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HomeX   Summarized Research Reports from '99-00   Samples collected and ready for study in Dr. Farmer's lab   Student Kudos!
		ASU Major Research Categories ASU's Astrobiology Program is supported by 15 ASU faculty called Principal Co-Investigators (Co-I's) from varied disiplines (funded by the NAI). Many collaborate with research faculty at other institutions which include: the College of William & Mary, University of Alaska, University of Arizona, University of Connecticut, University of Puget Sound, University of Tennessee, Indiana University and the National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City. The primary area of research ("The Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Life in the Solar System") is broken down into three major research categories and then further into specific research modules. Each Principal Co-I is responsible for a module and a select team of researchers that can include undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students, ASU research staff and collaborating research faculty at other institutions. The three major categories and their corresponding modules are:
		1. Prebiotic Chemistry and the Origin of Living Systems
		Mod 1A		Cosmochemistry of Carbonaceous Meteorites Principal Co-I:  Dr. Laurie Leshin
		Mod 1B		Organosynthesis in Simulated Black Smoker Environments Principal Co-Is:  Dr. John Holloway and Dr. Peggy O'Day
		2. Evolution and the Fossil Record
		Mod 2		Origin and Evolution of Photosynthesis Principal Co-I: Dr. Robert Blankenship
		Mod 3A		Microbial Fossilization Processes and Stromatolite Morphogenesis in Extreme Environments Principal Co-I: Dr. Jack Farmer
		Mod 3B		EM-Based Ultrastructural Studies of Microbial Biosignatures Principal Co-I: Dr. Thomas Sharp
		Mod 3C		Environmental Conditions of the Archean Earth Principal Co-I: Dr. Paul Knauth
		Mod 4		Evolution in Microbe-Based Ecosystems: Desert Springs as Analogues for the Early Development and Stabilization of Ecological Systems Principal Co-I: Dr. James Elser
		3. Exploring for Life in the Solar System
		Mod 5A		Exploration for Past or Present Life on Mars Principal Co-Is: Dr. Phil Christensen, Dr. Jack Farmer, Dr. Ron Greeley
		Mod 5B		Exploring for Habitable Environments on Europa Principal Co-I: Dr. Ron Greeley
		Mod 5C		Effect of Impacts on Planetary Habitability and Evolution Principal Co-I: Dr. David Kring, Univ. of Arizona

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