Astrobiology
About
Astrobiology is a vibrant, interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of the origins, distribution and evolution of life in the universe. The Arizona Astrobiology Center (AABC) brings together researchers from across campus to serve as a hub for diverse scientific endeavors, providing bold and transformative dialogue to make astrobiology discoveries relevant to the experiences of all people on Earth.
In addition to the strengths of AABC, UArizona is home to two of the eight interdisciplinary research teams selected by the NASA Astrobiology Program to inaugurate its Interdisciplinary Consortia for Astrobiology Research program are located at the University of Arizona. Led by Dániel Apai, the teams were selected from a pool of more than 40 proposals. The breadth and depth of the research of these teams spans the spectrum of astrobiology research, from cosmic origins to planetary system formation, origins and evolution of life, and the search for life beyond Earth.
UArizona offers both undergraduate and graduate minors in Astrobiology.
Astrobiology at the University of Arizona
Researchers and students benefit from a long campus history of interdisciplinary collaboration drawing from astronomy, planetary sciences, chemistry, geo- and biological sciences and early engagement with pioneering NASA astrobiology nodes.
Faculty
Astrobiology Faculty
Dániel Apai
Interim Associate Dean for Research, College of Science, Principal Investigator, Alien Earths, Professor
William Boynton
Professor Emeritus
Shane Byrne
Professor
Astrobiology, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Titan & Outer Solar SystemCaitlin Griffith
Professor Emeritus
Virginia Gulick
Research Professor
Pierre Haenecour
Assistant Professor
Christopher Hamilton
Associate Professor
Astrobiology, Earth, Lunar Studies, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary SurfacesDante Lauretta
Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor
Renu Malhotra
Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor
Isamu Matsuyama
Professor
Alfred McEwen
Regents Professor
Astrobiology, Lunar Studies, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary SurfacesIlaria Pascucci
Professor
Sukrit Ranjan
Assistant Professor
Peter Smith
Professor Emeritus
Roger Yelle
Professor
Tom Zega
Professor
Other Researchers
Astrobiology Researchers
Galen Bergsten
PTYS Graduate Student
Jacob Bernal
DCC Postdoctoral Research Associate (Zega), NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
David Cantillo
PTYS Graduate Student
Dingshan Deng
PTYS Graduate Student
Searra Foote
PTYS Graduate Student
Ruby Fulford
PTYS Graduate Student
Kiki Gonglewski
PTYS Graduate Student
Nathan Hadland
PTYS Graduate Student
Michael Phillips
Researcher/Scientist
Astrobiology, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary SurfacesLily Robinthal
PTYS Graduate Student
Arnaud Salvador
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Christina Singh
PTYS Graduate Student
Astrobiology, Photogrammetry, Planetary SurfacesKayla Smith
PTYS Graduate Student
Lucas Smith
PTYS Graduate Student
Jingyu Wang
PTYS Graduate Student
James Windsor
Postdoctoral Research Associate