Kuljeet Kaur Marhas was elected as a Fellow of The Meteoritical Society for 2026 on 9 May 2026. With this achievement, she became the first Indian woman to receive this respected international honour in the field of meteoritics and planetary science. She is connected with the Planetary Science Division of the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad.

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Her selection is a proud moment for India’s scientific community and highlights the growing role of Indian researchers in global space science.

The Meteoritical Society and Its Importance

The Meteoritical Society is an international scientific organisation that studies meteorites, planetary materials, and the Solar System. Scientists who make important contributions in these fields are selected as Fellows of the society.

In the 93-year history of the organisation, Kuljeet Kaur Marhas became only the third Indian scientist to receive this honour. This recognition shows the value of her research in planetary science and cosmochemistry.

Kuljeet Kaur Marhas Fellow Research Work

Prof. Marhas is known for her research on short-lived radionuclides and stable isotopes found in extraterrestrial materials. Her studies focus on pre-solar grains, Calcium-Aluminium-rich Inclusions, chondrules, and organic matter in meteorites.

These materials help scientists understand how the early Solar System was formed billions of years ago. Her research has played an important role in explaining the chemical history of space materials.

Kuljeet Kaur Marhas Fellow Work on Space Mission Samples

Kuljeet Kaur Marhas has also studied samples collected from major international space missions. These include the Stardust mission, the Hayabusa mission, and the Apollo programme.

She used advanced laboratory methods such as Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and nanoSIMS to study tiny particles and isotopes in these samples. These techniques help scientists examine materials at microscopic levels with high accuracy.

Apart from this honour, she is also a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and has received the Devendra Lal Memorial Medal for her scientific contributions.

Planetary Science and Meteorite Studies

Meteorites and planetary materials are important for understanding the history of planets and the Solar System. Calcium-Aluminium-rich Inclusions found in meteorites are considered some of the oldest solid materials ever discovered.

Modern techniques like Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry help researchers study isotopes and trace elements in very small samples. Such studies improve scientific knowledge about the origin of planets and space materials.