Darian Dixon
Darian Dixon is a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was previously a Curiosity MMM and Mastcam-Z operator at Malin Space Science Systems where he served as Mastcam-Z Data Management Lead. Darian received his M.S. in Geology from Western Washington University in 2018 as a student of co-investigator Dr. Melissa Rice and his B.S. in Geosciences from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2015. His research interests are orbital hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy, saline alkaline lake mineralogy, and Hesperian Mars surface evolution.
Darian now assists with Mastcam-Z education and public outreach. Darian is incredibly passionate about promoting diversity and equity in STEM. He is an active speaker, educator, and mentor working to inspire young minds to explore interests in science, no matter their background or identity. He is laying the foundations for his own non-profit dedicated to bringing hands-on planetary science classroom experiences to Milwaukee-area public schools and mentorship opportunities to students of color interested in the space industry as a career path.