Meet the 2026 KISS Affiliates
Kimberly Paragas
Grad student in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Hometown: Valencia, CA
Date of this Interview: December 20, 2025
What do you research?
My research focuses on characterizing the atmospheres and surfaces of rocky exoplanets. I have made high temperature lab measurements of rocks to better understand the thermal emission spectra of exoplanet surfaces. I implemented these measurements into an open-source code so that the community can simultaneously simulate the atmospheres and surfaces of any rocky exoplanet to compare to state-of-the-art observations. Currently, I am the PI of a James Webb Space Telescope program aimed at characterizing the composition and texture of the surface of the airless rocky exoplanet, LHS 3844 b.
Why does space inspire you?
Space offers an opportunity to learn so much about how our own Solar System formed, and where it fits in the context of the many other systems out there. It also consists of so many unique and intriguing scientific prospects for us to probe!
If you could instantly travel to any point in the universe, where would you choose to go?
Honestly, I'm happy to stay here on Earth so I can hangout with my dog, Kiwi, and cat, Reggie.
Where can you be found when you’re not conducting research?
When not conducting research, I'm out on a walk with my dog, reading a book or watching a show on my couch, or seeing some theater production.
What book do you wish you could read for the first time again?
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow