Professor, Astronomy
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Eric Agol studies transits of extrasolar planets, for which he has created a widely used modeling code and helped originate the idea of detecting and characterizing planets using transit time variations.
Associate Professor, Astronomy
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Rory Barnes is a theorist in the Virtual Planetary Laboratory primarily interested in the formation and evolution of habitable planets.
Professor, Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
John Baross is a Professor in Oceanography and the Astrobiology Program at the University of Washington. He specializes in the ecology, physiology, and taxonomy of microorganisms from hydrothermal vent environments, and the use of biochemical and molecular methods to detect, quantify, and classify the same.
Professor and Chair, Atmospheric Sciences
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Cecilia’s research focus is on climate and climate change in the high latitudes on Earth, especially involving the cryosphere. She uses a variety of models for her research, from simple reduced models to sophisticated earth-system models
Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
In our High-Pressure Mineral Physics Laboratory, we have an interdisciplinary program involving a variety of experimental and theoretical approaches. We seek an understanding of Earth based on an atomic-level understanding of constituent minerals
Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
I am interested in the origin and earliest evolution of life on Earth and how that can be used as an analogue for life elsewhere in the Universe. My research techniques lie at the intersection of geology, biology and chemistry, examining the oldest and best-preserved rocks available. This involves fieldwork in the Australian outback, on the Greenland ice-cap and in the Canadian woods, amongst other places.
Assistant Professor, Earth and Space Sciences
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
My research focuses on geochemical and physical records of time and environment preserved in sedimentary rocks. I want to understand…
Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Habitability & Life In the Solar System: Mars
Space Exploration
My research interests revolve around understanding the co-evolution of planetary atmospheres, planetary surfaces, and life. This includes collecting and interpreting data from other planets and the Earth.
Research Assistant Professor, Astronomy
Space Exploration
My research program focuses on studying time domain, large survey astronomy, with an emphasis on magnetically active stars in surveys…
Karl M. Banse Endowed Professor, Oceanography
Life in Extreme Environments
Cold adaptation in marine microorganisms and relevance to polar geochemistry and ecology; limits of microbial life, especially in ice, as they relate to astrobiology, biotechnology and bioremediation); role of benthic bacteria in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems, from coastal to deep-sea environments; hydrostatic pressure in the evolution and ecology of marine bacteria, especially at very cold and hot temperatures.
Professor, Environmental & Forest Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
Our laboratory focuses on pressing environmental issues and possible “green” solutions. Our three main research interests are in using natural plant-microbe partnerships to: Improve plant growth with less input of chemicals and water, Remove environmental pollutants, mprove the sustainability of bioenergy production
Professor, Psychology
Alternate Models of Intelligence
We seek to define the neural circuit operations that support complex and flexible behavioral responses to natural sensory stimuli. We connect neural activity to behavior by employing a variety of techniques including electrophysiology, multiphoton imaging, optogenetics, and automated behavioral analysis.
Associate Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
My research interests focus on understanding the chemistry of water-rock-microbe interactions. Understanding water-rock-microbe interactions on Earth will inform our search for life on other planets. I combine interdisciplinary techniques from microbiology, low temperature aqueous geochemistry, physical chemistry, and thermodynamic modeling to develop a quantitative understanding of the chemistry occurring at the hydrated interface of life and rocks
Professor, Aeronautics & Astronautics
Space Exploration
Professor Hermanson’s astrobiology-related interests include spaceflight, orbital mechanics and thermodynamics as related to planetary environments.
Professor, Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
I am a biogeochemist and my lab group aims to learn how the chemical signatures of microorganisms can tell us about the function of the marine microbial community.
Assistant Research Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
Habitability & Life in the Solar System: Icy Moons
Space Exploration
I am a Mineral physicist/Planetary Scientist/Glaciologist with a background in Planetary Sciences/Geology, experimental mineral physics and Geophysics. I am working…
Duane and Barbara LaViolette Endowed Professor, Chemistry
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Prof. Keller is a biophysicist who investigates self-assembling soft condensed matter systems. Her group’s primary research focus concerns how lipid…
Research Assistant Professor, Earth and Space Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
Astrobiology research areas of interest: Glaciology, Planetary Science I am interested in the dynamics and histories of glaciers and ice…
Assistant Professor,
Earth and Space Sciences
Dual-Title PhD
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Education:2019 – PhD in Earth and Space Sciences and Astrobiology, University of Washington (USA)2012 – BSc(Hons) in Physics, University of…
Director,
UW Astrobiology Program
Professor,
Astronomy
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Space Exploration
Dr. Meadows’ primary research interests are in the challenging area of using modeling and observations to determine how to recognize whether a distant extrasolar planet is able to harbor life. Her NASA NExSS Virtual Planetary Laboratory team develops innovative computer models that can be used to understand the terrestrial planet formation process, test planetary dynamical stability and orbital evolution, and simulate the environment and spectra of present day and early Earth, other Solar System planets, and plausible extrasolar terrestrial environments
Associate Professor, Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
Dr. Morris’ laboratory is located in the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington. We are interested in bacteria…
Professor-Emeritus,
Earth & Space Sciences
Adjunct Professor,
Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
Bruce’s research interests include origin and evolution of continental crust, seafloor hydrothermal processes, and geochemical evolution of the earth’s mantle.
Research Associate Professor, Genome Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
Understanding how different organisms adapt to their unique surroundings by examining their protein expression.
Biogeochemical recycling of organic matter, specifically proteins, in the marine water column and in sediments.
Understanding the chemical interactions between bacteria and particles in the ocean.
Examining why proteins are preserved in sediments for long periods of time.
Professor, Astronomy
Exoplanets: Detection, Habitability, & Biosignatures
Prof. Quinn’s research interests include: planetary dynamics, small body dynamics, formation and evolution of planetary systems, and the influence of galactic dynamics on planetary system structure.
Associate Professor, Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
Evan Solomon is a marine geochemist/geologist whose research combines the development of seafloor/subseafloor instrumentation, fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and numerical modeling…
Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
I study the composition and evolution of the Earth and early solar system by using stable isotope systematics measured by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS)
Research Professor, Earth & Space Sciences
Life in Extreme Environments
Habitability & Life In the Solar System: Mars
Dr. Winebrenners’ interests are in the physics of light and radio waves, and in the exploration of icy environments on Earth and elsewhere based on that physics.
Assistant Professor, Oceanography
Origin & Evolution of Life on Earth
Life in Extreme Environments
The Young Lab investigates the physiological adaptations in phytoplankton to optimize their productivity. The aim is to better predict how phytoplankton productivity and thus their ability to capture carbon dioxide will respond to future change.
