Real-Time Insight on Astrobiology

Anushree Srivastava
Researcher at NASA

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1. What is a typical career path for becoming an Astrobiologist (which Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees)?

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"Astrobiology is an interdisciplinary science. The major participating sciences are microbiology, geology, geochemistry, organic chemistry, physics, astrophysics, history of science, and philosophy; however, astrobiology is expanding very rapidly and now we have areas like space law, governance, and astrobiology education that are attracting students. I feel astrobiology is a very generous science, it is accepting all areas of natural and social sciences. So, like I always say that no matter what you are doing, you always have something to contribute to the science of astrobiology. You just need to find a way (a discipline) that interests you the most and you will see that your interests also evolve. Most of the people approach a PhD degree because it gives you an additional opportunity to dwell on an important question that you want to ask. However, people who have only a Master's degree also get involved in an in-depth investigation of an astrobiological question. It's an endless world with endless opportunities. The only questions you need to ask - what you are interested in and what you think is right for you - and then start working on it.​​"

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2. For someone currently doing a bachelor's degree in life-sciences, what are the specific key      techniques/skills one must learn if the future goal is to pursue astrobiology?

 

"I think the techniques/laboratory skills in microbiology, molecular biology, organic chemistry. It's a very broad area, so the specific skills will depend on what type of experiments you are planning. You may come across that even being in life sciences, you will need to work at the interface of other sciences such as organic chemistry or geochemistry."

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3. What are some of the best astrobiology programs (Masters, Ph.D, Diploma) globally and in   India, one should target?

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"Multiple programs have dedicated astrobiology degrees: AstrobiologyOU in the UK, University of Washington (Seattle) Astrobiology dual degree program, Penn State University, and many more."

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4. A lot of students do not have access to labs right now (due to the ongoing pandemic).  Are there any dry lab or computational skills/tools, one can learn online which will be helpful in pursuing astrobiology research?                

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"Multiple online platforms are running astrobiology courses these days. I would name two here: Charles Cockell's Coursera Astrobiology course and Amity Astrobiology online course. I would also suggest that there are many good astrobiology 101 books. Read, read, and read!"

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5. Apart from publicly available research papers, are there any other sources (online science            magazines, podcasts) that will help in staying updated about astrobiology?

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"A lot of such resources are available online. Subscribe to astrobiology magazine, space.com , spaceflight insider, stay tuned with astrobiology journal - it is very important that you resort to reliable sources."

 

6. As someone from a life science background, is it important to learn astronomical/geological        principles for understanding astrobiology? If yes, then what are the concepts or online                  sources one should refer?

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"Not really, but one should keep reading about the basic concepts in other related disciplines that you might need to solve your own astrobiology questions. For example, as somebody who has done a degree in biotechnology-geomicrobiology, I needed to learn various concepts in mineralogy and organic chemistry to help seek the answers to my research questions. So, it's a natural progression I would say. But keep reading good astrobiology books and articles."

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7. Apart from NASA, what other institutions hire astrobiologists?

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"Universities, research institutes, other space agencies."

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8. What are some good books on Astrobiology you would recommend?

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"Some good introductory books are:  An Introduction to Astrobiology Paperback – Illustrated, 1 Mar. 2018 by David A. Rothery (Editor), Iain Gilmour (Editor), Mark A. Sephton (Editor) Planets and Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction by David Catling."

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Career Definition of an Astrobiologist

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“The cosmos is full beyond measure of elegant truths, of exquisite interrelationships, of awesome machinery of nature.”  - Carl Sagan

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People have looked at the sky and wondered for the possibility of life in other worlds for centuries. However, it was not until 1950s that the term exobiology was put forth by Joshua Lederberg to define the study of biological impact on space missions and also to define the study of extra terrestrial life. It was him and Carl Sagan who introduced this term to the general public and to the scientific community. Ever since then the field began to gain recognition. It is an unequivocal truth that various branches of Science, encompassed in astrobiology, which include biology, geology, astronomy, physics, chemistry along with engineering and sociology as tools have undergone decades of exponential development. Even though the field has witnessed an uprising curiosity, ‘Astrobiology as a career’ is still an unpopular opinion among people. Nevertheless the curiosity that this field evokes has always fascinated a large population of the youth.

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As an astrobiologist, you will specialize in examining the existence of lifeforms in the universe. Astrobiology draws tenets from several disciplines, including astronomy, oceanography, and chemistry, so those in the field will need to have a diverse skill set. Astrobiologists can work in offices or laboratories and may work in observatories when needed. They can work alone conducting research or as part of a team, possibly as the team leader.

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Astrobiologists are tasked with determining answers to questions, such as how life evolves or how would life look on another world. The work of astrobiologists is utilized by NASA during planning for space missions. Job responsibilities of astrobiologists may include utilizing telescopes to conduct research as to whether hospitable planets exist outside of the Milky Way, performing mathematical operations to analyze data related to the existence of other planets, and sharing their findings in scholarly journals or at conferences.

