Geobiology and Astrobiology are two vibrant and rapidly growing areas of interdisciplinary inquiry at CU-Boulder with many of our faculty engaged in cutting edge research at the interface of the two fields.

Geobiology is the study of how physical, chemical and biological processes influence each other in natural systems.  Geobiology research can focus on modern environments, as well as explore how the planet and life have co-evolved through major geologic and evolutionary events over the course of Earth’s history. 

Astrobiology explores life in the context of the evolution of the universe; its emergence and the possibility for life to exist on other worlds in the solar system and beyond.

Geobiology

At CU, we quantitatively explore how past environmental conditions, climatic transitions, and biogeochemical processes can be inferred from microbial isotopic fractionation, biomarker molecules and chemical sediments preserved in the geological record.  We explore microbial metabolic processes under conditions of slow growth and extreme energy or nutrient limitation. We also test evolutionary hypotheses by coupling isotopic approaches with microbial evolution experiments focused on geologically important classes of organisms.  Our work moves between theory, experimental systems and a detailed analysis of the chemical, hydrological and biological states of the Earth through time.  For more details on the geobiological research taking place in our department, please visit the profiles of our faculty with primary research programs in Geobiology:

Astrobiology

CU Boulder supports a wealth of Astrobiology research and educational activities on our campus, which are often coordinated through the Center for Astrobiology. In our Department, Astrobiology research and teaching is primarily focused on life and hydrological conditions in extreme environments, biosignature identification, the study of the primordial Earth and Mars. We are also connected to current NASA Missions to explore Mars climate history and the NASA Astrobiology Institute “Rock-Powered Life” node. For more details on the astrobiological research taking place in our department, please visit the profiles of our faculty with primary research programs in Astrobiology:

Other faculty interested in Geobiology & Astrobiology

In addition to those listed above, several other faculty in our department with primary research programs in other areas have a research interest in Geobiology and Astrobiology and frequently collobarate on research projects and serve as thesis committee members for our graduate students.