About
Dr. Melissa S. Rice is Professor of Planetary Science at Western Washington University, where she has held joint appointments in the Physics & Astronomy and Geology departments since 2014. Her research focuses on understanding the history of water on the surface of Mars and the planet's ancient habitability, using laboratory reflectance spectroscopy, spacecraft remote sensing, and Mars rover data. She has worked with NASA's Mars rover missions for over two decades, first as a collaborator on the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, then as a Participating Scientist on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover, and currently as a Mastcam-Z Co-Investigator and Long-Term Planner on the Mars-2020 Perseverance rover. She is also a science team collaborator on ESA's ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. At WWU, Rice directs the TANAGER Lab, a reflectance spectroscopy facility with a custom-built, fully automated spectrogoniometer. She is a recipient of the 2025 Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring and the 2022 Paul J. Olscamp Research Award.
Education
Ph.D., Astronomy - Cornell University (2012) (with minors in Geology and Science Communication)
M.S., Astronomy - Cornell University (2009)
B.A., Astrophysics - Wellesley College (2005)
Areas of Expertise
Planetary geology; remote sensing; mineral reflectance spectroscopy; robotic space exploration
Courses Taught
- GEOL 103: Life, the Universe, and Everything
- GEOL 211: Physical Geology with Lab
- GEOL 397H: The Planet Mars
- GEOL 415: Sedimentology & Stratigraphy
- GEOL 445/545: Planetary Geology
- GEOL 465/565: Remote Sensing of Earth and Planetary Surfaces
- GEOL 497K/597K: Science Communication (cross-listed with PHYS 497)
- ASTR 113: Sun, Moon, and Planets
- ASTR 315: The Solar System
- ASTR 497: Classic Papers in Planetary Science
- PHYS 419: Professional Writing for Physicists
- HNRS 101: The Big Picture
- HNRS 356: Life as a Planetary Phenomenon
- Academy of Lifelong Learning: The Exploration of Mars
Recent Publications
(* = WWU students and research staff)
Barnes, R., and 27 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2026), Intrusion-induced forced folding model for the origin of Séítah formation domes on the Jezero crater floor, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2025JE009463, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009463
Johnson, J.R. and 29 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2026), Extensive Lithological Diversity of Float Rocks at the Mount Washburn Mound in Neretva Vallis, Jezero Crater, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2025JE009439. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009439
Ravanis, E. and 31 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2026), Formation and alteration of olivine-carbonate rocks within Jezero crater as constrained by in situ visible/near-infrared multispectral images, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2025JE009151. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009151
Jones, A.J. and 31 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2026), A Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment Preserved in the Jezero Crater Inlet Channel, Neretva Vallis, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2025JE009420. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009420
Vaughan, A.F., Rice, M.S., Klidaras, A., Johnson, J.R., Gwizd, S., Horgan, B., Kah, L.C., Cianciolo, O., and Bell, J. (2025), The Boulder Rich Blocky Unit of the Western Jezero Upper Fan: Discriminating Olivine and Pyroxene Compositions and Constraining Provenance, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 130, no: 10, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE00915910.22541
Hurowitz, J.A. and 88 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2025), Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars, Nature, vol: 645, no: 8080, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09413-0
Garczynski, B.J.* and 39 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2025), Rock coatings as evidence for late surface alteration on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 130, e2025JE009242. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009242
Kathir, B.S.*, Rice, M.S. and 20 coauthors (2025), Multispectral Observations of Float Rocks Used to Investigate the Origin of Boulders on the Western Jezero Fan Front, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 130, no: 6, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JE008702
Rice, M.S.*, Lapo, K.*, Hoza, K.*, Cloutis, E., Kraft, M., Mulcahy, S., and Theuer, S.* (2024), TANAGER: Design and Validation of an Automated Spectrogoniometer for Bidirectional Reflectance Studies of Natural Rock Surfaces, Earth and Space Science, vol: 11, no: 10, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA00368610.22541
Mandon, L. and 21 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2024), Variable Iron Mineralogy and Redox Conditions Recorded in Ancient Rocks Measured by In Situ Visible/Near-Infrared Spectroscopy at Jezero Crater, Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 129, no: 7, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008254
Eng, A.M.*, Rice, M.S. and 15 coauthors (2024), A Mastcam Multispectral Investigation of Rock Variability in Gale Crater, Mars: Implications for Alteration in the Clay-Sulfate Transition of Mount Sharp, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 129, no: 2, https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JE008033
Henneke, J. and 14 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2023), A Radiometric Correction Method and Performance Characteristics for PIXL's Multispectral Analysis Using LEDs, Space Science Reviews, vol: 219, no: 8, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-023-01014-5
Rice, M.S. and 19 coauthors, including Curtis, S.*, Duflot, L.*, Lapo, K.* and Evans, A.A.* (2023), Spectral Variability of Rocks and Soils on the Jezero Crater Floor: A Summary of Multispectral Observations From Perseverance's Mastcam-Z Instrument, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 128, no: 10, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007548
Treiman, A.H. and 50 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. and Hart, R.* (2023), Manganese-Iron Phosphate Nodules at the Groken Site, Gale Crater, Mars, Minerals, vol: 13, no: 9, https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091122
Horgan, B. and 44 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2023), Mineralogy, Morphology, and Emplacement History of the Maaz Formation on the Jezero Crater Floor From Orbital and Rover Observations, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 128, no: 8, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007612
Simon, J.I. and 67 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2023), Samples Collected From the Floor of Jezero Crater With the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 128, no: 6, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007474
Hughes, C.M.*, Rice, M.S., Barnhart, C.J., Swanson, T.E., and Goudge, T.A. (2023), Sources of Clay-Rich Sediment in Eberswalde Crater, Mars With Implications for Biopreservation Potential, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 128, no: 4, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007545
Vaughan, A. and 25 coauthors, including Rice, M.S. (2023), Regolith of the Crater Floor Units, Jezero Crater, Mars: Textures, Composition, and Implications for Provenance, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), vol: 128, no: 3, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JE007437
Selected Awards & Honors
2025 Arlan Norman Award for Excellence in Student Mentoring
2022 Paul J. Olscamp Research Award
2018 SPARK Award for Outstanding Contribution to Science Education