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Required Education:

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Unfortunately, there are not many institutes offering an undergraduate course for astrobiology hitherto. Nonetheless, education in geology, planetary sciences, biology, or physics and astronomy set the bricks required to pursue astrobiology as a career. In India, some institutes offer courses in astrobiology. These include the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, etc. Recently Amity Centre of Excellence in Astrobiology (ACoeA, pronounced as ‘aqua’) was established in February 2019. The Centre, in partnership with national and international labs, currently leads astrobiology-focused field studies and simulation with a focus on understanding the habitability potential of regions on Mars. The Centre is also involved in the development of biology experiments in the upper atmospheric and Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The University of Central Lancashire offers a University Certificate in Astrobiology. Distance learning approach by undertaking massive open online courses offered by the University of Edinburgh. Other online courses include the series of lectures recorded and made available on AstroBioVideo.

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Prospective candidates in the field will need at least a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions. There are not many educational institutions that offer astrobiology degrees, so students will want to pursue degrees in astronomy, geology, chemistry, or related fields. More advanced positions require a master's or doctoral degree. Doctoral degrees are not available in astrobiology. Instead, prospective candidates will need to determine in what area of research, such as studying microbes in extreme environments, they want to specialize. The NASA Astrobiology Institute offers those in the field training, seminars, and relevant updates.

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Constant developments in the field have led to the establishment of a few organizations devoted to astrobiology. Indian Astrobiology Research Centre (IARC), based in Mumbai conducts and encourages research in Astrobiology. The IARC is an autonomous scientific body that conducts and encourages theoretical research in the field, and they also offer education and outreach initiative-related opportunities, such as externships, volunteers, and freelance opportunities. Amity Center of Excellence in Astrobiology also hosts various student research programs and freelance opportunities. It is also now a member of the newly formed Astrobiology Society of Asia-Pacific along with member institutions from Australia, (University of New South Wales), New Zealand, China (Macau University and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Japan (Earth Life Science Institute). The members of the society will work together to promote collaboration and outreach in the region. Postgraduate students, post-docs or staff members can join the Astrobiology Society of Britain. As a member of the ASB you’ll be able to attend their biennial conference and will receive regular newsletters listing PhD and post-doc opportunities and upcoming meetings and other announcements, and the website provides a lot of other useful information, including book reviews of the past few years of publications. Another society that may be of interest is the UK Space Biomedicine Association (UKSBA), who also host regular conferences open to all. Similarly, many astrobiology societies have evolved around the world. However, most career opportunities are seen to be sought by NASA.  NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Mars Science Laboratory, Kepler Science Openings, Astronomical Society of the Pacific etc.

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Instead of taking the road of research or lectureship, which is most commonly taken, one can find a lot of branching in the field. One can work in project management and administration (helping space missions get funded and coordinating their construction and operation); or in the press office and inform the media and public about what’s going on; or as a journalist writing about the latest discoveries in newspapers, magazines, websites or books; or get into science policy and making sure the government makes well-informed decisions about new laws or funding or other priorities.

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The world is racing to establish outposts on the Moon and mine asteroids. Experts agree that most nations are at the edge of the space race. And while astrophysics plays a key role in these deep-space expeditions, there is still one more field fast emerging to help us understand the future of humankind in space-Astrobiology. The day might not be as far as we imagine when we can point at a distant object on a starry night and call it our second home. It is still at a nascent stage today but once nurtured with ideas and experiments it is bound to serve for revolutionalizing the way we live.

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Required Skills:

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Astrobiologists will need strong analytical skills, as they must be precise during research experiments. They should also have self-discipline and be able to work independently. Critical-thinking skills are essential, since they must be objective in examining their work and their colleagues' work to determine if it is accurate. Astrobiologists must have strong math skills and be able to perform complex operations with the data they collect during research experiments. Strong technical skills are also essential when utilizing equipment like telescopes.

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Examples of Scientific Programs that hire Astrobiologists:

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1. Research Space Scientist Position at NASA Ames Research Center

2. NASA Mars Science Laboratory Participating Scientist Program

3. Ph.D.-level Graduate Training Position in Biogeochemical Ocean Modeling

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The list below gives a range of great books that are pitched at slightly different levels:

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1. Life in the Universe: A Beginner’s Guide, Lewis Dartnell

2. The Living Cosmos, Chris Impey

3. The Eerie Silence: Are We Alone in the Universe?, Paul Davies

4. How To Build A Habitable Planet,  Langmuir &  Broecker

5. Introduction to Astrobiology, (Eds.) Rothery, Gilmour, Sephton

6. Planets and Life: The Emerging Science of Astrobiology, (Ed.s) Sullivan & Baross

7. Science, Society, and the Search for Life in the Universe, Bruce Jakosky

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