People

Directorate

Prof Karen Olsson-Francis

Prof. Karen Olsson-Francis
Director
Professor of Geomicrobiology
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geomicrobiology. Extremophiles. Astrobiology.

Dr Vic Pearson

Dr Vic Pearson
Associate Director
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Geochemistry. Space. Interdisciplinary.

Prof. Susanne Schwenzer

Prof. Susanne Schwenzer
Associate Director
Professor of Planetary Mineralogy
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Mineralogist. Modeller. Martian.

Dr Louise Thomas

Dr Louise Thomas
Associate Director
Unit Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geochemist. Organiser. Finance.

 

 

 

Staff

Dr Marjan Ajevski

Dr Marjan Ajevski
Lecturer in Law
Faculty of Business and Law
International Law. Global Governance. Space Governance.

Dr Claire Batty

Dr Claire Batty
PDRA
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Volatiles. Biomarkers. Metabolome.

Dr Alvaro del Moral

Dr Alvaro del Moral
PDRA
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Microbiologist. PDRA. Icy Moons.

Dr Mark Fox-Powell

Dr Mark Fox-Powell
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Icy Moons. Cryovolcanism. Biosignatures.

Dr Rachael Hamp

Dr Rachael Hamp
PDRA
School of Physical Sciences
Icy Moon. Geochemist. Organics.

Dr Michael Macey

Dr Michael Macey
Senior Lecturer
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Microbes. Analogue. Simulation.

Dr Alessandra Marino

Dr Alessandra Marino
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Decolonial. Feminist. Critical Development.

Dr Emma Puranen

Dr Emma Puranen
PDRA Astrobiology Ethics
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Environments. Analogues. Ethics.

Dr Nisha Ramkissoon

Dr Nisha Ramkissoon
Research Fellow
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geology. Habitability. Biosignatures.

Dr Julia Semprich

Dr Julia Semprich
Research Fellow
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Petrologist. Modeller. Crustal Processes.

Dr Ben Tatton

Dr Ben Tatton
PDRA
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Extreme. Limits. Life.

 
 

 

PhD Students

 

Angus Aldis
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Extremophiles. EDI Outreach. Alien Worlds.

Bianka Babrian

Bianka Babrian
School of Physical Sciences
Asteroids. Hydrothermal. Experiments.

Esma Bozlak
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Extremophiles. Microbial-biotechnology. Cosmos.

Rita Carvalho Serra
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Mars. Microbiology. Biosignatures.

John Donovan

John Donovan
Faculty of Business and Law
NewSpace. Environmentalism. Governance.

 

Liam Durrant

Liam Durrant
School of Physical Sciences
Cryochemistry. Moons. Habitability.

Jessie Hogan

Jessie Hogan
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Icy Moons. Plumes. Organics.

Velislava Ilieva

Velislava Ilieva
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
DNA. Space. Dogs.

Daniel Loy

Daniel Loy
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Extremophiles. In-Situ Detection. Space.

Fiona Naysmith

Fiona Naysmith
Faculty of Business and Law
Space Law. Governance. Enforcement.

Arjun Patel

Arjun Patel
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Mars. Microbes. Minerals.

Oliver Pattle

Oliver Pattle
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Planetary Protection. Contamination. Microbiology

Silvio Sinibaldi

Silvio Sinibaldi
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Planetary Protection. Contamination Control. Microbiology.

Lewis Sym
School of Physical Sciences
Astrobiology. Europa. Space Exploration.

 

Visiting PhD Researcher

Shunsuki Nozaki
Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Icy Worlds. Cryovolcanism. Brines.

 

 

 

Support Hub

Brandon Cook

Brandon Cook
IT Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Make. IT. Work.

Hannah Cooper

Hannah Cooper
Public Engagement Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Outreach. Engage. Support.

Dr Alison Halton

Dr Alison Halton
Laboratory Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Laboratory Support. Health & Safety. Geologist.

Dr Louise Thomas

Dr Louise Thomas
Senior Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geochemist. Organiser. Finance.

 

 

Laboratory Support

Jitka Dojivova

Jitka Dojivova
Laboratory Technician
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Microbiology. Lab Equipment. Environment.

Wewerley Fernandes

Wewerley Fernandes
Research Laboratory Technician
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Planetary Protection. Plasma. Low Biomass.

Dr Alison Halton
Laboratory Manager
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Laboratory Support. Health & Safety. Geologist.

Velislava Ilieva

Velislava Ilieva
Research Technician
School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
DNA. Space. Dogs.

Dr Ezgi Kucikkilic-Stephens

Dr Ezgi Kucikkilic-Stephens
Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Microbiologist. Laboratory. Molecular.

Abi Outred

Abi Outred
Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Microbiology. Culturing. Environment.

Weronika Rojek

Weronika Rojek
Research Technician, Microbiology 
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Culturing. Freezing. Technical Support.

Anthony Scales

Anthony Scales
Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Microbiology. Culturomics. Molecular Techniques.

Dominic Siggs

Dominic Siggs
Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Engineering. Atmospheres. Astrobiology.

Ben Stephens

Ben Stephens
Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Molecular. Microbiologist. Halophiles.

Millie Wilkinson

Dr Camilla Wilkinson
Analytical Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geology. Geochronology. Isotope Chemistry

 

 

Associates

Professor Matt Balme

Prof. Matt Balme
Professor of Planetary Geoscience
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Martian. Geologist. Mapping.

Dr Andrea Berardi

Dr Andrea Berardi
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Participatory Methods. Environment. Sustainability.

Professor Shonil Bhagwat

Prof. Shonil Bhagwat
Professor of Environment and Development
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Development. Environment. Interdisciplinary.

Dr Hannah Chinnery

Dr Hannah Chinnery
Spacecraft Development and Operations Officer
School of Physical Sciences
Cryosphere. Experiments. Instrumentation

Dr Peter Fawdon

Dr Peter Fawdon
Senior Research Fellow
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Geology. Remote Sensing. Maps.

Professor Derek Matravers

Prof. Derek Matravers
Professor of Philosophy
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Ethics. Heritage. Aesthetics.

Dr Geraint (Taff) Morgan

Prof Geraint (Taff) Morgan
Professor of Analytical Chemistry
University of Southampton
Analytical Chemist. Innovator. Entrepreneur.

Professor Manish Patel

Prof Manish Patel
Professor of Planetary Science
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Physicist. Instruments. Mars.

Dr Martin Suttle

Dr Martin Suttle
Lecturer in Planetary Science
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Aqueous Alteration. Carbonaceous. Micrometeorites.

 

AstrobiologyOU Alumni