K. Steckloff, M. Neveu, and O. Mousis. 2022. "A Predicted Dearth of Majority Hypervolatile Ices in Oort Cloud Comets." The Planetary Science Journal, 3 (5): 112 [10.3847/psj/ac6097]

MacKenzie, S. M., M. Neveu, A. Davila, et al. J. I. Lunine, M. Cable, C. M. Phillips-Lander, J. L. Eigenbrode, J. H. Waite, K. L. Craft, J. D. Hofgartner, C. P. McKay, C. R. Glein, D. Burton, S. P. Kounaves, R. A. Mathies, S. D. Vance, M. J. Malaska, R. Gold, C. R. German, K. M. Soderlund, P. Willis, C. Freissinet, A. S. McEwen, J. R. Brucato, J.-P. P. de Vera, T. M. Hoehler, and J. Heldmann. 2022. "Science Objectives for Flagship-class mission concepts for the search for evidence of life at Enceladus." Astrobiology, [Full Text (Link)] [10.1089/ast.2020.2425]

Castillo-Rogez, J., M. Neveu, V. Vinogradoff, et al. K. E. Miller, M. M. Sori, F. Tosi, B. Schmidt, J. E. Scully, M. Melwani Daswani, K. Hughson, H. McSween, C. De Sanctis, L. Quick, A. Ermakov, G. Thangjam, K. Otto, K. Krohn, P. Schenk, A. Nathues, and C. Raymond. 2022. "Science Drivers for the Future Exploration of Ceres: From Solar System Evolution to Ocean World Science." The Planetary Science Journal, 3 (3): 64 [10.3847/psj/ac502b]

Green, J., T. Hoehler, M. Neveu, et al. S. Domagal-Goldman, D. Scalice, and M. Voytek. 2021. "Call for a framework for reporting evidence for life beyond Earth." Nature, 598 (7882): 575-579 [10.1038/s41586-021-03804-9]

Vernazza, P., M. Ferrais, L. Jorda, et al. J. Hanuš, B. Carry, M. Marsset, M. Brož, R. Fetick, M. Viikinkoski, F. Marchis, F. Vachier, A. Drouard, T. Fusco, M. Birlan, E. Podlewska-Gaca, N. Rambaux, M. Neveu, P. Bartczak, G. Dudziński, E. Jehin, P. Beck, J. Berthier, J. Castillo-Rogez, F. Cipriani, F. Colas, C. Dumas, J. Ďurech, J. Grice, M. Kaasalainen, A. Kryszczynska, P. Lamy, H. Le Coroller, A. Marciniak, T. Michalowski, P. Michel, T. Santana-Ros, P. Tanga, A. Vigan, O. Witasse, B. Yang, P. Antonini, M. Audejean, P. Aurard, R. Behrend, Z. Benkhaldoun, J. M. Bosch, A. Chapman, L. Dalmon, S. Fauvaud, H. Hamanowa, H. Hamanowa, J. His, A. Jones, D.-H. Kim, M.-J. Kim, J. Krajewski, O. Labrevoir, A. Leroy, F. Livet, D. Molina, R. Montaigut, J. Oey, N. Payre, V. Reddy, P. Sabin, A. G. Sanchez, and L. Socha. 2021. "VLT/SPHERE imaging survey of the largest main-belt asteroids: Final results and synthesis." Astronomy & Astrophysics, 654: A56 [10.1051/0004-6361/202141781]

Cable, M. L., C. Porco, C. R. Glein, et al. C. R. German, S. M. MacKenzie, M. Neveu, T. M. Hoehler, A. E. Hofmann, A. R. Hendrix, J. Eigenbrode, F. Postberg, L. J. Spilker, A. McEwen, N. Khawaja, J. Hunter Waite, P. Wurz, J. Helbert, A. Anbar, J.-P. de Vera, and J. Núñez. 2021. "The Science Case for a Return to Enceladus." The Planetary Science Journal, 2 (4): 132 [Full Text (Link)] [10.3847/psj/abfb7a]

Canup, R. M., K. M. Kratter, and M. Neveu. 2021. "On the Origin of the Pluto System." The Pluto System After New Horizons, Tucson, AZ, USA: 475-506 [10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816540945-ch021]

Cartwright, R. J., C. B. Beddingfield, T. A. Nordheim, et al. C. M. Elder, J. C. Castillo-Rogez, M. Neveu, A. M. Bramson, M. M. Sori, B. J. Buratti, R. T. Pappalardo, J. E. Roser, I. J. Cohen, E. J. Leonard, A. I. Ermakov, M. R. Showalter, W. M. Grundy, E. P. Turtle, and M. D. Hofstadter. 2021. "The Science Case for Spacecraft Exploration of the Uranian Satellites: Candidate Ocean Worlds in an Ice Giant System." The Planetary Science Journal, 2 (3): 120 [10.3847/psj/abfe12]

