University of California, Berkeley

Ph.D. Student, Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM).

Preston Tasoff is a PhD student in Jill Banfield and Eoin Brodie’s Laboratories at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His research uses metagenome resolved genomic approaches coupled with biogeochemistry to explore microbiomes in the East River Watershed of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

California State University – Los Angeles

Graduate Student, Environmental Science

Erika is working on organic extractions and analysis of preserved biological samples. These samples range from modern time periods where DNA is preserved to geologically older samples where more robust organics remain. Erika’s other research interests are in water remediation via Fe-hydroxide minerals to adsorb various types of pollutants in contaminated waters. These minerals are being investigated in prebiotic reactions which may help provide clues as to how life originated on Earth.

California State University – Los Angeles

Graduate Student, Civil Engineering (Environmental focus) 

Eduardo is working on simulating hydrothermal vents using inorganic and organic compounds and studying the adsorption of phosphate on Fe-hydroxide minerals in the presence of amino acids and nitrate.

University of Southern California

Graduate Student, Department of Earth Sciences

Taleen analyzes carbon and oxygen isotope fluctuations in carbonate stromatolites to reconstruct the paleoclimate of the Eocene Climatic Optimum. Her research interests include microbe-sediment interactions, and the complex relationships between microbial nutrient cycling and the biosphere. Currently Taleen is a doctoral student with Dr. Elizabeth (Lizzy) Trower at the University of Colorado Boulder (http://www.trowerlab.com/people.html).

University of California, Irvine

Undergraduate Student, Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

Angel is interested in habitat sustainability for space missions as well as methane detections on Mars and CO2 processing of Martian atmosphere for both spacecraft and human usage for surviveablity and materials. Moreover Angel is interested in ISRU technologies that utilize regolith on Mars and the Moon for future human habitats.

California Institute of Technology

Undergraduate Student, Geological and Planetary Sciences

Sarah is an undergraduate in Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech. She is working on studying the radiation effects of extremophile microbial communities in icy environments. Alongside this research, she is also utilizing microscopic and Raman techniques for understanding microbial motility and preservation in hypersaline brine environments. Her research interests also include how protein cofactors behave in early earth conditions and iron sulfide chemistry.

Howard University

Undergraduate Student, Chemical Engineering

(Co-advised with Keith Chin)

Wilson is working on characterizing geochemical samples using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and developing a database to identify these systems on missions. In the future he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in astrochemistry and study the thermodynamics of the interstellar medium.

STEM Teacher and Researcher (STAR) Program

Michelle holds a bachelor’s in biology from Cal State Northridge and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California. She investigates the effects of organic molecules on Fe-silicate and Fe-hydroxide chemical garden systems. As a STAR fellow, she also translates ongoing scientific research at NASA-JPL into evidence-based curriculum for K-12 students.

College of the Atlantic

Undergraduate Student, Chemistry & Marine Biological Science

Jemma will be working on incorporating and isolating deep sea microbes into simulated hydrothermal vent chimneys under the Maine Space Grant program.