Nathalie joined the SETI Institute (SI) in 1998 as a Senior Astrobiologist. She was named Director of the Carl Sagan Center at the SI in August 2015. In addition to leading the scientific vision at the SI, she leads projects in astrobiology, develops science exploration strategies for Mars, Titan, and the Outer Solar System icy moons, and designs robotic field experiments. She explores high-altitude lakes in the Andes, where environmental conditions are analogous to early Mars. With her team, she documents life's adaptation to extreme environments, the effects of rapid climate change on lake ecosystems and habitats, their geobiological signatures, and their relevance to planetary exploration. Nathalie holds the women's world record for free and scuba diving at altitude (Licancabur Summit Lake, 5,940 m).

Planetary Missions, Astrobiology Science & Technology

Nathalie was the spokesperson for the selection of the Gusev crater as the landing site for the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit rover and was a member of the MER science team from 2002 to 2019. She is leading Astrobiology Science and Technology projects, including the NASA Nomad rover field experiment (1997), and other NASA ASTEP-funded science and technology projects, including Life in the Atacama (2003-2006) and Subsurface Life in the Atacama (2011-2015), NASA ASTEP Planetary Lake Lander project (2011-2015) that explored the impact of ice loss on planetary lakes using technology developed for the exploration of Titan, NASA NAI Changing Planetary Environment and the Fingerprints of Life (2015-2022). Her current work focuses on reframing the search for life in the universe and developing new methods, tools, and exploration strategies for biosignature detection.

Main Achievements

1. Director of Research (Chief Scientist), Carl Sagan Center for Research since 2015.
2. First woman in France to receive a PhD in planetary geology (1991), Sorbonne University, France.
3. As of 2025, 600+ peer-reviewed scientific publications and proceedings of conference, 9,105 citations; 47 h-index.
4. Author of 7 books, another one in press (2026 to be published in 2026 and one in preparation for 2027). The Secret Life of the Universe (2024, Simon and Schuster) ranked Top 10 Science/Tech books of 2024 by Donna Seaman. Co-Editor of two books, and many chapters of books.
5. New species discovered in the Licancabur lake named after Cabrol.
6. Develop the field of study of impact crater lakes on Mars starting 1994.
7. Spokesperson for the selection of Gusev crater as the landing site for the rover Spirit in the Mars Exploration Rover. Gusev was her primary landing site candidate, and Gale crater was her backup site for the MER mission. Gale is today’s Curiosity rover landing site.
8. Member of the Mars Exploration Rover science team (2002-2019) – Primary activity with the rover spirit until 2010.
9. As of 2025, leader of 12 scientific expeditions in extreme environments at high altitude in the Andes (between 4,300 m – 6,000 m), including diving.
10. Woman world record holder for free diving and rebreather diving at high altitude (Licancabur lake, Andes, 5,940 m).
11. Guiness World Record for recording the highest UV level ever measured at the surface of the Earth at Licancabur.
12. Project Scientist (Science Lead):
    • NASA. Nomad rover field experiment (1997). First rover experiment in the Atacama desert with autonomous navigation.
    • NASA. First Astronaut-Rover field experiment (ASRO) in Silver Lake (1999).
    • NASA ASTEP. Life in the Atacama: Searching for life with rovers (2003-2006): Autonomous navigation and remote science.
    • SETI NAI team (2003-2008). Impact of UV on life in some of the highest lakes on Earth.
    • NASA ASTEP. Subsurface life in the Atacama desert. First autonomous drill, autonomous navigation, mapping, remote biosignature detection and exploration strategies (2011-2015).
13. Project Lead (Principal Investigator):
• NASA MDAP. Systematic sedimentology of rocks and soils at Gusev crater (2007- 2010).
• NASA PGG. Formation and evolution of spherules and possible planetary analogy (2007-2010).
• NASA ASTEP. Planetary Lake Lander. Simulation of a mission to Titan. Autonomous remote science; development of detection algorithms; and exploration strategies (2011-2015).
• SETI NAI team. Changing planetary environments and the fingerprints of life (2015- 2022). Biosignature detection and exploration strategies.
14. Mentor for postdoctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduates.
15. SETI Institute Fellow (2023).
16. California Academy of Science Fellow (2016).
17. World WingQuest Fellow (2007) and Women of Discovery: Air and Space: (2005).
18. NASA Research Council (NRC) Fellow (1996-1998), at NASA Ames.
19. Large international media coverage (magazines, radio, TV, podcasts), including portraits in the Wall Street’s journal, New York Times, WIRED Magazine, Scientific America Le Point, Le Monde, and more.
20. Listed by WIRED magazine as one of the 60 world’s smartest thinkers (2025).
21. International public speaker.
22. Recipient of 11 NASA Group and Individual Achievement Awards, since 1999 for NASA-funded projects and MER mission.
23. Carl Sagan Lecture Award (2016).
24. Gold Medal, International Water and Science Award, UNESCO/European Parliament (2000). 25. Free spirit.

• TED Conference 2015, invited speaker, Vancouver (2015);
• Keynote Speaker (2013) – First Astrobiology Conference, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago (Chile) October 8-12, 2013: Lecture title: Pathways to Planetary Exploration;
• Keynote Speaker, (2013) – Conferencia International, Santiago (Chile), April 2013: Lecture title: From the Andes to Kepler – A Decade of Revolution in the Search for Life Beyond Earth;
• Session Chair, AGU Fall session (2012): Rapid Environmental Change and the Fate of Planetary Habitability (I, II, III); Invited speaker, AGU Fall session (2010);
• Invited speaker, 32^nd, Microbiology Symposium, Antofagasta, Chile (2010);
• Session Chair and Invited speaker, SPIE Conference (2010): Instruments, Methods, and Mission for Astrobiology Session;
• Invited speaker, SPIE Conference, San Diego (2007);
• Science Organizing Committee, 41^st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference;
• Science Panel, NASA Summer University, NASA Ames (2009);
• Invited speaker, NASA Ames Director’s Colloquium Series (2007);
• Invited speaker, NASA Risk and Exploration Symposium, Monterey, CA (2005).
• Invited speaker (Colloquium Series), NASA Goddard Flight Center (2005).

• TED Talk 2015: How Mars might hold the secret to the origin of life
• The High Lakes Project
• Zoë Robot Returns To Chile's Atacama Desert [ June 13 2013 ]
• Big Picture Science radio show interview: "A Stellar Job"
• Scientist Interview - Nathalie Cabrol

See CV.

Planetary geology, physical environment and climate, and evolution of planetary habitability. Exploration of extreme environments (e.g., high altitude volcanoes and mountains, lakes, deserts. Deployment of environmental and geophysical stations. Geology, geomorphology, mapping, robotic field experiments.