The planetary science and astrobiology communities are strongly focused on activities occurring within the Solar System and in exoplanetary systems. This emphasis is well justified, as many space missions are collecting data of planetary bodies. Yet, a central priority identified in the Origins, Worlds, and Life Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology (2022) is to understand the origins of planetary systems. Achieving this goal additionally requires understanding the pre-planetary environments that preceded and shaped the Solar System. However, the pre-planetary and planetary science communities are often siloed, causing a major gap in understanding the origins of planetary systems. 

I will introduce a new laboratory at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) – the Nebular Origins of the Universe Research (NOUR) Laboratory – which is designed to bridge this divide between pre-planetary and planetary science to delineate the origins of planetary systems. I will present ongoing and future research plans that span the formation of small organics in the interstellar medium through the emergence of astrobiologically relevant species in Solar System environments. This laboratory work is the beginning of a long-term vision to build an integrated origins program that connects laboratory experiments, observations, models and space mission data.

As this is a largely early career event, I will also briefly reflect on my non-traditional path in academia and offer perspective on navigating interdisciplinary research at the intersection of astrochemistry, planetary science and astrobiology.