PhD project: Planetary Palaeobiology
Project description
Summary
The Planetary Palaeobiology Group, led by Sean McMahon in the UK Centre for Astrobiology, offers PhD projects at the interface of palaeobiology and astrobiology. Through a combination of field, analytical, and experimental approaches, we aim to understand how traces of life can survive for billions of years on Earth, Mars, and beyond, and how these ancient traces can be recognised and interrogated to reveal the secrets of deep life, deep time, and deep space.
The focus of our work varies from year to year and we are pleased to hear from prospective PhD applicants with their own research ideas. Examples of previous projects include:
- The experimental taphonomy of microorganisms
- Vibrational (e.g., Raman, FTIR) spectroscopic microscopy of Precambrian and Palaeozoic organic-walled microfossils
- Mineralogical false-positives for reflectance biosignatures on exoplanets
- Biogenicity determination from shapes and images
- Organic matter on Mars and in the early solar system.
From time to time, we advertise projects through the NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (E5): https://e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/ (search the project list for "McMahon").
We are most interested to hear from students with their own ideas for research projects.
Overview of current research interests
https://www.astrobiology.ac.uk/mcmahon-group/mcm-research
Key methodologies
Our group is well placed to support projects involving:
- Geological and microbiological fieldwork
- Vibrational (e.g., Raman, FTIR) spectroscopy and spectroscopic microscopy
- Wet lab microbiology experiments
- Wet lab geochemistry experiments
- Anaerobic experiments
- Experiments in Mars-analogue environments
- Petrographic microscopy of thin sections
- SEM-EDX
- Vis-IR spectroscopy
Requirements
Generally speaking, projects in our group suit geoscience graduates with knowledge of palaeobiology, sedimentology, and geochemistry OR physical science graduates with strong skills in numerical and computational methods OR biological science graduates with laboratory experience.
Project supervisor
- Dr Sean McMahon (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Astrobiology.
- Find out more about the Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.