John Grotzinger and the Sedimentary Geology group at MIT are involved in several projects related to the mission of the Astrobiology Institute. These projects include: 1) Numerical simulation of stromatolite morphogenesis, 2) Self-organization and growth of Conophyton-like structures in Recent Phormidium mats, 3) Tomographic reconstruction of Namapoikia (calcified, probably colonial, terminal Proterozoic metazoan), 4) Environmental and biologic change across the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary in Namibia and Oman, and 5) Geo(bio?)logical analysis of Martian sediments and sedimentary rocks during the Athena mission. The Sedimentary Geology personnel involved in this research include Grotzinger, post-docs Erwin Adams and Stefan Schroder, graduate students David Fike, Matt Jackson, Joel Johnson, Wes Watters, and Rhea Workman, and undergraduate student Soraya Scroggins.

Laboratory/Facilities:
The Sedimentary Geology laboratory has six microscopes equipped with transmitted polarized plain light sources, and reflected plain light, UV and X-ray (cathodoluminescence) sources; a computer-automated fossil tomography system; four workstations with 3D seismic interpretation software; sediment particle size analyzer; and four flumes, ducts and tanks for physical experiments of sediment transport.

Astrobiology-Related Courses:
Introduction to Geology; Mars Exploration Rover Mission; Field Investigations of Complex Depositional Systems; Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy; Carbonate Sedimentology