Astrobiologist of the Month

CHRISTOPHER J. TINO
he/him/his

“I am biogeochemist that studies aqueous systems on Earth (both modern systems and the geologic records of ancient sites), with the goal of applying the findings to the collective understanding of the earliest Earth and Mars. Many of the environments I study are/were chemically extreme and can be considered analogous to certain aspects of those ancient planetary systems. To do this, I primarily use geochemical techniques including stable isotope ratios and element abundances, among others. I usually like to approach these studies by determining which aspects of the chemistry are associated with life versus those that can be decoupled and plausibly connected to abiological processes.”

Position
Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Calgary, Canada

Career Pathway
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology-University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 2010-2014                Microbiologist at Underwriters Laboratory (Industry), 2014-2017                                                                PhD in Biogeochemistry - University of California-Riverside, 2017-2023

Research Topics
Biogeochemistry, Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Ancient Earth and Mars, Chemically Extreme Lakes

Why did you decide to become an Astrobiologist?
I have always enjoyed biology, but I was particularly inspired by a microbial ecology and evolution course that I took as an undergraduate student. This was first time I was introduced to several major topics in Earth science, including the Great Oxidation Event, the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), and other ongoing research concerning the dynamic and central role of microorganisms on our planet for the last >3.5 billion years. This was a far cry from the majority of classes I had taken to that point, which mainly concerned the role of microbes in connection to human health. 

The following summer, I went on a family trip to Yellowstone National Park (a total coincidence) that solidified my desire to be outdoors, studying interactions of the surface Earth and microorganisms with an eye toward understanding the past. However, I was unsure if this was viable, and did not know how to go about making this happen (I am the first in my extended family to pursue academic research). 

I went into industry for three years, and although I enjoyed it and the people I worked with, it did not satisfy my urge for studying new research on fascinating topics. I continued to read literature associated with the ancient Earth, finding out about the rapidly-growing field of Astrobiology along the way. I visited professors from my undergraduate days and discussed how to make this trajectory happen, and was generously pointed in the right direction with a lot useful advice that helped me generate a competitive application. 

Overall, two uncomfortable but rewarding decisions led me to Astrobiology: (1) the decision to take an upper division elective course that was outside of my comfort zone and (2) reaching out to professors that I had not spoken to multiple years.

What advice would you give to students looking for graduate/postdoc positions?
Do not fall into the trap that you are expected to be one type of researcher. When applying for graduate school, focus on the researchers you want to work with, rather than the university or department name. I was microbiologist, who applied to various departments (including Microbiology, Biochemistry, etc.---wherever the researchers I was interested in working with were. I wound up in an Earth and Planetary Sciences department). 

The most successful researchers I have met so far are those that highly value students and collaborators that think differently from them; this is critical to the generation of novel research questions. Be willing to go out of your (sub-)field if you trust that an idea is truly worth pursuing (provided your mentors confirm the approach is sound).

What do you wish you knew at the beginning of your academic journey?
You can't accomplish everything everyday. On days when you are not feeling your sharpest, find other, simpler tasks that can be done to move your research goals forward. 

There will likely be a few review papers/chapters that can function as compasses for your graduate work. Come back to these papers/chapters every year or so and there will likely be new insights as your knowledge of the field improves. 

Honing your self-motivation is key. Be willing to experiment with a variety of healthy lifestyle changes that you think may improve your day-to-day focus. Knowing how to unwind effectively is very important. 

Present your work as much as possible. This forces you to clarify your ideas. It also involves learning how to be more conservative with how results are presented earlier on in a project. Go to a variety of talks -- enthusiasm for research is contagious. And presenting is a difficult skill that is best learned by critically observing what works in well good talks.