M. Darby Dyar

M. Darby Dyar is a Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Mount Holyoke College, where she holds the rank of High Senior Professor. Her research integrates planetary sciences, spectroscopy, and geochemistry, with a focus on characterizing planetary materials through vibrational electron energy loss spectroscopy (vibEELS) and mid-infrared to ultraviolet techniques. Recent work includes investigating lunar regolith constituents, identifying phosphates on Mars, and studying iron reduction by Antarctic *Shewanella* as an analog for Martian biosignature detection. She has contributed to the Venus Emissivity Mapper (VEM) instrument for the VERITAS and EnVision missions and led experiments on geologic samples under Venus surface conditions. Her awards include a 2009 NSF grant on using animations in mineralogy education.