About Me
I am a graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa studying planetary science. My research explores the surfaces of airless bodies using remote sensing and experimental spectroscopy together with morphological analysis to understand how planetary surfaces evolve over time.
Much of my work focuses on Europa and the Moon. On Europa, I study orbital spectral data and map morphologic surface units to investigate how surface materials and formations may reflect processes such as radiation chemistry or possible exchange with the subsurface ocean. My work on the Moon focuses on the formation of oxides and space weathering, using laboratory spectroscopy to understand how different parameters alter planetary materials.
My background is in geology, which first sparked my curiosity on how planetary surfaces record unique and exciting histories. I grew up in Florida, and now live in Oahu with my family, including my sister who is also a Ph.D. student at UH Mānoa, and our beloved dog Harry Blueberry.
Outside of research, I enjoy crafting, thrifting, and exploring Hawaiʻi’s natural landscapes. I am also known to tap dance a little at my community theatre!
Morphological & Spectral Analysis of Europa's Surface
Research
To investigate the geologic history of icy ocean worlds, I analyze the surface composition of Europa using spacecraft imaging and spectroscopy. My research focuses on understanding how different surface units, including chaos terrains, plates, matrix material, and plains, record Europa’s geologic activity and potential interactions with its subsurface ocean. By examining variations in reflectance spectra and surface morphology, I work to identify compositional differences that may indicate the presence of salts, radiation products, or materials derived from the ocean below.
This work combines spectral observations with geologic mapping to interpret how Europa’s surface materials formed and evolved. By comparing the spectral properties of different terrain units, I investigate how radiation processing, surface disruption, and possible ocean-surface exchange could be influencing the composition of the ice shell. These observations help constrain the chemical environment at Europa’s surface and contribute to broader efforts to understand the moon’s geologic activity and its potential to support habitable conditions.
Lunar Hematite Formation Experiments
My research also investigates the formation of hematite on the Moon, a mineral that requires oxidizing conditions despite the lunar surface environment being largely reducing. Remote sensing observations have detected hematite at the lunar poles, raising important questions about how oxidation can occur on an airless body exposed to the solar wind. This work explores the processes that may allow oxidized iron minerals to form and persist on the Moon’s surface.
Laboratory radiation experiments are used to simulate key processes that affect the lunar surface, including oxygen ion delivery from Earth’s magnetotail and heating from micrometeorite impacts. In these experiments, basalt samples with chemical properties similar to lunar materials are exposed to controlled irradiation conditions that reproduce aspects of the lunar space environment, such as O₂⁺ flux to replicate “Earth wind” and CO₂ laser to replicate micrometeorite impacts.
My work focuses on analyzing the resulting samples using visible to near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectroscopy to identify diagnostic hematite absorption features. I also examine the samples with electron microscopy to investigate changes in mineralogy and microstructure. Together, these observations help evaluate how oxidized iron phases can develop in lunar materials and provide insight into the mechanisms responsible for the hematite detected on the Moon today.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D. in Planetary Sciences (Expected July 2029)
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
GPA: 4.0
B.S. in Geology (May 2024)
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
GPA: 3.9
Certificate: Geospatial Information Analysis
A.A. in Geology (December 2021)
Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL
GPA: 4.0
Research Experience
Researcher | Li Lab | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa | August 2024 – Present
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Investigating the effects of radiation and Earth’s magnetotail on lunar surface hematite formation through spectroscopy and TEM/SEM analysis of laboratory irradiation experiments. Also examining Europa’s surface for spectral variations across chaos terrains and their implications for ocean–ice shell exchange. Research conducted under Dr. Shuai Li.
Researcher | Florida Planets Lab | University of Florida | June 2023 – May 2024
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Conducted remote sensing research on Europa’s surface with applications to analog morphology and geochemistry under Dr. Stephen Elardo.
Researcher | SILA Hydrogeochemistry Lab | University of Florida | January 2023 – August 2023
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Measured organic molecules in natural waters using spectrophotometric methods including UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy under Dr. Jonathan Martin.
