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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
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