Dr. Joel Hurowitz is a Director's Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working in the Planetary Science and Life Detection Section. His research interests deal with:

1. Understanding the origin and evolution of martian soils and sedimentary rocks by exploring the relevant fluid-rock reactions which control the alteration of primary igneous mineral phases and the formation of secondary minerals on Mars.
2. Exploring the causes of mineral surface reactivity in planetary settings in order to understand the enigmatic reactivity of Martian soil samples analyzed by the Viking landers, and the potential toxicity of reactive planetary soils to humans making extended visits to the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.

Joel has also worked extensively on the Mars Exploration Rover mission as a member of the Athena science team.

• B.S. Geology, State University of New York at Albany (1996)
• M.S. Earth and Space Sciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook (2001)
• Ph.D. Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook (2006)
• Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

• Sedimentary geochemistry
• Experimental and theoretical aqueous geochemistry
• Radiogenic isotope and trace element geochemistry
• Planetary geology, planetary exploration
• Mineral surface reactivity and toxicity

• Deputy Project Scientist, Moonrise New Frontiers Mission Proposal Team (2010-Present)
• Principal Investigator, JPL-Keck Institute for Space Studies Strategic Research & Technology Development Program: New Directions in Robotic Exploration of Mars (2009-Present)
• Associate in Geology - Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech (2009-Present)
• Director's Fellow - Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2007-Present)
• Project Science Specialist, Mars Exploration Rover Mission - Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2007-Present)
• Visitor in Geology - Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech (2006-2009)
• Scientific Collaborator - Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2004-2007)
• Research Assistant - Stony Brook University (1999-2006)
• Teaching Assistant - Stony Brook University (1998-1999)
• Hydrogeologist - Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. (1996-1998)

• NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Exploration Rover Second Extended Mission Team (2005)
• NASA Group Achievement Award for the Mars Exploration Rover First Extended Mission Team (2004)
• Stephen E. Dwornik Planetary Geoscience Student Paper Award (honorable mention, poster), 35th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston, TX Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America (2004)
• NASA Sponsored Student, 6th International Mars Conference (2003)
• Stony Brook University, Department of Geosciences Excellence in Teaching Award (1999)

1. Hurowitz, J.A., Wyatt, M.B., Taylor, G.J., McLennan, S.M., Milliken, R.E. (in prep), A global perspective on Martian chemical weathering.
2. Hurowitz, J.A., Fischer, W.W., Tosca, N.J., Milliken, R.E. (2010) Origin of acidic surface waters and the evolution of atmospheric chemistry on early Mars, Nature Geoscience, DOI: 10.1038/NGEO831 PUBLICATIONS (2009).
3. Farrand, W.H., Glotch, T.D., Rice, J.W., Hurowitz, J.A., Swayze, G. (2009) Discovery of jarosite-bearing sediments within the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars: Implications for the geologic history of the region, Icarus, 204, 478-488.
4. Milliken, R.E., Fischer, W.W., Hurowitz, J.A. (2009), Missing salts on early Mars, Geophysical Research Letters, 36, L11202, doi:10.1029/2009GL038558.
5. Hurowitz, J.A., Tosca, N.J., Dyar, M.D. (2009), Acid production by FeSO4.nH2O dissolution and implications for terrestrial and martian aquatic systems, American Mineralogist, 94, 409-414.
6. Schmidt, M.E., Farrand, W.H., Johnson, J.R., Schröder, C., Hurowitz, J.A., McCoy, T.J., Ruff, S.W., Arvidson, R.E., DesMarais, D.J., Lewis, K.W., Ming, S.W., Squyres, S.W., deSouza Jr., P.A. (2009), Spectral, mineralogical, and geochemical variations across Home Plate, Gusev Crater, Mars indicate high and low temperature alteration, Earth & Planetary Science Letters, 281, 258-266.
7. Farrand, W.H., Bell III, J.F., Johnson, J.R., Arvidson, R.E., Crumpler, L., Hurowitz, J.A., Schröder, C. (2008), Rock spectral classes observed by the Spirit rover's Pancam on the Gusev Crater Plains and in the Columbia Hills, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E12S38, doi:10.1029/2008JE003237.
8. Arvidson, R.E., Ruff, S.W., Morris, R.V., Ming, D.W., Crumpler, L.S., Yen A.S., Squyres, S.W., Sullivan, R.J., Bell III, J.F., Cabrol, N.A., Clark, B.C., Farrand, W.H., Gellert, R., Greenberger, R., Grant, J.A., Guinness, E.A., Herkenhoff, K.E., Hurowitz, J.A., Johnson, J.R., Klingelhofer, G., Lewis, K.W., Li, R., McCoy, T.J., Moersch, J., McSween, H.Y., Murchie, S.L., Schmidt, M., Schroder, C., Wang, A., Wiseman, S., Madsen, M.B., Goetz, W., McLennan, S.M. (2008) Spirit Mars rover mission to the Columbia Hills, Gusev Crater: Mission overview and selected results from the Cumberland Ridge to Home Plate, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E12S33, doi:10.1029/2008JE003183, 2008.
9. Yen, A.S., Morris, R.V., Clark, B.C., Gellert, R., Knudson, A.T., Squyres, S.W., Mittlefehldt, D., Ming, D.W., Arvidson, R.E., McCoy, T., Schmidt, M., Hurowitz, J.A., Li, R., Johnson, J.R. (2008), Hydrothermal processes at Gusev Crater: An evaluation of Paso Robles Class soils, Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, E06S10, doi:10.1029/2007JE002978, 2008.
10. Hurowitz, J.A. and McLennan, S.M. (2007) A ~3.5Ga record of water-limited, acidic weathering conditions on Mars, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 260, 432-443.
11. Hurowitz, J.A., McLennan, S.M., Schoonen, M.A.A., Tosca, N.J., (2007), Production of hydrogen peroxide in martian and lunar soils, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 255, 41-52.