Kayla Smith

Kayla Smith is a doctoral student in Planetary Sciences. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she attended Central State University where she earned a BS in Environmental Engineering. Following her time at Central State University, she was a research assistant at Caltech where she photochemically modeled Mars and Venus's atmospheres. Kayla’s research explores the intersection of planetary atmospheres of solar system planets and exoplanets with astrobiology and how this intersection has the potential for detecting biosignatures beyond Earth. She is also fascinated with projects that merge the sciences and humanities. Outside of science, Kayla enjoys reading and volunteering in the community. Her main goals are to become a researcher, mentor, teacher, and advocate for students of color in STEM environments.