Publications
Leon, S., Li, S., Bergantini, A., Dobrică, E., Mcanally, M., Turner, A., Kaiser, R.
Experimental Constraints on Lunar Hematite Formation Mechanisms
(In preparation, 2026)
Meier, M., Marshall, A., Elardo, S., Thatcher, S., Piatek, J., Williams, A., Arroyo, Y., Leon, S., Cabalceta, M., Gallant, E., Collins, T., Williams, D.
Increasing Accessibility in the Geosciences Through Virtualizing Field Courses
(Under review, 2026)
Conference Presentations
Leon, S., Hayes, T. W., Li, S., Fagents, S.
Spectral Investigation of Chaos Morphological Features on Europa and Implications for Ocean–Ice Shell Exchange
Oral Presentation, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC)
March 19, 2026 | The Woodlands, TX
Li, S., Hayes, T. W., Leon, S.
VNIR–MIR Reflectance Spectroscopy of CO₂ Ice Mixtures for Constraining CO₂ Content on Rocky and Icy Bodies
Poster Presentation, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
March 19, 2026 | The Woodlands, TX
Leon, S., Bergantini, A., Li, S., Dobrică, E., Mcanally, M., Turner, A., Kaiser, R.
Exploring the Formation Mechanisms of Lunar Hematite Through Radiation Experiments
Oral Presentation, Lunar Polar Volatiles Conference
November 12, 2025 | Honolulu, HI
Leon, S., Bergantini, A., Li, S., Dobrică, E., Kaiser, R., Mcanally, M., Turner, A.
Examination of Lunar Hematite Formation Mechanisms Through Laboratory Radiation Experiments
Poster Presentation, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
March 11, 2025 | The Woodlands, TX
Leon, S., Meier, M., Elardo, S., Thatcher, S., Marshall, A.
Morphological Mapping of Europa Chaos Terrains and the Potential of Terrestrial Sea-Ice Analogs
Poster Presentation, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
March 12, 2024 | The Woodlands, TX
Meier, M., Thatcher, S., Piatek, J., Marshall, A., Arroyo, Y., Leon, S., Williams, A., Collins, T., Gallant, E., Elardo, S., Williams, D.
Improving Inclusivity and Accessibility in Planetary Science in Remote Field Courses
Poster Presentation, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
March 14, 2024 | The Woodlands, TX
Outreach and Service
Event Coordination Volunteer | University of Hawaiʻi Celebration at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference | March 2026
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Assisted with planning and coordinating the reception, including venue logistics, communication, setup, and on-site support.
Conference Volunteer & Virtual Moderator | Lunar Polar Volatiles Conference | Honolulu, HI | November 2024
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Supported conference operations including hybrid session coordination, Zoom moderation, Q&A facilitation, and technical troubleshooting.
Vice President and Co-Founder | UF Amigurumi and Crafts Club | January 2024 – May 2024
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Co-led planning of activities, organize meetings, oversee communications, and foster community engagement.
Mentor | CLAS Mentor-Mentee Program | September 2023 – May 2024
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Supported undergraduate students through mentoring, academic guidance, and resource navigation.
GeoClub Outreach Coordinator | University of Florida| May 2023 – Present
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Organized meetings and outreach events, coordinated workshops for students, and supported department activities.
Volunteer — Can You Dig It? | April 2022, April 2024
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Engaged with children through interactive demonstrations about climate change and Earth science.
Awards and Honors
Dean’s List, University of Florida (2024)
Dean’s List, University of Florida (2023)
Graduation with Highest Distinction, Santa Fe College (2021)
Professional Memberships
Planetary Geology Division Member, Geological Society of America
Student Member, American Institute of Professional Geologists
Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society
Tau Sigma National Honor Society
Computational Skills
ArcGIS Pro
Python
MATLAB
JavaScript
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Office Suite
JMARS
Canva
Technical Skills
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Visible to Near-Infrared (VNIR) Spectroscopy
Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy
Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy
Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Aqueous Sample Preparation
Cryogenic Ice Sample Preparation