Biographical Information Professor Samuel Kounaves, Department of Chemistry Adjunct Professor, Department of Geology Research Affiliate, NASA-Jet Propulsion Lab Department of Chemistry Pearson Chemistry Laboratory  Tufts University Medford, MA 02155 Tel: (617) 627-3124  Fax: (617) 627-3443  Cell: (781) 526-4137 E-mail: Education Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, School of Medicine, 1987-88      Research Advisor: Prof. James Young Postdoctoral , S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, New York, 1985-86      Research Advisor: Prof. Janet G. Osteryoung Ph.D. (D.Sc.), 1985, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland      Research Advisor: Prof. Jacques Buffle B.A., 1975, M.S., 1978, California State University at San Diego, California      Research Advisor: Dr. Alberto Zirino (NOSC) Appointments Adjunct Professor, (3/08 - Present) Department of Geology, Tufts University, Medford, MA Associate Professor of Chemistry, (5/94 - Present) Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA Affiliate Scientist (6/04 - Present) NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA Faculty Board of Directors & Core Faculty Researcher, (9/94 - 9/02) Center for Field Analytical Studies & Technology, Tufts University, Medford, MA Assistant Professor of Chemistry, (9/88-5/94) Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA Scientific Associate, (12/79 - 12/80) European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland Research Chemist, (4/75 - 10/79) Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, California Research Interests  Prof. Kounaves' research is focused on unraveling fundamental questions in planetary science using the techniques of modern analytical chemistry.  His current major investigative thrusts, using in-situ autonomous chemical analysis systems, are to further our understanding of Mars, its geochemical history, and its potential for supporting past or present microbial life in the regolith (soil) or subsurface environments, and to explore concepts for unambiguous detection of microbial life in extraterrestrial settings. In the longer term, he is also interested in applying the same techniques to investigate the surface and sub-glacial oceans on other planetary bodies such as Jupiter's moon, Europa. Understanding the past and present geochemistry as written in the surface materials on earth and other planets is critical in helping define and constrain the environment and forces necessary for the development of the first self-replicating entities and the eventual origin of life, and in understanding the climatic history recorded in the subsurface layers.  His research also encompasses understanding extreme environments on Earth in places such as the Antarctic Dry Valleys, Death Valley, and deep sea thermal vents, and developing analytical techniques which will allow reliable analyses in such places.  In 2003, he was one of 24 scientists chosen by NASA to lead the 2007 Phoenix Mars Scout Lander mission and lead investigator for the wet chemistry experiments.  As co-investigator and part of the Phoenix science team, he will lead the chemical investigation and interpretation of the MECA Wet Chemistry Lab inorganic and electrochemical analyses of the soil/ice constituents, their relationship to past/present Martian geochemistry, and the potential of the Martian environment to support microbial life. He is developing scientific analytical methodologies that will insure viable and reliable chemistry results. Based on previous studies and synthetic, simulant, and model systems, he and his group are developing a comprehensive response library that will enable accurate interpretation of Martian geochemistry.   Prof. Kounaves was previously a science team member on the now cancelled 2001 Mars Surveyor MECA Wet Chemistry Lab.  He is currently the PI for a three-year $1.2 million NASA supported astrobiology research project to study and demonstrate the concept of microbial detection using "minimal assumptions" and chemical changes in the environment during growth.  He is also Co-PI on several other NASA/NSF supported research projects, including: as a team member of the International Polar Year (IPY) expedition to Antarctica, studying the geochemistry of the Dry Valleys in comparison to that of the Mars arctic; the measurement of Total Organic Carbon  on Mars (TIC/TOC) using electrochemical oxidation of organics; the In-Situ Robotic Chemical Analysis Lab (RCAL/WetChem), a rover-based instrument designed to study the geochemical history of Mars and to perform a variety of automated in-situ chemical analyses.   He has been awarded over 18 major grants from NASA, NSF, EPA, and DOE, has authored over 60 publications, presented over 90 talks, and holds 4 Patents. Additional research info can be found at: http://planetary.chem.tufts.edu