Jessica Watkins is an American astronaut and a member of the NASA astronaut corps. She was selected as an astronaut in 2017 and has a background in geology, holding a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before joining NASA, Watkins worked on the Mars Curiosity Rover mission and contributed to various research projects related to planetary science. She is known for her expertise in geology and her commitment to advancing space exploration and scientific research.