Carry, B., P. Vernazza, F. Vachier, et al. M. Neveu, J. Berthier, J. Hanus, M. Ferrais, L. Jorda, and Al. 2021. "Evidence for differentiation of the most primitive small bodies." Astronomy & Astrophysics, [10.1051/0004-6361/202140342]

MacKenzie, S. M., M. Neveu, A. F. Davila, et al. J. I. Lunine, K. L. Craft, M. L. Cable, C. M. Phillips-Lander, J. D. Hofgartner, J. L. Eigenbrode, J. H. Waite, C. R. Glein, R. Gold, P. J. Greenauer, K. Kirby, C. Bradburne, S. P. Kounaves, M. J. Malaska, F. Postberg, G. W. Patterson, C. Porco, J. I. Núñez, C. German, J. A. Huber, C. P. McKay, J.-P. de Vera, J. R. Brucato, and L. J. Spilker. 2021. "The Enceladus Orbilander Mission Concept: Balancing Return and Resources in the Search for Life." The Planetary Science Journal, 2 (2): 77 [Full Text (Link)] [10.3847/psj/abe4da]

Renaud, J. P., W. G. Henning, P. Saxena, et al. M. Neveu, A. Bagheri, A. Mandell, and T. Hurford. 2021. "Tidal Dissipation in Dual-body, Highly Eccentric, and Nonsynchronously Rotating Systems: Applications to Pluto–Charon and the Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e." The Planetary Science Journal, 2 (1): 4 [10.3847/psj/abc0f3]

Lisse, C., L. Young, D. Cruikshank, et al. S. Sandford, B. Schmitt, S. Stern, H. Weaver, O. Umurhan, Y. Pendleton, J. Keane, G. Gladstone, J. Parker, R. Binzel, A. Earle, M. Horanyi, M. El-Maarry, A. Cheng, J. Moore, W. McKinnon, W. Grundy, J. Kavelaars, I. Linscott, W. Lyra, B. Lewis, D. Britt, J. Spencer, C. Olkin, R. McNutt, H. Elliott, N. Dello-Russo, J. Steckloff, M. Neveu, and O. Mousis. 2020. "On the origin & thermal stability of Arrokoth's and Pluto's ices." Icarus, 114072 [10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114072]

Neveu, M., A. D. Anbar, A. F. Davila, et al. D. P. Glavin, S. M. MacKenzie, C. M. Phillips-Lander, B. Sherwood, Y. Takano, P. Williams, and H. Yano. 2020. "Returning Samples From Enceladus for Life Detection." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 7: 26 [10.3389/fspas.2020.00026]

Neveu, M., C. H. House, and S. T. Wieman. 2020. "Phoebe's carbon isotope composition as evidence for self-shielding in the solar nebula." Icarus, 345: 113714 [10.1016/j.icarus.2020.113714]

Cable, M. L., M. Neveu, H.-W. Hsu, and T. M. Hoehler. 2020. "Enceladus." Planetary Astrobiology, Tucson, AZ: 217-246 (In Press) [10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816540068-ch009]

Castillo-Rogez, J. C., M. Neveu, J. E. Scully, et al. C. H. House, L. C. Quick, A. Bouquet, K. Miller, M. Bland, M. C. De Sanctis, A. Ermakov, A. R. Hendrix, T. H. Prettyman, C. A. Raymond, C. T. Russell, B. E. Sherwood, and E. Young. 2020. "Ceres: Astrobiological Target and Possible Ocean World." Astrobiology, 20: 269-291 [10.1089/ast.2018.1999]

Neveu, M., and P. Vernazza. 2019. "IDP-like Asteroids Formed Later than 5 Myr After Ca–Al-rich Inclusions." The Astrophysical Journal, 875 (1): 30 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab0d87]

Neveu, M., and A. R. Rhoden. 2019. "Evolution of Saturn’s mid-sized moons." Nature Astronomy, 3 (6): 543-552 [10.1038/s41550-019-0726-y]

Hendrix, A. R., T. A. Hurford, L. M. Barge, et al. M. T. Bland, J. S. Bowman, W. Brinckerhoff, B. J. Buratti, M. L. Cable, J. Castillo-Rogez, G. C. Collins, S. Diniega, C. R. German, A. G. Hayes, T. Hoehler, S. Hosseini, C. J. Howett, A. S. McEwen, C. D. Neish, M. Neveu, T. A. Nordheim, G. W. Patterson, D. A. Patthoff, C. Phillips, A. Rhoden, B. E. Schmidt, K. N. Singer, J. M. Soderblom, and S. D. Vance. 2019. "The NASA Roadmap to Ocean Worlds." Astrobiology, 19 (1): 1-27 [10.1089/ast.2018.1955]

