Postdoctoral and Graduate Research Opportunities

Research Opportunities

The Center has several fellowships available for postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. Research opportunities exist at the interface of astronomy, geology, chemistry and biology in the field of the origins of life. This program is unique in that you will be interacting with postdoctorals, graduate students and faculty in these four areas, on multidisciplinary projects investigating the origins of life.

Undergraduate research opportunities in the field of the origins of life on Earth are available in the areas of astrophysics, biology, chemistry and geology. This research can be used to partially fulfill the requirements for a minor in Astrobiology.

We are an equal opportunity, affirmative action Center and strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented minorities.

The principal investigators and the specific areas of research are:

John Delano (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, SUNY, Albany) - The role of cometary, meteoritic and asteroidal impacts on the origin of life and the possible outgassing of reduced organics from the mantle of the primitive Earth.

James P. Ferris (Chemistry, Rensselaer) - The clay-mineral catalyzed synthesis of RNA and photochemical transformations in the atmosphere of the primitive Earth.

Michael Gaffey (Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer) - Surface mineralogy's derived from analysis of reflectance spectra will be used to determine the aqueous and thermal alteration conditions within asteroids in order to constrain the production and alteration of prebiotic organic molecules in these bodies.

Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer (Biology, Rensselaer) - The search for molecular fossils of the RNA world; the introns of subsurface microorganisms; community structure of microbial mats.

Wayne Roberge (Astrophysics, Rensselaer) - The chemistry of the early solar nebula, emphasizing the possible role of shock-driven reactions.

Douglas Whittet (Astrophysics, Rensselaer) - Spectroscopic studies of interstellar/protostellar organic matter using astronomical observations from ground-based and satellite observatories.

Send resumes and inquiries to:

Ann Marie Strack, Assistant Director
The New York Center for Studies of the Origins of Life
Department of Chemistry
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Cogswell Laboratory
Troy, NY 12180

Email: straca@rpi.edu

We are an equal opportunity affirmative action Institutions and Center and strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented minorities.