Astrobiology (Collaborative Program) (MSc)

The program curriculum is designed to provide both a deep training in a home field, together with thesis and research work in Astrobiology. Students participate in our activities, by interacting with our members and fellow students, taking our courses, meeting our visiting distinguished scientists, and completing thesis work and writing research papers.

Areas of Research

• Astrophysical aspects of astrobiology: characterization of terrestrial planets in the solar system and exoplanetary systems, formation of terrestrial planets, planetary habitability, origins of water and biomolecules, search for life in the solar system
• Geochemical and geological aspects of astrobiology: early evolution of Earth and Mars, analogue sites for extreme life, mineral and isotopic records for evolution of life on Earth, with applications to Mars
• Biological and biochemical aspects of astrobiology: prebiotic chemistry, biomolecules and early cells, extreme ecosystems and the origin of life, RNA world, phylogenomics and the evolution of life on Earth Astrophysics