I am an astrophysicist who uses infrared spectroscopy to determine the chemical and physical properties of microscopic dust grains in distant galaxies, newly-forming stars, evolved stars, the interstellar medium and our Solar System. Grains like these are thought to be the source of many of the atoms of which our everyday environment and life on Earth is made. I collaborate with Earth scientists and meteoriticists to produce data and interpretations of interest to several disciplines.