People
Research Scientists
Dimitra Atri
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Physics
Mars · Exoplanets · Planetary Habitability · Human Spaceflight · Space Weather
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Jennifer Blank
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Geochemistry
Mars Curiosity mission · biogeochemistry · prebiotic chemistry · experimental petrology and fluid geochemistry · stable isotope geochemistry
Mountain View, California
Henderson (Jim) Cleaves
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Chemistry & Biochemistry
origins of life · prebiotic chemistry · astrobiology · primitive self-replicating molecules · organic synthesis
Washington, D.C.
Jacob Haqq-Misra
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Meteorology & Astrobiology
planetary habitability · atmospheric dynamics · space settlement · technosignatures · environmental ethics
Clayton, Delaware
Betul Kacar
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Biomolecular Chemistry
experimental evolution · protein networks · molecular resurrection · systems biology · complex life
Phoenix, AZ
Ivan Paulino Lima
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Biophysics
astrobiology · extremophiles · microbiology · synthetic biology · science communication
Mountain View, California
Rafael Loureiro
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Botany
applied plant physiology · space horticulture · plant pigment and planetary co-evolution · science policy
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Milena Popovic
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Biochemistry
astrobiology · origin of life · RNA world · in vitro evolution · RNA structure and function
Mountain View, California
Sanjoy Som
Senior Research Investigator
Ph.D. Planetary Sciences & Astrobiology
Evolution of air pressure · Co-evolution of Earth and life · Water-rock interactions · Life independent of light · Public outreach
Mountain View, California
Anamaria Berea
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Economics & Ph.D. Computational Social Sciences
complex systems · economics · data science · biosignatures · technosignatures · astrobiology
Chris Butch
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering
Nucleic Acids · Biochemistry · Prebiotic Chemistry · Drug Design · Machine Learning
Atlanta, Georgia
Juan Carlos Chavez
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Information Science
Digital Divide · Information Poverty · Indigenous Systems of Knowledge · Indigenous Technologies · Astrobiology and Indigenous Origins of Life
Tony Z. Jia
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Chemistry
Prebiotic Chemistry · Astrobiology · DNA/RNA Sequencing · Nanomaterials/Self-Assembly · Membraneless Compartments
Tokyo, Japan
Graham Lau
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Geological Sciences & Astrobiology
astrobiology · geochemistry · Earth system science · philosophy of science fiction · communication studies
Boulder, Colorado
Omer Markovitch
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Chemistry
origin of life · prebiotic evolution · systems chemistry · water structure and dynamics · computational chemistry
Groningen, The Netherlands
Shawn McGlynn
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Biochemistry
sulfur isotope fractionation · microbial ecophysiology · cell interfaces and electron transfer · metalloproteins · origin of life
Tokyo, Japan
Andro Rios
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Chemistry
organic chemistry · prebiotic chemistry · astrobiology · chemical education · metabolic diseases
Mountain View, California
Daniella Scalice
Research Investigator
B.S. Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
astrobiology · STEM outreach · cross-cultural education · science communication
Annapolis, Maryland
Svetlana Shkolyar
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Geological Sciences
astrobiology · Mars · rover missions · Raman spectroscopy · outreach & communication
Washington, D.C.
Tomasz Zajkowski
Research Investigator
Ph.D. Biochemistry
Origin of life · Prions · Evolution · Synthetic biology · Space microbiology
California, USA
Zach Adam
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Earth Sciences
micropaleontology · Precambrian evolution · complexity · origins of life · ECLSS
Boston, Massachusetts
Daniel Angerhausen
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astronomy & Astrophysics
exoplanets · astrobiology · airborne astronomy · mission design · science communication
Bern, Switzerland
Arsev Aydinoglu
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Communication & Information Science
interdisciplinary studies · origin of life · science communication · research data management · astrobiology
Ankara, Turkey
Armando Azua-Bustos
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
xerophiles - astrobiology · space research · microbial ecology · extreme environments · science communication
Madrid, Spain
Laurie Barge
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geological Sciences
origin of life · prebiotic chemistry · geochemical energetics · electrochemistry · self-organizing structures
Pasadena, California
Julia Brodsky
Affiliate Research Scientist
M.S. Astrophysics
early astrobiology education · astrobiology · cognitive astrobiology · systems thinking in education · questioning in education
Rockville, Maryland, USA
Meg Cheng-Campbell
Affiliate Research Scientist
M.S. Bioengineering
stem cell biology · bioengineering · science communication · education
Mountain View, California
Mark Claire
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astronomy & Astrobiology
atmospheric chemistry · science policy · science education · biogeochemistry · planetary habitability
St. Andrews, U.K.
