Research

             

1. Mineral Surfaces


We employ microarray technology to study the interactions of organic molecules on a variety of mineral surfaces.
  

2. Chiral Selection


The selection of chiral molecules on mineral surfaces may have contributed to the origins of biochemical handedness.
  

3. Astrobiology


Astrobiology is the study of the origin and distribution of life in the universe.
 

4. Origins of Life


Suites of wmphiphilic molecules synthesized from pyruvic acid at high pressure and temperature self-organize into vesicles.

  

5. High-P Microbes


We have designed and are now building an array of large-volume environmental devices to study microbes at extreme conditions.
  

6. Complexity


In an effort to quantify the behavior of complex emergent systems we are studying the functions of randomly generated Avida organisms.
    

7. Paleontology


Micrroanalytical paleontology employs techniques of mineralogy and petrology to image ancient life forms.
  

8. Mineral Evolution

 

A new way of framing the mineral sciences, based on the increase in mineral diversity of any terrestrial planet or moon over time.

  

9. Collaborators