People: Astrobiology Postdocs

Graciela Matrajt
Astronomy

Biology degree, University of Mexico, 1997
Masters in genetics, University of Paris VI, Pierre and Marie Curie, France, 1998
PhD in Astrobiology University of Paris VI, Pierre and Marie Curie, France, 2001
Joined Dept of Astronomy in 2004.

Research Interests

Graciela's primary research interests focus on the origin and evolution of life throughout the universe. She is extensively involved with the laboratory study of primitive materials from asteroids (meteorites and interplanetary particles) and the recent samples from a comet that were brought back by the NASA's Stardust comet sample return mission. She works with Prof. Don Brownlee, the PI of the Stardust mission. She uses several analytical techniques to perform her research, specially electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectrometry and chromatography.

Graciela also teaches astrobiology in the University of Washington Honors Program and through guest lectures in Community Colleges. She participated in the 2005-2006 season for search for meteorites in Antarctica.

Hunting for meteorites in Antarctica