Research in this area focuses on relating what is known about the origin of life on Earth to the potential for the origin and establishment of life under conditions prevailing on other planetary bodies and basic research on the formation and retention of biosignatures under non-Earth conditions (e.g., Mars, Europa). This includes studies that constrain or extend concepts of possible chemical evolution relevant to the origin, evolution, and distribution of life. As part of the focus on biosignatures, this area includes research on the forms in which prebiotic organic matter formed on planetary surfaces has been preserved and the range of planetary environments
amenable to life.

Biosignature studies of samples from Earth sites thought to be analogues of other planetary environments that might potentially harbor life will be considered as part of NASA’s broader interest in the search for life in the Universe.
Applicants who apply for this research opportunity and are subsequently selected for an NPP award are expected to attend the Astrobiology Graduate Conference (AbGradCon) and/or the Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) using the travel funds that are conferred as part of the NPP award.

Field of Science: Astrobiology

Advisors:
Daniel Jones
daniel.s.jones@nmt.edu
575-835-5049

Stephanie Olson
stephanieolson@uchicago.edu
651-207-9618

Jeanine Ash
jeanine.ash@rice.edu
713-348-4675

Mary Droser
mary.droser@ucr.edu
951-827-3797

Adam Frank
afrank@pas.rochester.edu

Colleen Hansel
chansel@whoi.edu
508-289-3738

Jill Mikucki
jmikucki@utk.edu
865-974-4301

Aaron Noell
anoell@jpl.nasa.gov
818-354-0336 

Christopher Reisch
creisch@ufl.edu

Annette Rowe
annette.rowe@uc.edu

Alexis Templeton
alexis.templeton@colorado.edu
303-735-6069

Michael Tice
tice@geo.tamu.edu

Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert
elizabeth.trembath-reichert@asu.edu
480-727-2631

Edward Young
eyoung@ess.ucla.edu

Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents;
• Foreign nationals who are in the U.S. at the time of application and on a valid J1 visa; and,
• Foreign nationals, asylees or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with a valid EAD card and pending I-485 or I-589 forms.

These temporary eligibility limitations have been put in place due to inaccessible U.S. consulates and travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign nationals have made many substantive contributions to NASA, as well as to the greater scientific community throughout the life of the NPP. Therefore, we look forward to the time when the program will be open, once again, to all qualified scientists and engineers.

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.