Shiladitya DasSarma
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biochemistry
Extremophiles · Astrobiology · Biotechnology · Biomedical Applications · Climate Action
Baltimore, Maryland
Julia DeMarines
Affiliate Research Scientist
M.S. Space Studies
astrobiology · biosignatures · Titan · science communication · astrobiology education
Oakland, California
Aaron Goldman
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Microbiology
computational biology · astrobiology · bioinformatics · science education · philosophy of science
Oberlin, Ohio
Natalie Grefenstette
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Chemistry
Origins of Life · Astrobiology · Life Detection · Agnostic Biosignatures · Laws and Universal Principles of Biology
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Craig Hardgrove
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geology
Mars rover instrumentation · geomorphology · spectroscopy · geochemistry · commercial/academic partnerships
Phoenix, Arizona
Lev Horodyskyj
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geosciences & Astrobiology
astrobiology · science communication · digital education · soils · planetary habitability
Tempe, Arizona
Fathi Karouia
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biology
Space Biology · Astrobiology · Omics · Space Technologies · Human Spaceflight
San Francisco, CA
Afshin Khan
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Environmental Science
astrobiology · geomicrobiology · Earth and life system science
Pasadena, California, USA
Mike Kubo
Affiliate Research Scientist
B.S. Chemistry
astrobiology · subsurface biosphere · science education · analytical chemistry · isotopic analysis
Mountain View, California
Priscila Lange
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Earth Sciences
oceanography · phytoplankton ecology · remote sensing · NASA-PACE mission · science communication
Laurel, Maryland
Mike Lee
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biology
bioinformatics · microbial ecology · microbial evolution · deep biosphere · space biology
Mountain View, California
Jeff Marlow
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geobiology
microbiology · metabolic activity · methane seeps · proteomics · extremophiles
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Haritina Mogosanu
Affiliate Research Scientist
M.S. International Security & M.S. Environmental Management
astrobiology education · planetary protection · international security · cultural astronomy · science communication
Wellington, New Zealand
Rakesh Mogul
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biological & Organic Chemistry
extremotolerance · planetary protection · spacecraft-associated microorganisms · biochemistry · lipoxygenase structure & function
Pomona, California
Preeti Nema
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Microbiology
abiotic stress responses · extremophiles · origin of life · astrobiology · science popularization
Pune, India
Mrina Nikrad
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Marine Science
extremophile metabolism · microbial ecology · origin of life · human space exploration · science communication
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Siddharth Pandey
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Space Systems Engineering
Mars exploration · sample acquisition · in-situ resource utilization · mission design · aerospace engineering
Mumbai, India
Scott Perl
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geological Sciences & Geobiology
Astrobiology · Planetary Geology · Geobiology · Mineralogy · Habitability
Pasadena, California, USA
Carl Pilcher
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Chemistry & Masters of Public Affairs
astrobiology · cancer
Sebastopol, California
Sukrit Ranjan
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astronomy & Astrophysics
Early Earth · Prebiotic Chemistry · Atmospheric Biosignatures · Atmospheric Photochemistry · Radiative Transfer
Edward “Eddie” Schwieterman
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astronomy & Astrobiology
Astrobiology · Exoplanets · Biosignatures · Spectral Modeling · Science Outreach
Riverside, California
Lauren Seyler
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biological Oceanography
microbial ecology · origin of life · exobiology · biological oceanography · geomicrobiology
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Sara Imari Walker
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Physics & Astronomy
origins of life · cosmology · computer modeling · complex systems · astrobiology education
Phoenix, Arizona
Angélica Anglés
Affiliate Research Scientist
PhD Astrobiology & Planetary Exploration
Astrobiology · Martian analog sites · Extreme environments · Planetary habitability · Public outreach
Hong Kong
André Antunes
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biochemistry/Microbiology
Astrobiology · Extremophiles · Microbial Diversity · Microbe-Mineral Interactions · Terrestrial Analogues (Mars and Exooceans of Icy Moons)