Neveu, M., L. E. Hays, M. A. Voytek, M. H. New, and M. D. Schulte. 2018. "The Ladder of Life Detection." Astrobiology, 18 (11): 1375-1402 [10.1089/ast.2017.1773]

Castillo-Rogez, J., M. Neveu, H. Y. McSween, et al. R. R. Fu, M. J. Toplis, and T. Prettyman. 2018. "Insights into Ceres's evolution from surface composition." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 53 (9): 1820-1843 [10.1111/maps.13181]

Stelmach, K. B., M. Neveu, T. J. Vick-Majors, et al. R. L. Mickol, L. Chou, K. D. Webster, M. Tilley, F. Zacchei, C. Escudero, C. L. Flores Martinez, A. Labrado, and E. J. Fernández. 2018. "Secondary Electrons as an Energy Source for Life." Astrobiology, 18 (1): 73-85 [10.1089/ast.2016.1510]

Neveu, M., and A. Rhoden. 2017. "The origin and evolution of a differentiated Mimas." Icarus, 296: 183-196 [10.1016/j.icarus.2017.06.011]

Scully, J. E., D. L. Buczkowski, N. Schmedemann, et al. C. A. Raymond, J. C. Castillo-Rogez, S. D. King, M. T. Bland, A. I. Ermakov, D. P. O'Brien, S. Marchi, A. Longobardo, C. T. Russell, R. R. Fu, and M. Neveu. 2017. "Evidence for the Interior Evolution of Ceres from Geologic Analysis of Fractures." Geophysical Research Letters, 44 (19): 9564-9572 [10.1002/2017gl075086]

Neveu, M., S. J. Desch, and J. C. Castillo-Rogez. 2017. "Aqueous geochemistry in icy world interiors: Equilibrium fluid, rock, and gas compositions, and fate of antifreezes and radionuclides." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 212: 324-371 [10.1016/j.gca.2017.06.023]

Desch, S., and M. Neveu. 2017. "Differentiation and cryovolcanism on Charon: A view before and after New Horizons." Icarus, 287: 175-186 [10.1016/j.icarus.2016.11.037]

Neveu, M., and S. J. Desch. 2015. "Geochemistry, thermal evolution, and cryovolcanism on Ceres with a muddy ice mantle." Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (23): 10,197-10,206 [10.1002/2015gl066375]

Neveu, M., A. T. Poret-Peterson, A. D. Anbar, and J. J. Elser. 2015. "Ordinary stoichiometry of extraordinary microorganisms." Geobiology, 14 (1): 33-53 [10.1111/gbi.12153]

Lee, Z. M., L. Steger, J. R. Corman, et al. M. Neveu, A. T. Poret-Peterson, V. Souza, and J. J. Elser. 2015. "Response of a Stoichiometrically Imbalanced Ecosystem to Manipulation of Nutrient Supplies and Ratios." PLOS ONE, 10 (4): e0123949 [10.1371/journal.pone.0123949]

Neveu, M., S. J. Desch, and J. C. Castillo-Rogez. 2015. "Core cracking and hydrothermal circulation can profoundly affect Ceres' geophysical evolution." Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 120 (2): 123-154 [10.1002/2014je004714]

Neveu, M., S. Desch, E. Shock, and C. Glein. 2015. "Prerequisites for explosive cryovolcanism on dwarf planet-class Kuiper belt objects." Icarus, 246: 48-64 [10.1016/j.icarus.2014.03.043]

Rubin, M. E., S. J. Desch, and M. Neveu. 2014. "The effect of Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities on the thickness of undifferentiated crust on Kuiper Belt Objects." Icarus, 236: 122-135 [10.1016/j.icarus.2014.03.047]

Neveu, M., A. T. Poret-Peterson, Z. M. Lee, A. D. Anbar, and J. J. Elser. 2014. "Prokaryotic cells separated from sediments are suitable for elemental composition analysis." Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 12 (7): 519-529 [10.4319/lom.2014.12.519]

Neveu, M., H.-J. Kim, and S. A. Benner. 2013. "The “Strong” RNA World Hypothesis: Fifty Years Old." Astrobiology, 13 (4): 391-403 [10.1089/ast.2012.0868]

Wilson, E. L., M. F. Neveu, H. Riris, E. M. Georgieva, and W. S. Heaps. 2011. "A hollow-waveguide gas correlation radiometer for ultra-precise column measurements of formaldehyde on Mars." Measurement Science and Technology, 22 (8): 085902 [10.1088/0957-0233/22/8/085902]

Talks, Presentations and Posters

Invited