The RARE Center is pleased to congratulate graduating senior, Clare Heinold, on receiving the Peter A. Fox Award for Excellence in Astrobiology. The award was presented by RARE Center Director, Dr. Karyn Rogers, and Professor and Associate Dean of the Mechanical, Aeronautical, Nuclear Engineering (MANE), Dr. Kurt Anderson, during commencement celebrations.
Clare graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering and has been an important contributor to the development of RARE's Early Earth Laboratory (EEL).
Through her technical expertise, initiative, and attention to detail, Clare helped transform the Early Earth Laboratory from a developing research space into a functional laboratory environment supporting research, education, and collaboration. Her contributions included organizing laboratory infrastructure, developing and fabricating custom components through CAD design and 3D printing, assembling experimental systems, and creating the organizational framework necessary for efficient laboratory operations.
The impact of her work extends well beyond individual projects. By helping establish laboratory workflows, equipment organization, and research support systems, Clare played a key role in preparing the Early Earth Laboratory to serve students, researchers, and collaborators across the university and beyond.
The RARE Center is grateful for Clare's contributions and proud to recognize her achievements with this award. We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor and wish her continued success in the next stage of her career.