Astrobiology

Astrobiology

    Astrobiology is a vibrant field that focuses on the study of the origins, distribution and evolution of life in the universe.

    Two of the eight interdisciplinary research teams selected by the NASA Astrobiology Program to inaugurate its Interdisciplinary Consortia for Interdisciplinary 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.

    Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary field that combines astronomy, geology, biology and chemistry. At the University of Arizona, there are six academic departments that participate in the astrobiology program.

    The University of Arizona offers one of the few astrobiology minor programs in the United States. Some of the questions we seek to answer include:

    Astrobiology at the University of Arizona

    The Department of Planetary Sciences is one of six departments participating in astrobiology research at UArizona. 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.

    Earths in Other Solar Systems is a NASA-funded astrobiology research program aiming to understand how and where habitable, Earth-like planets with biocritical ingredients (volatiles and organics) form.

    Astrobiology Faculty

    Dániel Apai

    Interim Associate Dean for Research, College of Science, Principal Investigator, Alien Earths, Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Formation and Evolution

    William Boynton

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small Bodies

    Shane Byrne

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Caitlin Griffith

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Astronomy, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Planetary Surfaces, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Virginia Gulick

    Research Professor

    Astrobiology, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces

    Pierre Haenecour

    Assistant Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Planetary Astronomy, Small Bodies

    Christopher Hamilton

    Associate Professor

    Astrobiology, Earth, Lunar Studies, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces

    Dante Lauretta

    Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Renu Malhotra

    Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Orbital Dynamics, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics

    Isamu Matsuyama

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Lunar Studies, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Planetary Geophysics, Theoretical Astrophysics, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Alfred McEwen

    Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Lunar Studies, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces

    Ilaria Pascucci

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Astronomy, Planetary Formation and Evolution

    Sukrit Ranjan

    Assistant Professor

    Astrobiology, Earth, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Theoretical Astrophysics

    Peter Smith

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology

    Roger Yelle

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Tom Zega

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Astrobiology Researchers

    Galen Bergsten

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Formation and Evolution

    David Cantillo

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Small Bodies, Space Situational Awareness

    Dingshan Deng

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Formation and Evolution

    Searra Foote

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres

    Nathan Hadland

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Earth, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces

    Sarah E. Moran

    Director's Postdoctoral Fellow

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Planetary Astronomy, Planetary Atmospheres, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Michael Phillips

    Researcher/Scientist

    Astrobiology, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces

    Arnaud Salvador

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Astrobiology, Earth, Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Geophysics

    Lucas Smith

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry