Mia Belle Frothingham

Mia Belle Frothingham is a Colombian-American astrobiologist, science communicator, and research scientist. She is a PhD candidate at The University of Edinburgh School of Physics and Astronomy; her research is focused on spectroscopic signatures on exoplanets.
Along with other science communication efforts, Mia authored Our AstroLegacy: Humankind is of the Universe, published in March 2020.. The book explores philosophical and scientific questions about humanity’s place in the cosmos. She was also featured on the BBC's The Sky at Night on April 2023 in episode titled The Search for Alien Life.
==Early Life==
At 11 years old, Frothingham was featured in the News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida (October 11, 2010). Inspired by notable peace leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela, Frothingham founded MyPeacePlanet.com, a website dedicated to fostering global peace and harmony.
As a 12-year-old honor student at Bonita Springs Charter School, where she was part of the gifted program, Mia emerged as a peace spokesperson. She collaborated with local nonprofits, including The Ladybug Project and the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs. Her work with the Rotary Club earned recognition in their newsletter, The Spoke (November 16, 2011), where she was highlighted as “The Peace Leader.” In her Rotary Club presentation, Mia emphasized that “Peace is a state of mind that can be achieved by the simplest actions when done with the best intentions.”https://bonitaspringsrotary.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/SpokeNov16Int.pdf
Mia was awarded the Four Way Test Award by the Rotary Club in November 2011. 
In January 2011, Mia contributed an article titled “My Peace World” to Parent & Child Magazine. Additionally, she wrote the article “Peace Starts with Us” for Skipping Stones, an award-winning multicultural magazine, in September 2010. Her public speaking engagements included the Planet Peace campaign in 2012, where she motivated students in Colombia and Florida to promote peace within their communities.
In June 2010, Frothingham participated in the People to People Leadership Program in Washington, DC, where she attended a youth leadership workshop featuring Colin Powell as the keynote speaker. 
Mia worked with The Ladybug Project, leading the African Humanitarian Campaign in February 2013. In her speech, “My Heart is with the Children in Africa,” she urged American volunteers to support health and educational programs in Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar. Her humanitarian efforts were further recognized in 2013, when she, an eighth-grader at Saint Ann Catholic School, was featured in Florida Weekly (Naples edition) and received the "Do the Right Thing Award" for her philanthropic work.
Frothingham was honored with the President’s Award for Educational Excellence by President Barack Obama in June 2014 and June 2015.
==Higher Education & Diverse Development==
University of Miami Global Academy, Miami, FL
High School Diploma | 2017 | GPA: 3.9 | Valedictorian
During her tenure at the University of Miami Global Academy, Frothingham completed both Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses and accelerated her studies by finishing her Junior and Senior years within a single academic year. She served as president of the Creative Writing Club, the Book of Wonders Club, and the Community Service Learning Club.
As Valedictorian, she delivered the Commencement Address titled "A Promising Future for Humankind," - she received the Academic Honors Excellence distinction and the Outstanding Student Leadership Award.
As President of the Community Service Learning Club, Frothingham spearheaded an educational outreach initiative to Costa Rica from October to December 2016. The initiative was conducted in collaboration with the volunteering foundation Maximo Nivel, and Frothingham earned certification in English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching.
===Harvard===
While in high school, Mia Frothingham attended Harvard University's summer programs over three consecutive years. 
* Harvard University Secondary Summer School Program, Jun – Aug 2016
** Chemistry & Psychology
* Harvard University Secondary Summer School Program, Jun – Aug 2017
** Astrobiology & Neurobiology
* Harvard University Secondary Summer School Program, Jun – Aug 2018
** Academic Writing & Quantitative Reasoning
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Bachelor of Liberal Arts with focus in Sciences and minors in Biology & Psychology | 2018 – 2022
Mia continued her academic journey at Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a focus in Sciences and minors in Biology and Psychology. She earned the Dean’s List of Academic Achievement Certificate.
======Employment / Volunteer Development While at Harvard:======
* Multimedia Journalist, The Harvard Crimson, Sept 2018 – May 2022
** Mia reported on news and events for The Harvard Crimson, using photography and video equipment.
* Harvard Global Health Institute, Research Assistant, Jan 2019 – May 2019 
** Mia contributed to a global health initiative, assisting with survey writing, data collection, and project communications.
* Student Research Scientist, SETI Institute, Jul 2021 – Aug 2022
** Mia researched extremophiles to understand life in extreme environments.
===The University of Edinburgh===
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Research Master’s in Geophysics & Astrobiology | 2022 – 2023
Mia pursued a Research Master’s in Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. Her dissertation, which received a Distinction, investigated the remote spectroscopic signatures of past and present habitability and life. Mia worked under the guidance of leading experts in the field, including Dr. Sean McMahon, Dr. Charles Cockell, and Dr. Beth Biller.
