University of Washington
Doctoral Candidate, Oceanography and Astrobiology
Zac is a doctoral candidate in the dual-title Ph.D. program in Oceanography and Astrobiology in the Deming Lab at the University of Washington. His dissertation research focuses on the ecology and evolution of microbial communities in subzero hypersaline brines in the Arctic using a combination of metagenomic and laboratory techniques. Zac is conducting a research rotation with Dr. Scott Perl where they will investigate organic biosignature detection using psychrophilic, halotolerant bacteria isolated from Martian- and Icy Moon-analog brine environments in the Arctic (cryopegs). Investigations include detection of biological pigments and other organics in subzero brines using Raman spectroscopy and motility detection, aimed at understanding the efficacy of biosignature detection using remote sampling technology.