Dr. Valerie Payré is a planetary geologist, and her primary research interest is understanding the evolution of planetary bodies, with an emphasis on Mars, to better constrain the geological history of our own planet. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor and Faculty Member of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Iowa. Her work crosses several disciplines including igneous petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy, and sedimentology to assess the planetary surface and interior evolution and constrain magmatic processes on Mars and other planets. She uses various methods including measurements from the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers (ChemCam, SuperCam, APXS, PIXL, and CheMin) and orbital data (CRISM visible/near-infrared spectroscopy and TES and THEMIS thermal infrared spectroscopy), modelling, experimental petrology, and laboratory measurements. Her research areas include petrology, geochemistry, etc.