President & Representative on the EANA council:

Silvana Pinna

I am a postdoctoral researcher working on the Origins of Life at the Supramolecular Science & Engineering Institute (ISIS – Université de Strasbourg, France). In my work, I try to shorten the gap between geochemistry and modern metabolism.  I am interested in how the emergence of life on our planet can be extrapolated to potential life elsewhere in the Universe, either present or past. During my PhD at University College London (UCL, London UK) I investigated the primordial emergence of ATP, the “universal energy currency” of the cell, via substrate-level phosphorylation by the small prebiotically plausible molecule acetyl phosphate, in hydrothermal settings. My first experience with Astrobiology was a summer internship at the Centre for Astrobiology (CAB) in Madrid, where I was testing an instrument for biosignature detection for a possible application on the Martian soil. My other interests include going to the theatre, singing and travelling. See you at the next AbGradE event!

Email me: silvana.pinna ( at ) outlook.com

Vice-president:

Hayk Palabikyan

I am a PhD student in the Archaea Physiology and Biotechnology Group at the University of Vienna, Austria. I am mainly interested in methanogenic Archaea and my research focuses on their physiology and molecular biology. I aim at utilizing their metabolism for developing sustainable biotechnological processes, which have the potential to become an essential milestone of a carbon neutral circular economy and which may one day be part of life support systems for missions outside of planet Earth. Carl Sagan, Kathleen Rubins and Ruth Taubner are the people, who inspire me to explore the exciting dimensions of astrobiology. “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.” In my free time I climb and like a true Hayk, I hike. I am looking forward to meeting you at the next AbGradE event!

Email me: hayk.palabikyan ( at ) gmail.com

Treasurer:

Petra Schwendner

I received my PhD in the fascinating field of microbiology focusing on microbial diversity of extreme environments. Since 2014, I have been involved in the MASE (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration) project working at the University of Edinburgh and recently moved on to study hypobarophiles at the Space Life Sciences Lab in Florida. I am looking forward to meeting you at AbGradE.

Email me: science.schwendner ( at ) outlook.com

Media/Correspondence:

Hector-Andreas Stavrakakis

I am currently a PhD student at the National Technical University of Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. In my PhD I investigate the use of electrokinetics in geological formations in extreme conditions and in extent their utilisation for space and Martian applications for the production of mission essentials. My research interests evolve around space technologies and sciences but are primarily focused on Mars and the Martian environment. This has allowed me to participate in many groups and projects over the years, each time with amazing experiences, such as AbGradE. My other interests include board games (Warhammer 40k primarily), cooking, travelling and doing sports.

Email me: hecstavrakakis ( at ) gmail.com

Andrew Alberini

Hello there! I’m Andrew Alberini from Tuscany lands. I am a PhD student of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of University of Florence (master’s degree in Astrophysics) and NASA Mars 2020 Mission Official Collaborator. My research project (carried on at the INAF – Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri in Florence) is focused on the search for traces of extraterrestrial life on Martian surface. The main goals are to produce an infrared spectroscopy database to support the interpretation of NASA Mars 2020 and ESA ExoMars rover instruments, and to investigate the role of minerals in the photodegradation of organic molecules by simulating Martian environment.

Email me: andrew.alberini (at) inaf.it

Alessia Cassaro

I graduated at a master degree course in Cellular and Molecular Biology at University of Tuscia, with a thesis about the search of fungal biomarkers on samples exposed to space environment (BIOMEX project). Now, I’m a PhD student at the same institution and my researches focus on the study of Antarctica microfossils, with the aim to investigate the stability of biomarkers after exposure to radiation environment (BIOSIGN project). I am also involved in “Life in space” project, aiming to study the resistance of eukaryotic test organism Cryomyces antarcticus to Mars significant perchlorates and to characterize the possible effect on the fungal metabolism after exposure to Mars-simulation conditions.

Email me: cassaro ( at ) unitus.it

Pablo de Lucía Finkel

I am currently a PhD student in the Centre for Astrobiology (CAB) in Madrid, Spain. My line of research focuses on lipid biomarkers, which are not only the cheeky molecules that make us fat, but also the basic monomer of the plasma membrane, a fundamental barrier that separates every cell from the rest of the universe. The simplest lipids are surprisingly resistant molecules, being able to uphold their molecular integrity for thousands of millions of years if preserved within salts, ices or the sedimentary record. Their durability, along with their ubiquity, crafts a recipe for optimism in regard to the search for traces of past life on Mars. Besides, I really enjoy scientific outreach, diving, climbing and mountaineering. I also love penguins with all my heart.

Email me: plfinkel (at) cab.inta-csic.es

Dominik Horký

During my first Master (Ecosystem Biology) at the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia in Czechia, I focused on Arctic lakes and the ecology of the microorganisms living there. In my second Master (Earth and Climate System Science) at the German Aerospace Center Berlin and University Hohenheim in Germany, I focused on molecular biosignatures found in microorganisms living in the Antarctic and the Atacama Desert. My main focus was the possibility of detecting such biosignatures on Mars using Raman spectroscopy. Naturally, I would like to continue with a PhD, ideally continuing research with extremophiles. However, the programme that I recently finished studying was multidisciplinary with a focus on the climate and Earth’s atmosphere, which made me interested in the atmospheres of exoplanets as well. I like to experiment in the kitchen, including baking. I love travelling and hiking, theatre, I enjoy reading and watching sci-fi, fantasy, comedies and superhero movies.

Email me: horky.dominik (at) gmail.com

Ben Tatton

I am a PhD student in the AstrobiologyOU research group at the Open University in the United Kingdom. My research is focused on prokaryotic life in high-altitude lakes and what biogeochemical cycling within these systems can tell us about the type of life that may have been present on Mars during more clement periods in its history. To do this my research aims to assess how geochemical changes impact the community profile and function within these extreme environments as well as to identify plausible metabolisms through laboratory simulation experiments. I have adopted an interdisciplinary approach, combing geochemical and ‘omics-based analytical methods. Outside of my PhD, I can usually be found outdoors with hiking, camping, and running being amongst my favourite past times.

Email me: ben.tatton (at) open.ac.uk