Aaron Celestian

Aaron Celestian is a seasoned expert in mineral sciences, currently serving as the Curator of Mineral Sciences at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County since January 2016. In addition to this role, Celestian has been an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California since August 2016 and served as a Science and Research Affiliate at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory from January 2018 to March 2024, focusing on astrobiology and mineral science in planetary systems. Previous positions include Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University and Director of the Advanced Materials Institute, where leadership involved overseeing a team dedicated to chemical and atomic structure analysis for diverse industrial applications. Celestian's academic journey includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mineralogy, Crystallography, and Geology from Stony Brook University, along with a B.S. in Geology and Mineralogy from the University of Arizona.