NASA Johnson Space Center and 13 Co-Investigator Programs
Dr. David S. McKay
Priniciple Investigator

JSC Institute Team Research members:
Dr. Everett K. Gibson,
Kathie Thomas-Keprta,
Susan Wentworth,
Dr. Carlton Allen,
Dr. Frances Westall,
Mary Sue Bell,
Dr. Andrew Steele

Education & Public Outreach:
Dr. Marilyn Lindstrom,
Jaclyn Allen,
Anita Dodson, 
Lisa Prejean

Co-Investigator Research
Dr. Dennis Bazylilnski
Iowa State University

• · Grow bacteria which synthesize nanometer-scale iron oxides
• · Document features in iron oxides unique to a bacterial origin

Dr. Henry Chafetz
University of Houston

• · Document biomarkers in silica and carbonate hot spring deposits
• · Document biomarkers in carbonate mud deposits

Dr. George Flynn
State University of New York, Plattsburgh

• · Study the organic component associated with mineral biomarkers in martian meteorite ALH84001 using advanced x-ray and infrared analytical techniques

Dr. Larry Hersmani
Los Alamos National Laboratory

• · Study fossilized macromolecules on mineral surfaces using atomic force microscopy
• · Investigate sensitive and site specific fluorescence staining for DNA, proteins and lipids

Dr. Nancy Hinman
University of Montana

• · Determine temperature of formation of minerals using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques
• · Investigate the interaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of microbial surfaces

Dr. Richard Hoover
Marshall Spaceflight Center

• · Investigate morphological biomarkers in ancient rocks and deep ice
• · Coordinate collaboration with Russian colleagues

Dr. Thomas Kieft
New Mexico Tech

• · Investigate biomarkers in extreme terrestrial environments, including acid hot springs and deep mines

Dr. Penny Morris
University of Houston - Downtown

• · Document morphological and chemical evidence for life in the oldest Earth rocks

Dr. James Papike
University of New Mexico

• · Document hydrogen, carbon, sulfur and nitrogen isotope fractionation associated with life in terrestrial rocks

Dr. Lisa Robbins
Florida State University

• · Produce minerals similar to those found in ALH84001 in a Mars-like environment using sulfate reducing bacteria

Dr. Chris Romanek
University of Georgia

• · Document features of iron carbonate minerals unique to a bacterial origin

Dr. Allen Treiman
Lunar and Planetary Institute

• · Characterize differences between biogenic and non-biogenic oxide, sulfate, carbonate and phosphate minerals

Dr. Norman Wainwright
Marine Biological Laboratory

• · Develop tracer techniques for detecting individual cells or cell components in geologic materials