My research is primarily concerned with the origin of phosphorylated biomolecules. Phosphorylated biomolecules fulfill a variety of biochemical functions, from informational molecules like RNA and DNA, metabolism molecules like ATP, and structural biomolecules like phospholipids, and understanding the origin of phosphorylated biomolecules provides information on the origin and evolution of life.

Reactive, soluble phosphorus compounds are rare on the surface of the Earth and are buffered by the solubility of apatite. Meteorites bring in unusual forms of phosphorus in the form of phosphide minerals like schreibersite, (Fe,Ni)3P. Schreibersite corrodes in water to form reactive phosphorus compounds, including P compounds that react with organics.

The goals of this research are as follows:

1) To understand the reaction pathway leading to phosphorylated biomolecules

2) To understand the cosmochemistry of phosphorus as it relates to reactive P compounds that are delivered to the Earth

3) To quantify the extra-terrestrial flux of reactive P, C, N, and S compounds

4) To place this information into a comprehensive biochemical framework that provides information on the origin and evolution of specific biomolecules.