The Penn State Astrobiology Research Center (PSARC) was created in 1998 as one of eleven member institutions of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). Its primary missions are to:

  • promote, conduct and lead integrated multidisciplinary research.
  • train scientists
  • provide public access to the new field of Astrobiology.


    PSARC is comprised of Director Hiroshi Ohmoto, 16 Co-Principal Investigators (14 at Penn State, two at University of Pittsburg and one at SUNY, Stony Brook), their research teams (post-docs, graduate students, undergraduate students, technicians) and support staff in administration, information technology and education/public outreach programs.

    The 17 (Co-)PI's represent a wide range of expertise in Astrobiology:

  • Atmospheric Chemistry - Jim Kasting
  • Experimental Chemistry and Physics - A. Will Castleman
  • Geochemistry
    - Mike Arthur, Sue Brantley, Lee Kump and Hiroshi Ohmoto
    - Rosemary Capo and Brian Stewart, University of Pittsburgh
    - Martin Schoonen, SUNY Stony Brook
  • Paleontology - Mark Patzkowsky
  • Geomicrobiology - Kate Freeman, Chris House and Jenn Macalady
  • Evolutionary Genomics - S. Blair Hedges
  • Biochemistry and Microbiology - Jean Brenchley and Greg Ferry
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics - Steinn Sigurdsson and Alex Wolszczan.