Sarah Cruz


Planetary Protection Engineer

Sarah.n.cruz@jpl.nasa.gov


Biography

Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics from Mount St. Mary’s University - Chalon in 2015. She is a former Caltech SURF Intern for the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, and was hired in 2018 as a Planetary Protection Engineer for the Mars 2020 Mission. She is currently involved in the Planetary Protection implementation team for both the Insight and Mars 2020 Missions.


Research Interests

  • Planetary Protection

  • Astrobiology

  • Spacecraft associated microbial populations

  • Biochemistry


Professional Experience

2017 – Present, Planetary Protection Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2015, Summer Research Fellow, Caltech WAVE program


Education

2015, B.S. Biochemistry with a minor in Mathematics, Mount Saint Mary’s University - Chalon


CL#: 17-1953, 18-1585

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