Sandra Siljeström

Sandra Siljeström in the lab in front of the ToF-SIMS, an spectrometer for surface analysis using a pulsed ion beam.

Sandra Siljeström works for Sweden’s research institute RISE and has more than a decade of expertise in organic geochemistry. She is one of five European members of NASA’s Mars 2020 science team.

The role of the science team is to provide the best information and context about the samples. One added competence of the European members is in the field of organic geochemistry – the study of molecules that have carbon atoms in rocks.

The mission will help understand the geology of the landing site and identify which resources could be useful for human exploration.