Nicolle Zellner received her PhD in Multidisciplinary Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2001 where she specialized in the studies of the origins of life. Her work with lunar samples allows her to characterize the geochemistry of the lunar surface and subsurface at four Apollo landing sites, and to describe the bombardment history of the Earth-Moon System soon after its formation. The conditions that existed then have important consequences for the origin and sustainability of life on Earth. Currently, Nicolle is a Professor at Albion College. She received the Carl Sagan Medal for Excellence in Public Communication in 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys tap and jazz dancing and traveling.