Melissa Kontogiannis was awarded the UArizona Richard A. Harvill Graduate Fellowship. Melissa graduated from UArizona in May 2023 with a major in chemistry and minors in planetary sciences and environmental studies. As an undergraduate, Melissa was an Arizona NASA Space Grant undergraduate research intern; she analyzed thin sections of a CM chondritic meteorite first to assist in the development of a database for cataloging and co-registering data collected from samples returned by OSIRIS-REx and additionally to understand hydrothermal processes and sequences that result in the alteration of primitive solar system bodies, including asteroid Bennu.

Melissa had the opportunity to use 3D imaging processing software as well as cutting-edge technology such as a digital microscope and SEM and an electron microprobe, FIB, and TEM. During her graduate career at LPL, Melissa will use the techniques and insight gained as an undergraduate as she pursues new research with Regents Professor Dante Lauretta on OSIRIS-REx sample science research.