Britney Schmidt

Dr. Britney Schmidt is an Associate Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University and a distinguished NASA astrobiologist and planetary scientist. She is known for her extensive research in the fields of planetary science, glaciology, and oceanography. She earned her Ph.D. in Geophysics and Space Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Schmidt and her team develop robotic tools and instruments as well as use spacecraft to study planets. Exploring Earth’s ice shelves and glaciers and the oceans beneath them, Schmidt’s team helps to capture the impacts of changing climate on the Earth, while understanding processes that might be ongoing on Ocean Worlds like Jupiter’s moon Europa. Schmidt is an investigator on several high-profile missions, including the REASON radar instrument on Europa Clipper and the Icefin project, an underwater robot designed to study ice-ocean interactions on Earth and potentially other planetary bodies. Currently, Schmidt leads the Planetary Habitability and Technology Lab at Cornell University. Her research group employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining field studies in Earth's polar regions with advanced remote sensing and numerical modeling to draw parallels between terrestrial and extraterrestrial icy environments. In addition to her scientific achievements, Schmidt is an advocate for STEM education and outreach, working to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. She frequently participates in public lectures, educational programs, and media engagements to share the excitement of space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth. Dr. Britney Schmidt's pioneering research and dedication to understanding the complex interplay between ice, oceans, and potential life make her a leading figure in astrobiology and planetary science.