Macau (China)
William Brazelton
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Biological Oceanography and Astrobiology
Marine Microbiology · Subsurface Biosphere · Metagenomes · Horizontal Gene Transfer · Astrobiology
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Anindita Das
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geomicrobiology
Microbial Carbon Sequestration · Serpentinization and allied anaerobic microbial processes · Planetary Habitability and Origin of Life · Sustainability of Ecosystems- the microbial understanding · Microbes geodynamics
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Priya DasSarma
Affiliate Research Scientist
MS Microbiology
Haloarchaea · Astrobiology · Extremophile Microbiology · Genomics · Education & Outreach
Maryland, USA
Josh Goldford
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Bioinformatics
Origin of life · metabolic evolution · microbial ecology · non-equilibrium thermodynamics · complex systems
Jihua Hao
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Geochemistry
Early Earth surface environments · Origins of life · Habitability of other planetary oceans · Photochemistry under planetary conditions · High temperature and pressure aqueous geochemistry
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Cassandra Juran
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Stem Cell Biology · Bioengineering · Mechanotransduction · Single Cell Comics · Regenerative Medicine · Aerospace Physiology
Mountain View, California
Sasha Alexander Kaurov
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astronomy & Astrobiology
cosmology · time-domain astronomy · reionization · science education and outreach
Princeton, NJ
Dani Leach
Affiliate Research Scientist
MS Space Studies
Astrobiology · K-12 Education and Teacher Outreach · Citizen Science · Science Communication · Earth and Space Science
Liam Longo
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D Florida State University
protein evolution · protein · RNA world · liquid-liquid phase separation · evolution of metabolism
Tokyo, Japan
Gina Misra
Affiliate Research Scientist
M.S. Cell and Molecular Biology
Food Safety in Space · Plant Physiology in Microgravity · Biological Life Support Systems · Sustainability · Plant Biotic Interactions
Delaware, USA
Noah Randolph-Flagg
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Earth and Planetary Science
NASA Ames Research Center
Kirtland Robinson
Affiliate Research Scientist
Organic Geochemical Tracers · Prebiotic Chemistry · Planetary Habitability · Geomimicry · Europa Clipper - MASPEX
McCullen Sandora
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Physics
Habitability · Cosmology · Planetary Science · Quantum Field Theory · Data Science
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Mike Simmons
Affiliate Research Scientist
Public Outreach and Education in Astronomy · Diversity in STEM
Agoura Hills, California, USA
Harrison Smith
Affiliate Research Scientist
Astrobiology · Life Detection · Complex Systems · Origins of Life · Mission Design
Tokyo, Japan
Luke Steller
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Astrobiology
Prebiotic Chemistry · Hot Spring Geochemistry · Archean Geology · Astrobiology · Community Engagement
Australia
Ken Williford
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Earth and Space Sciences and Astrobiology
Life beyond Earth · Mars sample return · Co-evolution of Earth and life · Complex systems · Consciousness
Seattle, Washington
Eric Wolf
Affiliate Research Scientist
Ph.D. Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Planetary Habitability · The Evolution of Planetary Atmospheres · Three-Dimensional Climate Modeling · Radiative Transfer · Scientific Software Development
Colorado
Aubrey Zerkle
Affiliate Research Scientist
PhD Geosciences
Earth History · Biogeochemistry · Astrobiology · Planetary Science · Science Communication
Staff Scientists
Jennifer Claudio
Education
MA Natural Sciences, San Jose State University
Location
NASA Ames Research Center
Jonathan Oribello
Education
M.S. Bioinformatics, San José State University
Location
NASA Ames Research Center
Rolando Perez
Education
Ph.D., Bioengineering, Stanford University; B.S., Biomolecular Engineering, UC Santa Cruz
Location
California, USA
Lauren Sanders
Education
Ph.D. Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics
Location
NASA Ames Research Center
Anmol Seth
Education
B.A. Molecular/Cell Biology & B.A. Public Health, UC Berkeley
Location
NASA Ames Research Center
Postdoctoral Researchers
Visiting Scholars
Ashleigh Burgess
Education
Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Chemistry minor (in December of 2022)
Advisor
Drs. Svetlana Shkolyar and Andro Rios
Riccardo Schiroli
Education
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics for engineering. Master student of Physics of Complex Systems
Advisor
Dr. Omer Markovitch
Prachiti Vithole
Education
Enrolled for 5 year BS-MS dual degree program at Indian Institute of Science Education and Reaseach, Berhampur, India.
Advisor
Dr. Tony Jia
