Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education Center People Page

The Chemical Lens: The Bridge between Geology and Chemistry

Research in the Johnson-Finn laboratory bridges the divide between organic chemistry and geology, which is a useful perspective when pursuing the fate of organic compounds in geologic settings, astrobiology biosignatures, questions of origins of life and more! By bringing a chemist’s perspective, our understanding of observations from these systems can expand beyond what has been accomplished before. The interdisciplinary approach opens pathways to new information that we cannot pursue otherwise and allows collaboration with a diverse variety of different researchers.

Because of the fundamental nature of this research, it has many applications.

Professor Johnson-Finn is a faculty member of the RARE (Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education) Center and a Co-I of a NASA funded research grant involving collaborators across the country titled "Earth First Origins" (EFO). The EFO focuses on understanding the connection between geologic environments and the emergence of life through observations, modelling, and experiments.

Pathways: The Unification of Chemistry, Geology, Astrobiology & Processes on Earth

Missions to the icy moons of Europa and Enceladus, explorers of organic sediments on the ocean floor, engineers developing organic synthesis methods in batch reactors, and researchers focused on finding the first origins of life all need a detailed map of reactions at different parameter space. Detailed pathway mapping through a combination of experimental results and theoretical calculation can shine light on the dark forest of unexplored parameter space waiting to be pursued in any environment where organic compounds and geology result in a complex mixing history.

Potential collaborators and students unafraid to help dig into the weeds of these problems are welcome to stop by for a chat!

Astrobiology and the interface between Chemistry & Geology

Definitions of "Astrobiology": the term 'astrobiology' contains the word 'biology', the field of study is not limited to only specimens that are themselves classified as living. Instead it is a broad and encompassing field involving many different disciplines and areas of research. A good description can be found through the University of Washington:

Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. The search for life beyond the Earth requires an understanding of life, and the nature of the environments that support it, as well as planetary, planetary system and stellar interactions and processes. To provide this understanding, astrobiology combines the knowledge and techniques from many fields, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, oceanography and aeronautical engineering.

Where the Johnson-Finn (PENGUIN) Group Fits in Astrobiology Research: Chemists, astronomers, and geologists at RPI follow a history of research in astrobiology and pre-biotic chemistry (the field of research exploring the types of chemistry that could have existed before life emerged). Science itself is an ever-evolving organism, adapting to new information, new techniques, and new problems in need of solutions. Currently, the newest evolution of astrobiology research at RPI is through RARE (Rensselaer Astrobiology & Research Education) Center. A collaboration between the departments of Earth & Environmental Science and Chemistry & Chemical Biology funded by NASA and RPI. Professor Johnson-Finn is a faculty member of the RARE Center and a Co-I of a NASA funded research grant involving collaborators across the country titled "Earth First Origins" (EFO). The EFO focuses on understanding the connection between geologic environments and the emergence of life through observations, modelling, and experiments.

Sitting at the junction of organic chemistry and geology, the Johnson-Finn group aims to answer relevant questions as to the roles that geology plays in the pathways of organic compounds through experiments.

When the astrobiology community was asked in recent years to define goals and objectives for future research, "Identifying abiotic sources of organic compounds" and "Synthesis and function of macromolecules in the origin of life" topped the list.

The Johnson-Finn research group is focused on exploring the fundamental chemistry that is available to organic compounds in geologic settings, primarily the role that minerals (the simplest chemical component of rocks) play either as catalyst or reagent in aqueous organic reactions. Through a combination of hydrothermal experiments, electrochemical approaches, and thermodynamic modelling, reaction pathways for different classes of organic compounds can be traced in the formation of a larger organic chemical framework.

Beyond Astrobiology / Exploring Problems on Earth

Our laboratory is looking to pursue research questions beyond our astrobiology work, probing fundamental abiotic processes that exist anywhere in the universe or pivoting back to Earth to find solutions related to the larger environmental issues we face today. The fundamental approach provides a powerful starting position to comprehend and explore how different environments evolve at a molecular level. Students help to guide these questions and drive our understanding forward!

Techniques of the Laboratory (Both Physical and Virtual)

The PENGUIN laboratories (currently under renovation) will house experimental vessels that can explore different fundamental parameters related to aqueous organic reactions. The goal of all studies in this group will be to gather information about the kinetics and mechanisms of different organic reaction paths through either experimental or theoretical means. The combination of experimental expertise with theoretical guidance is most powerful. The three main approaches utilized in the group include (1) hydrothermal chemistry, (2) electrochemistry, and (3) thermodynamic modelling. Interested students will undertake projects using one or more of these techniques to pursue questions related to specific geologic, environmental, or experimental fields of study.

Primary Research Focus

hydrothermal chemistry, electrochemistry, geo-catalysis, organic geochemistry, thermodynamics, astrobiology

Other Focus Areas

Chemistry is often defined as "The Central Science". With the combination of the geologic / solid state perspective collaborations with other disciplines become possible. Currently, initial collaboration have begun with a faculty member in architecture. Our part is to characterize and understand the role that the inorganic binder had in carbon sequestration.

Laboratory facilities will be located in the 1st floor of the Cogswell Laboratory building.

Any interested undergraduate students should reach out to ask about potential possibilities to get involved.

Publications

The following is a selection of recent publications.