Astrobiologist of the Month

MARTIN VAN KRANENDONK
“I am the Director of the NASA-affiliated Australian Centre for Astrobiology and one of the world's leading researchers on early life on Earth and on the early Earth in general, including tectonic style, mechanisms of crust formation, and global secular change through the Precambrian. I joined UNSW Sydney in 2012 as a Professor and became ACA Director in 2014. ACA research has been central to the search for life on Mars, and I have led the science leads of both NASA's Mars2020 and ESA Rosalind Franklin rover missions to the field to learn about early life signatures and habitats. I am also recognised for my public outreach as presenter for TV science documentaries, feature films, and talks around the world. ”

Position
Professor of Geology and Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology at the University of New South Wales Sydney

Career Pathway
Bachelor, Masters, PhD (degree and institute) This might help students know what career paths are available for astrobiologists. BSc Honours (U of Toronto) in Geology 1984; MSc (U of Toronto) in Structural Geology 1987; PhD in Precambrian tectonics at Queens University Canada (1992).

Then a Canadian Government Laboratory Visiting Fellow at the Geological Survey of Canada (1992-1994) and a QEII post-doc position at University of Newcastle, Australia (1994-1997) where I commenced my research on the Pilbara Craton, but in structural geology.

In 1997, I joined the Geological Survey of Western Australia and began regional mapping of the Pilbara Craton. I was at the Survey for 15 years, until 2012 when I joined UNSW in Sydney as a Professor.

Research Topics
Astrobiology; Earliest life on Earth, its expression at scales from regional to nano-scale, and its habitats; Archean tectonics; search for life on Mars

Why did you decide to become an Astrobiologist?
I became involved in early life studies through mapping the Pilbara, and found room for contributing a clearer view of the habitats and environments that life occupied. This was while I was in the Geological Survey of Western Australia. From there, I decided that I wanted the opportunity to have my own students, teach, and lead a research program. At the same time, I became involved with the ACA under the directorship of Prof Malcolm Walter, who then chose me as his successor

If your lab/research group had a nickname, what would it be?
ACA

Are you accepting students?
Undergraduate, Masters and PhD students; Also Postdocs!! (for more information, click here)