2026 Mensch Awards in Astrobiology

The Mensch Prize in Astrobiology, hosted by the Arizona Astrobiology Center at the University of Arizona, is a scholarship recognizing undergraduate and graduate students whose research or creative projects advance our understanding of life in the universe. Two $1,000 prizes are awarded annually, one at each level, to students who demonstrate creativity, interdisciplinary thinking, and academic excellence across the broad landscape of astrobiology.  Nominations are evaluated on the originality and academic merit of the work, its relevance to astrobiology, and its potential to push the boundaries of how we think about life in the cosmos. We extend our deepest gratitude to Bill and Dianne Mensch, whose generous endowment makes this prize possible each year.

Image

Nandini Manepalli (Undergraduate Prize) was nominated for her research on how the evolutionary age of protein domains relates to transition metal usage, work that directly addresses key questions in astrobiology and the origin of life. She has been involved in high impact manuscripts and secured competitive international research funding. Her creativity and productivity mark her as an exceptional emerging astrobiologist.

Image

Kayla Smith (Graduate Prize) is a PhD student in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and was nominated for her research on the temporal evolution of brown dwarf habitable zones. Alongside this technical work, she has co-authored a philosophical paper on epistemic pluralism and astrobiology and holds an AABC seed grant to develop astrobiology curriculum for incarcerated youth. Her breadth of contribution across science, philosophy, and outreach exemplifies the spirit of the Mensch Prize.