Over the past 20 years our program has trained the next generation of astrobiologists and made significant advances in understanding how to search for life beyond the Earth. Our program offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary dual-title PhD in a home department and Astrobiology, as well as a graduate certificate in Astrobiology. Our alumni have gone on to exciting careers at universities, government labs and elsewhere. Below we showcase the achievements of students, faculty and alumni, and on other pages you can learn about how to apply to our graduate program, learn more about our research and outreach activities, and find out the latest on our colloquium series and public events.
From Our Most Recent Newsletter
Research Highlight
Our UW Astrobiology Program members have made exciting scientific discoveries and published many research updates over the past year. Prof Brook Nunn (Genome Sciences) and her colleagues recently published their work detailing how polar microbes can shed light on ways to detect potential life in icy bodies in our solar system!
Alumni Updates
The UW Astrobiology Program has graduated over 60 alumni, who have exciting careers as faculty members, scientists, university researchers, industry specialists and, entrepreneurs. They’ve all been hard at work this past year and have shared some of their achievements, awards, and scientific publications with us here.
Recent Updates
- Congratulations to Fang-Zhen Teng, elected Fellow of the Geochemical SocietyFang-Zhen Teng has been elected a Fellow of the Geochemical Society and European Association of…
- Did life begin in a “warm little pond”?Astrobiology graduate student Ula Jones was featured in a Wiki Education article for her contributions…
- UWAB 25th Anniversary Kickoff Event— Astronomy on TapJoin us in celebrating the 25th anniversary of UW Astrobiology at Astronomy on Tap (AoT)…
- New NPP Opportunity Available with VPL!To advance NASA’s search for life on exoplanets, the Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL) focuses on…
- American Geophysical Union Honors UWAB ResearchersEach year, AGU recognizes individuals and teams for their accomplishments in research, education, science communication…
- Work of UWAB Director Prof. Victoria Meadows Featured in AAS NovaThe work of VPL PI Prof. Victoria Meadows was recently featured in AAS Nova. Her…
- UWAB Researchers Featured in Aeon Article: Uncertain ContactUWAB researcher David Catling and alumnus Edward Schwieterman have been featured in an Aeon article…
- UW News: Polar experiments reveal seasonal cycle in Antarctic sea ice algaeUWAB researchers Hannah Dawson and Jodi Young have recently been featured in UW News, who…
- Building a Wet Planet from Dry MaterialsZoom Link for Colloquium 10/31/2023 3:00pm PST Please email astrobio@uw.edu for zoom presentation password Presented…
- Ice Grains from Enceladus and Europa as Carriers of Potential LifeZoom Link for Colloquium 10/31/2023 3:00pm PST Please email astrobio@uw.edu for zoom presentation password Presented…