Tullis Onstott - About Me
Tullis Onstott has been focusing his research for the last 15 years on subsurface microbial life and its implications for life on Mars and the origin of life. This research involves exploration of subsurface microbial ecosystems via mines, drilling, and new underground laboratories, and quantifying its community structure, function, and activity with molecular, isotopic, and geochemical tools.
PhD opportunities are available for multidisciplinary, international research into the microbial cycling of carbon in the deep crustal bioshere of South Africa.
A Postdoctoral Associate position is available for multidisciplinary, international research into the microbial cycling of carbon in the deep crustal biosphere of South Africa. Please go to https://jobs.princeton.edu to apply. Requisition number 1000269.
Conference in South Africa, January 17-24 2011
New Horizons for International Investigations into Carbon Cycling in the Deep Biosphere conference was held at the University of Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa sponsored by Deep Carbon Observatory.
Recently Given Talks:
NRC Presentation August 31, 2007
Peter Sucheki's mp4 of the summer 07 field season
Recently Published Papers:
In Situ Cultivation of Subsurface Microorganisms in a Deep Mafic Sill:
Implications for SLiMEs
High Lake gossan deposit: An Arctic analogue for ancient Martian
surficial processes?
Microbial Communities in Subpermafrost Saline
Fracture Water at the Lupin Au Mine, Nunavut, Canada
Survivability of Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5
under Simulated Martian Surface Conditions
Environmental Genomics Reveals a Single-Species Ecosystem Deep Within Earth
Research Projects:
Witwatersrand Basin showing location of mines sample during LExEn deep microbiology project.
PhD opportunities are available for multidisciplinary, international research into the microbial cycling of carbon in the deep crustal bioshere of South Africa.
Satellite image of High Lake site in Arctic Canada selected as a Mars analog site where 200 meters of permafrost was collected this summer. Drill site and horizontal projection of 530 meter borehole penetrating the permafrost is show by red dot and line. Orange regions are oxidized sulfide deposits, natural acid drainage sites for future investigations.
Tunnel through 500 meter thick permafrost/rock zone at Lupin Mine in the Canadian Arctic, site of IPTAI subpermafrost brine sampling campaign.
Map of NELSAM underground laboratory and boreholes crossing the Pretorius main fault zone. Level 120 = 3.8 km below surface in Tau Tona Mine.
Anaerobic Biostimulation for the In Situ Precipitation and Long-Term Sequestration of Metal Sulfides (in collaboration with Geosyntec and sponsored by SERDP)
Education and Outreach:
MRO aerobraking into Martian orbit.
BEESA - Biological and Environmental Education in South Africa - Research and Education for Undergraduates (sponsored by NSF International Program)