Planetary Science Institute’s Samuel Courville recently earned the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior (SEDI) Section Graduate Research Award. Courville completed his doctoral degree in 2025 at Arizona State University, where he is currently a postdoctoral researcher on NASA’s Psyche Mission. Concurrently, he has been a PSI research associate since 2019 and is being promoted to associate research scientist.
“I am honored to receive this award,” Courville said. “I could not have accomplished it without the support of my mentors and collaborators. It makes me feel confident that I am addressing big picture questions that are valuable to the scientific community, and I am excited to pursue my future research as part of PSI.”
The award is presented annually to graduate students for notable contributions, including advances in the understanding of the deep interior of the Earth or other planetary bodies using a broad range of observational, experimental or theoretical approaches, according to the commendation.
While completing his graduate degree and working part time at PSI, Courville supported the Subsurface Water Ice Mapping (SWIM) on Mars team and aided PSI Senior Scientist Deborah Domingue in her studies of the origins of lunar swirls.
“Now that I’ve graduated, I can submit my own research proposals, directing my own future research,” he said.
Courville investigates the habitability of environments in the outer Solar System. His research has shown how the interiors of dwarf planets, like Ceres, may have been habitable in the distant past when they had warmer and wetter interiors. He also designs planetary geophysical instrumentation that may one day reveal the interiors of these bodies.
“I want my theoretical research to guide the future exploration of the Solar System by providing hypotheses that can be tested by future space missions. I strive for a balance of theoretical modeling, instrument concept development and field analog studies,” Courville said. “My motivation for studying planetary science is to see things that no one has seen before, to help unveil the truths about life and the universe that may only be learned by exploring other worlds.”
“Sam had done an outstanding job as a Mars SWIM team member, developing an innovative, probabilistic approach to translating our ice mapping results into quantitative estimates that will help guide plans for future human exploration,” said PSI Associate Director and Senior Scientist Nathaniel Putzig. “The fact that he managed to achieve such excellent results in tandem with all of his other achievements on several other research topics is a testament to his exceptional abilities and highlights how well deserving he is of this award.”
Courville, and the two other award recipients, will receive an award certificate, recognition in the journal Eos, recognition at the 2026 AGU Fall Meeting, an invitation to the SEDI section event at the AGU Fall Meeting and $500.
“My advice for other graduate students,” Courville said: “Don’t be afraid to aggressively pursue the research topics that you believe are the most important.”