Rachel L. Harris, Ph.D.

Welcome!

​

I am Rachel L. Harris, Ph.D., a NASA Postdoctoral Management Program Fellow specializing in astrobiology at NASA Headquarters and a research associate in the Girguis Lab at Harvard University. My research explores the biogeochemistry and ecophysiology of microbial life in extreme environments, particularly as a proxy for investigating the astrobiological potential of other worlds.  I'm particularly fascinated by the biosignature potential of microbial methane cycling. 

 

At NASA, I am coordinating the development of the NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (NASA-DARES), which aims to expand and guide astrobiology research across NASA's Science Mission Directorate and beyond. I am also actively involved in the Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group, focusing on strategic communications and engaging the scientific community to advance NASA's mission.

​​​

More broadly, my work is motivated by a singular, profound question: Are we alone in the Universe?​