Dr. Mike Callahan
Principal Investigator
Postdoc, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NPP Fellow)
Ph.D. Physical/Analytical Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.S. Chemistry, University of Rhode Island
Mike’s research interests include [1] the study of organic compounds in extraterrestrial materials, [2] prebiotic chemistry of nitrogen heterocycles, [3] exploring the connection between iron cyanocarbonyl complexes and hydrogenase active sites, [4] analyses of ancient food and wine residues, and [5] developing analytical methods and techniques for the analysis of highly challenging samples.  When he’s not thinking about science, he’s either spending time with his family or trying to relive his glory days of playing flag football at UC Santa Barbara.     

Dr. Karen Smith
Senior Research Scientist
Postdoc, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NPP Fellow)
Ph.D. Geosciences and Biogeochemistry, The Pennsylvania State University
B.S. Chemistry, Arizona State University
Karen's research interests include the synthesis and evolution of organic and organometallic compounds in extraterrestrial materials and how these compounds may have participated in prebiotic chemistry, particularly the origin of genetic material and ancient coenzymes.  She also has an interest in general analytical chemistry, food chemistry, and archaeometry.

Kelsey (Kelso) Hinrichs
B.S. Chemistry Student with Biochemistry Emphasis, joined group in Spring 2024
Kelso is conducting data analysis of high-resolution mass spectra to investigate the synthesis of prebiotic organic compounds from simple aqueous reactions containing hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and formaldehyde. This work is a continuation of our research collaboration with Prof. Jim Cleaves (Howard University) that examined the Miller Paradox in origin of life chemistry.

Rachel Reichow
M.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2024
B.S. Chemistry, University of North Dakota, 2021
Rachel's research investigated cyanide abundance and speciation in carbonaceous chondrites to elucidate how cyanide, a volatile and reactive molecule, was sequestered in asteroids.  She used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, including a state-of-the-art orbitrap mass analyzer, for her research.  Rachel previously worked as a Laboratory Assistant for the USDA in Grand Forks, ND. Group member from Fall 2021 - Spring 2024.

M.S. Thesis: Cyanide Abundance of Highly Aqueously Altered CM Chondrites: Insight For Asteroid Bennu

Zachary Camargo
B.S. Chemistry with Professional Emphasis, B.S. Mathematics, Boise State University, 2024
HERC fellow, Fall 2022
Zachary developed an analytical method for the analysis of hydrogen sulfide in meteorites. Before joining the group, Zachary conducted research in the field of organic electronics at Yamagata University (Yonezawa, Japan) in Summer 2022 via NSF ETAP.  Group member from Fall 2022 - Spring 2024.

Katrina Hubbs
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2024
Katrina investigated the extraction efficiency of one of our analytical methods using chemical derivatization and UV and fluorescence spectroscopy. Katrina works as a Water Quality Project Manager at Corollo’s Water Applied Research Center in Boise, ID. Group member from Spring 2023 - Spring 2024.

Rebecca (Becca) Torres
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2020
Becca’s research investigated the synthesis of iron cyanocarbonyl complexes in aqueous reactions and how these complexes could have transformed to a primitive [NiFe]-hydrogenase active site under early Earth conditions.  Becca utilized a multi-analytical approach for characterization, including ultrahigh resolution orbitrap mass spectrometry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and powder XRD. Group member from Fall 2020 - Spring 2023 (Master’s student, ABT).   

Alex Welninski
B.S. Chemistry with Forensic Emphasis, 2022
B.S. Criminal Justice, Weber State University, 2016
Alex assisted in analytical method development involving direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the rapid analysis of meteorite extracts.  Alex presented this research in her senior undergraduate seminar in December 2022.  Group member from Fall 2021 - Fall 2022.    

Taylor Lajoie
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2022
Taylor assisted in the synthesis and characterization of carbonylpentacyanoferrate(II) complex for astrobiology studies.  Group member Spring 2022.

Olivia Brown
B.S. Chemistry Student
Olivia assisted in the troubleshooting and repair of an HPLC instrument.  Group member Fall 2021.

Alison Fielding
Chemistry teacher at Centennial High School (Boise, ID)
Alison’s research investigated different reaction pathways and conditions leading to components of peptide nucleic acids (PNA). Alison is supported by a MJ Murdock Trust Partners in Science grant, which pairs high school science teachers with a mentor doing cutting-edge research in an academic lab.  Group member Summer 2019 and Summer 2021.

Fernando Aguilar
B.S. Chemistry with Professional Emphasis, Boise State University, 2021
Fernando’s research investigated the oligomerization of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG) using layered double hydroxides and wet-dry cycles. Fernando characterized oligomer size and relative abundance using electrospray ionization-ultrahigh resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. He also assisted in developing new methods for the analysis of extraterrestrial meteorite samples. Group member from Spring 2020 - Spring 2021.

Avery Irwin
B.S. Chemistry with Biochemistry Emphasis and Forensic Emphasis, Boise State University, 2021
Avery’s research involved the chemical analysis of pottery sherds that were recently excavated in 2017 and 2019 from the Neolithic sites of Shulaveris Gora and Gadachrili Gora, respectively. Avery used liquid chromatography-high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry to search for traces of ancient grape wine compounds. This research was part of a collaboration with Dr. Pat McGovern (University of Pennsylvania Museum). Group member from Spring 2020 - Spring 2021.

