Monica Vidaurri

Monica Vidaurri (she/her) is a planetary science PhD student at Stanford University. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Monica has degrees in biology and government and international politics with a concentration in law, philosophy, and governance. Monica’s current research focus is astrobiology, and specifically, processes that may impede the rise of life and the detection of life signatures elsewhere in the universe, in order to better understand how life may persist despite such conditions. This includes research in impact events, atmospheric chemistry and the habitable zone, how stellar activity influences planets, and surface-atmosphere interactions. In the past, Monica has also done observational astronomy, as well as telescope instrumentation management. Monica also has extensive work history in the federal government and non-profit sector, with experience in international politics and law, ethics, biodefense, and workforce and space policy. Monica’s experiences in both science and policy meet at the intersection of ensuring proactive and ethical standards of space science and exploration. Monica is also a musician, and teaches high school marching band and drum corps ensembles.