Astrobiology
Astrobiology is a scientific field within the life and environmental sciences that studies the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe by investigating its deterministic conditions and contingent events. As a discipline, astrobiology is founded on the premise that life may exist beyond Earth.
Research in astrobiology comprises three main areas: the study of habitable environments in the Solar System and beyond, the search for planetary biosignatures of past or present extraterrestrial life, and the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth.
The field of astrobiology has its origins in the 20th century with the advent of space exploration and the discovery of exoplanets. Early astrobiology research focused on the search for extraterrestrial life and the study of the potential for life to exist on other planets. In the 1960s and 1970s, NASA began its astrobiology pursuits within the Viking program, which was the first US mission to land on Mars and search for signs of life. This mission, along with other early space exploration missions, laid the foundation for the development of astrobiology as a discipline.
Regarding habitable environments, astrobiology investigates potential locations beyond Earth that could support life, such as Mars, Europa, and exoplanets, through research into the extremophiles populating austere environments on Earth, like volcanic and deep sea environments. The search for biosignatures involves the identification of signs of past or present life in the form of organic compounds, isotopic ratios, or microbial fossils.
Astrobiology also concerns the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth to try to understand the conditions that are necessary for life to form on other planets. This research seeks to understand how life emerged from non-living matter and how it evolved to become the diverse array of organisms we see today.
Astrobiology is a rapidly developing field of science with a strong interdisciplinary aspect that holds many challenges and opportunities for scientists. Nowadays, astrobiology programs and research centres are present in many universities and research institutions around the world, and space agencies like NASA and ESA have dedicated departments and programs for astrobiology research.
Research in astrobiology comprises three main areas: the study of habitable environments in the Solar System and beyond, the search for planetary biosignatures of past or present extraterrestrial life, and the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth.
The field of astrobiology has its origins in the 20th century with the advent of space exploration and the discovery of exoplanets. Early astrobiology research focused on the search for extraterrestrial life and the study of the potential for life to exist on other planets. In the 1960s and 1970s, NASA began its astrobiology pursuits within the Viking program, which was the first US mission to land on Mars and search for signs of life. This mission, along with other early space exploration missions, laid the foundation for the development of astrobiology as a discipline.
Regarding habitable environments, astrobiology investigates potential locations beyond Earth that could support life, such as Mars, Europa, and exoplanets, through research into the extremophiles populating austere environments on Earth, like volcanic and deep sea environments. The search for biosignatures involves the identification of signs of past or present life in the form of organic compounds, isotopic ratios, or microbial fossils.
Astrobiology also concerns the study of the origin and early evolution of life on Earth to try to understand the conditions that are necessary for life to form on other planets. This research seeks to understand how life emerged from non-living matter and how it evolved to become the diverse array of organisms we see today.
Astrobiology is a rapidly developing field of science with a strong interdisciplinary aspect that holds many challenges and opportunities for scientists. Nowadays, astrobiology programs and research centres are present in many universities and research institutions around the world, and space agencies like NASA and ESA have dedicated departments and programs for astrobiology research.
Professors of the PhD board
Prof. Alessandra Rotundi (Astrophysicist)
Prof. Ivano Bertini (Astrophysicist)
Prof. Gaetana Napolitano (Physiologist)
Prof. Vincenzo Pasquale (Microbiologist)
Current PhD students
Stefano Fiscale
Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli
Impiccichè Giuseppe
Luca Tonietti
Alice Maria Piccirillo
Current PhD Projects
Activities in support of the development of DISC, part of the payload of Comet Interceptor/ESA space mission (PhD student: Alice Maria Piccirillo).
A focus on the physiological adaptations of the brine shrimp A. Salina to astrobiological studies (PhD student: Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli).
Thermo-mechanical Study of the EnVisS Camera on-board Comet Interceptor, ESA Space Mission (PhD student: Impiccichè Giuseppe).
Automatic identification of exoplanets using Machine Learning techniques (PhD student: Stefano Fiscale).
In-situ resources utilization: An astrobiology perspective on how biomining could help space exploration and colonization (PhD student: Luca Tonietti).
Contacts
For more information you can contact the Coordinator of the research cluster Prof. Alessandra Rotundi, e-mail: [email protected]
Prof. Alessandra Rotundi (Astrophysicist)
Prof. Ivano Bertini (Astrophysicist)
Prof. Gaetana Napolitano (Physiologist)
Prof. Vincenzo Pasquale (Microbiologist)
Current PhD students
Stefano Fiscale
Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli
Impiccichè Giuseppe
Luca Tonietti
Alice Maria Piccirillo
Current PhD Projects
Activities in support of the development of DISC, part of the payload of Comet Interceptor/ESA space mission (PhD student: Alice Maria Piccirillo).
A focus on the physiological adaptations of the brine shrimp A. Salina to astrobiological studies (PhD student: Maria Teresa Muscari Tomajoli).
Thermo-mechanical Study of the EnVisS Camera on-board Comet Interceptor, ESA Space Mission (PhD student: Impiccichè Giuseppe).
Automatic identification of exoplanets using Machine Learning techniques (PhD student: Stefano Fiscale).
In-situ resources utilization: An astrobiology perspective on how biomining could help space exploration and colonization (PhD student: Luca Tonietti).
Contacts
For more information you can contact the Coordinator of the research cluster Prof. Alessandra Rotundi, e-mail: [email protected]
