Yale Welcomes Cosmochemist Damanveer Singh Grewal to Advance Planetary Science

Damanveer Singh Grewal has joined Yale University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) as an Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, beginning his role in July 2025. A cosmochemist with a passion for unraveling the mysteries of the solar system, Grewal is set to lead groundbreaking research in his newly established CosmoGeo lab.

Grewal’s research focuses on fundamental questions about humanity’s existence and the formation of rocky, habitable planets, particularly Earth. His inquiries delve into the origins of essential elements for life, such as carbon, nitrogen, and water. By studying the processes that led to the formation of these elements, he aims to illuminate how Earth became a unique haven amidst the vast universe.

Exploring the Building Blocks of Planets

To investigate these cosmic questions, Grewal looks beyond Earth itself and examines meteorites, remnants from the early solar system. Before planets emerged, our solar system existed as a massive molecular cloud, where gas, dust, and ice coalesced into small bodies known as planetesimals. These planetesimals, according to Grewal, can be viewed as the “seeds” of rocky planets.

By analyzing iron meteorites, which typically originate from the cores of planetesimals, Grewal gathers insights into these primordial bodies. His lab employs high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) experiments to simulate the conditions of the early solar system. This approach allows him to recreate the geochemical processes that led to the formation of metallic cores in these ancient bodies.

Grewal’s fascination with meteorites intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when he turned to interpreting existing data due to lab restrictions. His recent studies suggest that high-energy collisions among planetesimals occurred earlier than previously believed. This revelation indicates that metallic cores were frequently destroyed and reassembled in the formation of new planets.

“Far from being made of pristine material, planets—including Earth—were built from recycled fragments of shattered and rebuilt bodies,” Grewal explained. This understanding helps clarify why certain planetesimals exhibit unexpected chemical signatures, ultimately reshaping our comprehension of planetary formation.

Unraveling the Origins of Life

Currently, Grewal is also investigating how Earth acquired the nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen that are vital for life. These volatile elements are easily lost under certain conditions, prompting questions about their initial presence in the planetesimals that eventually formed Earth.

His experiments reveal that the planetesimals in the inner solar system—where Earth was forming—were rich in nitrogen and carbon. “The first planetesimals…actually had nitrogen and carbon,” he noted, raising further questions about why Earth now appears depleted in these essential elements by a factor of one hundred.

“What were the processes controlling that loss?” he asks, indicating his ambition to explore these complex dynamics. Grewal’s innovative research places him at the forefront of a new era in planetary science.

At Yale, Grewal is not only advancing his research but also imparting knowledge to students. In the fall, he taught a graduate course on cosmochemistry that examined how a gas and dust cloud can evolve into a rocky planet like Earth. His commitment to education reflects his belief that science is a collective endeavor, one that has been ongoing for centuries.

“I feel very grateful. I think it’s a deeply motivating and humbling experience to do science,” Grewal remarked. He is dedicated to contributing to a deeper understanding of our cosmic origins and humanity’s place in the universe. Through his work, he aims to leave science in a better state for future generations, continuing a legacy of exploration and discovery that has captivated thinkers for millennia.