Using compositional remote sensing of planetary surfaces as windows to geology and habitability, Karunatillake's group targets unknowns of the rock cycle on bodies like Mars, such as the formation of sedimentary rocks in the Amazonian eon, pathways of dust production, variations in magmatic systems of volcanic provinces like Elysium, and provenance of exotic salts like perchlorates in planetary soils. Karunatillake completed his BA at Wabash College, IN (2001) PhD at Cornell University, NY (2008) advised by Dr. Steve Squyres; and postdoctoral research at Stony Brook University, NY (2011) advised by Dr. Scott McLennan. As a member of the 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission and the Mars Exploration Rover mission, he has led the characterization of martian chemical provinces. His methodological developments on the synthesis of planetary datasets have led to chapters in planetary textbooks like Remote Compositional Analysis Techniques for Understanding Spectroscopy, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of Planetary Surfaces. Karunatillake is currently leading an englacial Mars mission concept development as part of LSU’s expansion of its goals as a space grant institution.