Currently, I am studying microbes that break down rock material to make a living in both oceanic and terrestrial environments. Since other planetary bodies in our solar system are composed of geologic material very similar to Earth, the microbes I identify may suggest microorganisms that we would expect to find in similar extraterrestrial environments.

On this cruise I will be using Alvin to collect fresh basalt — lava rock that has cooled quickly to form obsidian glass at the outskirts of hydrothermal vents. These samples will be transported in a special container that was designed to minimize contamination of the rock with other microbes living in the seawater on its journey to the surface. Once on deck, the outside surfaces of the rock will be decontaminated, and the rock will be stored for later analysis in our laboratory at Oregon State University.