Tucker Melles
B.S. Astrobiology, Florida Institute of Technology, 2018
Tucker’s research involved elucidating prebiotically plausible pathways to peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers and oligomers.  A strong focus of his research involved the study of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG) oligomerization via wet-dry cycles and mineral addition, and oligomer characterization by electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn).  Group member from Fall 2018 - Fall 2020 (Master’s student, ABT).

Vanessa Johnson
B.S. Chemistry Student
Vanessa assisted on documentation and sample preparation of archaeological samples from the Neolithic sites of Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveris Gora. Group member from Fall 2019 – Spring 2020.

Crystal Lundgren
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2020
HERC fellow, Fall 2019
Crystal conducted a pilot study to investigate the synthesis of an enzyme mimic under plausible prebiotic conditions, which supported a collaboration between the Callahan & Smith Lab, Colson Lab, and Brown Lab.  She also assisted on a research project preparing ammonium cyanide polymers to investigate the effects of reaction temperature on the yields of releasable nitrogen heterocycles.  Group member from Fall 2018 – Spring 2020.  

Rebekah (Bekah) Rozowski
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2020
Bekah's research involved the analysis of meteorites by ultrahigh resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry.  She also conducted Kendrick mass analyses to identify families of homologous organic compounds.  This research supports one of our NASA grants to investigate soluble organic compounds and their evolution with aqueous alteration in CM carbonaceous chondrites.  Group member from Fall 2018 – Spring 2020.  

Melissa Roberts
B.S. Chemistry with Secondary Education Emphasis, Boise State University, 2017
Associate of Science, New Mexico State University
Melissa first joined the research group in Fall 2015 as an undergraduate student.  She helped to elucidate chemical reaction pathways for nitrogen heterocycle adducts synthesized in plausibly prebiotic complex mixtures in collaboration with Prof. Chris House (Department of Geosciences, Penn State University).   As a master’s student, Melissa’s research involved the analysis of soluble organic compounds in meteorites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Group member from Fall 2015 - Spring 2017 (undergraduate student) and Fall 2017 - Fall 2019 (Master’s student, ABT).

Patrick Schwartz
M.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2019
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2017
Patrick’s research involved the analysis of soluble organic compounds in meteorites (particularly CM chondrites) by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and the development of a novel method to estimate the organic composition at a highly detailed, molecular-level for asteroid small bodies. Group member from Fall 2017 - Summer 2019.

M.S. Thesis: Investigating Soluble Organic Compounds in Aqueously Altered Carbonaceous Chondrites by Ultrahigh Resolution Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

Kim Farrar
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2019
HERC fellow, Fall 2018
Kim’s research involved developing new LC-MS analytical methods to analyze wine residues in archaeological vessels. This research was part of a long-term collaboration with Dr. Pat McGovern (University of Pennsylvania Museum). Group member from Fall 2018 - Spring 2019.

Hannah Davis
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2018
Hannah's research involved advanced data analysis of high resolution mass spectrometry data acquired from carbonaceous chondrites, a type of meteorite, and investigated how the degree of pre-terrestrial aqueous alteration influenced the complex organic composition.  Group member from Fall 2017 - Spring 2018.

Areli Castro
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2018
Areli's research involved developing new analytical methods to analyze ancient residues (particularly wine residues) in archaeological vessels.  This research was part of a long-term collaboration with Dr. Pat McGovern (University of Pennsylvania Museum).  Group member from Fall 2017 - Spring 2018.  

Thomas Garrett
B.S. Chemistry with Professional Emphasis, Boise State University, 2017
Thomas's research explored the reaction conditions involving the spontaneous oligomerization of hydroxymethylated nucleobases in water.  This research also involved a collaboration with Prof. Gerrick Lindberg (Northern Arizona University) to examine the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of hydroxymethylated nucleobases and their oligomers using molecular dynamics simulations.  Group member from Fall 2016 - Spring 2017.

Alison Good
B.S. Chemistry with ACS Biochemistry Emphasis, Boise State University, 2016
Alison's research investigated the lipid and fatty acid composition of naturally occurring and assembled algae polycultures that were grown in dairy wastewater.  Understanding the fatty acid composition was important for assessing their potential as biofuels in addition to establishing a comprehensive compositional analysis of these algae communities.  This research was in collaboration with Prof. Kevin Feris (Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University).  Group member from Fall 2015 - Spring 2017.

Hanna Meinikheim
B.S. Chemistry with Forensic Emphasis, Boise State University
Hanna's research involved advanced data analysis of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data acquired from residues preserved in potsherds from Askut, an ancient Egyptian island fortress on the Nile.  One of the primary science goals of this research was to see if we could differentiate between foods cooked in Egyptian vs. Nubian pots and whether cuisine changed as control of this island fortress changed hands between the Egyptians and Nubians.  This research was in collaboration with Prof. Stuart Tyson Smith (University of California Santa Barbara).  Group member from Spring 2016 - Summer 2017.

Phillip Hammer
M.S. Chemistry, Boise State University, 2017
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellow 2016-2017
B.S. Chemistry, Boise State University
Phillip's research investigated thermal and radiation processing of organic material, particularly nucleobases and nitrogen heterocycles, and how it related to meteorite parent body chemistry.  This research also involved collaborations with Dr. Jim Cleaves (Tokyo Institute of Technology) and Dr. Aaron Burton (NASA Johnson Space Center). Group member from Fall 2015-Summer 2017

M.S. Thesis: Investigating Hydrothermal and Radiation Effects on Nitrogen Heterocycles Relevant to Meteorite Parent Bodies