Mia also fostered a research collaboration between the Carl Sagan Institute (CSI) at Cornell University and the UK Centre for Astrobiology (UKCA). From June 3-8, 2023, Mia, alongside UKCA Co-Director Sean McMahon, traveled to Ithaca, NY, to initiate this partnership, funded by the Global Cornell Joint Research and Education Seed Grant.
The collaboration, that will continue into her PhD, aims to explore a novel hypothesis involving the potential for false biosignatures in exoplanet reflectance spectra. The project leverages the expertise of PI Lisa Kaltenegger from Cornell, who has pioneered hemispherical reflectance measurements to catalogue the colors of organisms for biosignature comparison, and PI McMahon, who has led research on false biosignatures and non-biological processes mimicking evidence of life. 
======Employment / Volunteer Development as a Research Master's Student:======
* Teaching Faculty, The University of Edinburgh, Aug 2022 – Dec 2022
** As a teaching assistant for Dr. Kate Heal’s course on Environmental Sciences and Management, Mia led student activities, graded assignments, and supported classroom learning.
* Research and Communications Assistant, AstroAgency, Mar 2023 – Aug 2023
** Mia worked as a research and communications assistant, providing strategic support in space-focused communications and market intelligence. Her role included market guidance, public relations, digital marketing, and business development in the commercial space sector. 
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
PhD in Astrobiology from the School of Physics and Astronomy | 2024 – 2028
Mia is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Physics and Astronomy, fully funded by the E4 DTP Scholarship. She has returned to work with Dr. Sean McMahon, Dr. Charles Cockell, and Dr. Beth Biller, focusing on anticipating ambiguity in the search for life in exoplanets’ reflectance spectra.
==Career==
===Her Time at NASA===
Frothingham interned at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas (Aug 2017 - Jan 2018). As a STEM Education Intern, she was involved in NASA's astronaut training and educational outreach initiatives. Her responsibilities included designing and implementing STEM curricula related to deep space exploration, robotic rovers, microgravity, and NASA's advanced technologies. Additionally, Frothingham participated in astronaut training exercises.
During her tenure at JSC, Frothingham engaged with NASA engineers, astronauts, and other key personnel. She also played a role in public outreach events, including astronaut meet-and-greets and educational workshops.
Following her time at JSC, Frothingham interned at NASA's Ames Research Center as a Human Systems Integration intern in the Psychophysiology Research Lab. In this role, she contributed to upgrading the database for space motion sickness tests, using programming languages such as C#, SQL, and Python to enhance the interface and analyze physiological data.
Subsequently, Frothingham interned at NASA Headquarters in the Earth Sciences Division, where she worked on the Biological Diversity & Ecological Forecasting program. Her work involved creating connections between NASA’s Astrobiology Program and biodiversity projects, bridging Earth-based ecological studies with the search for extraterrestrial life. She also co-organized a global biodiversity panel that evaluated proposals for conserving South African biodiversity.
===Becoming a Teacher===
In addition to her NASA internships, Frothingham served as a Teaching Assistant for the astrosociology course at Harvard University. In this role, she led high-engagement activities such as intergalactic and planetary simulations, debates, and group projects. Her contributions to the course were recognized with a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching
==Science Communication Outreach==
Attendee and Presenter, 9th Meeting of the Astrobiology Society of Britain | Sep 2023 | Mia attended and presented her first poster at the 9th meeting of the Astrobiology Society of Britain, held at Birkbeck, University of London. During the event, she met with leading researchers in the field, and discussed her work from her Research Masters.
Host, Tartan Tardigrade | Jun 2023 – Present | Mia hosts the Tartan Tardigrade podcast, where she interviews astrobiologists who visit The University of Edinburgh.
Student Advisor, Astrosociology Research Institute (ARI) | May 2019 – Present | Mia supports the ARI editing newsletters and writing articles.
Voice Over Artist & Space Content Script Writer, SpaceTV | Oct 2021 – Present | Mia writes and records scripts for SpaceTV.
Content Writer, Simply Psychology | Aug 2021 – Aug 2022 | Mia was a content writer for SimplyPsychology.com, where she wrote articles on psychology theories and research.
Fellow Earthian on Social Media | Mia started her TikTok account in February 2021, where she creates videos on space facts and existential topics.
==Media Appearances==
* BBC The Sky at Night
** Featured in the episode “The Search for Alien Life” April 2023
* The Interruption Podcast
** Interviewed in the episode “The Father, the Son, and the Flying Saucer” Nov 2022
==Entrepreneurial Exploration==
AIM Social Media Group | Nov 2017 - Feb 2018
In November 2017, Mia Frothingham established AIM Social Media Group, a firm focused on brand development. AIM Social Media Group specialized in creating unique social media programs and strategies tailored to ensure client success. AIM eventually merged with her role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at RevOptimum.
AstroMia Cosmetics | Nov 2019 – Sep 2022
In November 2019, Mia Frothingham established AstroMia Cosmetics, a beauty brand dedicated to producing vegan, long-lasting, and cruelty-free cosmetics.
Category:Astrobiologists
Category:Science communicators
Category:Researchers
Category:American people
Category:Colombian people