Dimitra Atri

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Dimitra Atri is the Group Leader of the Mars Research Group at New York University Abu Dhabi's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science. He serves as the Principal Investigator of the ASPIRE Award for Research Excellence grant, conducting research with the UAE’s Hope mission to Mars. Leveraging data from various space missions, his group investigates the mechanisms behind Mars' atmospheric and water loss and explores the potential for extinct or extant life on the planet.

Atri is a member of the upcoming mission by the UAE Space Agency, dedicated to exploring seven main belt asteroids — the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid belt (EMA). Atri is actively engaged in human space exploration, focusing on the impact of outer space radiation on astronauts during long-term missions. Particularly interested in future crewed missions to Mars, he is developing strategies for sustainable exploration of the Moon and Mars, emphasizing In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) capabilities.

Before joining New York University Abu Dhabi, Atri served as a Research Scientist at the Blue Marble Space Institute in Seattle and as a Lecturer at the University of Kansas where he also earned his PhD. He also held visiting positions at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai (India). He regularly serves on committees for NASA, NSF, and the European Commission.