Stephen J. Mojzsis
| Stephen J. Mojzsis: |
STUFF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ME: |
Department of Geological Sciences
University of Colorado
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0399
office: (303) 492-5014
lab: (303) 735-5021
fax: (303) 492-2606
e-mail: mojzsis "AT" colorado "DOT" edu
http://www.colorado.edu/GeolSci/
http://lasp.colorado.edu/planetary/
http://isotope.colorado.edu
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RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Welcome to my personal web page. My research is field- and laboratory-based, and seeks to understand: (i) How the surface state stabilized after planetary formation, to the time of the establishment of a permanently-oxygenated atmosphere; (ii) When habitats for early life could have developed and the geophysical regimes that permitted the origin and proliferation of biological systems; (iii) How the geomicrobiology of contemporary microbial communities provides crucial insights into the nature of the dominant biome on the young Earth; (iv) What information is preserved through physical/chemical changes endemic to high-grade metamorphic terranes; and (v) What these results from the ancient rock record might mean in terms of the very establishment of habitability for Earth-like planets. As a geologist, I view Earth as an accessible laboratory that serves as the natural baseline in the test for models to be used in search for ancient biospheres on other ancient planetary surfaces. In general terms, what I do may be described as the fusion of geochemistry with geobiology.
Below, you will find information about me and the activities of my research group and collaborators.
For more information, please visit our laboratory website at http://isotope.colorado.edu
PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION with year of completion
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Postdoctoral Scholar in Geochemistry & Geochronology 2000
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD) Ph.D. Earth Sciences 1997
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts MA Geology 1992
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts BA Geology 1988
APPOINTMENTS
2008-present Acting Director, Science Education Initiative node at the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
2007-present Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
2007-2008 Visiting Research Professor, CNRS-CRPG, Nancy, France
2000-2007 Assistant Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado
2000 Fellow, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, UCLA
1999-2000 Adjunct Assistant Professor of Geochemistry, Earth & Space Sciences, UCLA
1998-2000 NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth & Space Sciences, UCLA
1997-1998 UC President's Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Earth & Space Sciences, UCLA
1998-2000 Asst. Research Scientist: Institute for Pure & Applied Physical Sciences, UCSD
1995-1997 NSCORT Exobiology Graduate Research Fellow, SIO, UCSD
1993-1997 Research Assistant, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego
1988-1992 Research Assistant, Boston University
1987 Summer Intern, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston
HONORS & AWARDS
Fulbright Faculty Scholar (France), 2007-2008
Faculty Fellow, Council of Research and Creative Work, University of Colorado, 2007-2008
University of Colorado, Residence Life Teaching Award, 2004
Fellow, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP), University of California, 1998
Hickok-Radford Award for Geological Research in Polar Regions, Soc. Econ. Geologists, 1997
Geological Society of America, Graduate Research Award, 1996
Edward Frieman Director's Prize, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 1996
Sigma Xi, San Diego Chapter Science Award, 1995
Boston University Graduate Award for Excellence in Geology, 1987
DOWNLOADS:
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| BIBLIOGRAPHY (1993-2009) |
*Denotes Book chapter
Underline = Student Author from my group
Italics = Postdoctoral Author from my group
last updated January 31, 2009
(Note about papers in the works - as these appear IN PRINT or IN PRESS I will update the links.)
2009
47. Mojzsis, S.J. (IN PREP) Invited Review: Crossroads - The earliest history of water on the Earth.
46. Abramov, O. and Mojzsis, S.J. (IN PREP) Thermal state of the terrestrial lithosphere during the late heavy bombardment.
45. Mojzsis, S.J. and Cates, N.L. (IN PREP) Invited Review: Early Earth Systems at the Hadean-Archean transition (4.0 - 3.7 Ga).
44. Papineau, D. et al. (IN PREP) Ancient graphite in Eoarchean quartz-pyroxene rocks from Akilia, West Greenland I: Petrographic and spectroscopic characterization.
43. Mojzsis, S.J., Cates, N.L. and Schmitt, A.K. (IN PREP) A maximum age of 3780 Ma for the Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt, northern Quebec (Canada).
42. Abramov, O. and Mojzsis, S.J. Microbial habitability of the terrestrial biosphere during the late heavy bombardment. Nature 459, 419-422.
41. Cates, N.L. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2009) Metamorphic zircon, trace elements and Neoarchean metamorphism in the ca. 3.75 Ga Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt, Quebec (Canada). Chemical Geology 261, 98-113.
2008
40. Caro, G., Bennett, V.C., Bourdon, B., Harrison, T.M., Mojzsis, S.J. and Harris, J.W. (2008) Precise analysis of 142Nd/144Nd in small samples: Application to Hadean zircons from Jack Hills (W. Australia) and diamond inclusions from Finsch (S. Africa). Chemical Geology 247, 253-265.
2007
39. Turner, G., Busfield, A., Crowther, S., Harrison, T.M., Mojzsis, S.J. and Gilmour, J. (2007) Pu-Xe, U-Xe, U-Pb chronology and isotope systematics of ancient zircons from Western Australia. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 261, 491-499.
38. SORRY, ONLY A PREPRINT AVAILABLE *Mojzsis, S.J. (2007) Sulphur on the Early Earth. In, Earth's oldest rocks (Van Kranendonk, M..J., Smithies, R.H. and Bennett, V. Eds.) Developments in Precambrian Geology 15, 923-970..
37. Dauphas, N., Cates, N.L., Mojzsis, S.J. and Busigny, V. (2007) Identification of chemical sedimentary protoliths using iron isotopes in the >3760 Ma Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt, Canada. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 254, 358-376.
36. Cates, N.L. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2007) Pre-3750 Ma supracrustal rocks from the Nuvvuagittuq supracrustal belt, northern Quebec. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 255, 9-21.
35. Trail, D., Mojzsis, S.J. and Harrison, T.M. (2007) Thermal events documented in Hadean zircons by ion microprobe depth profiles. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71, 4044-4065.).
34. Trail, D., Mojzsis, S.J., Harrison, T.M., Schmitt, A.K., Watson, E.B. and Young, E.D. (2007) Constraints on Hadean protoliths from oxygen isotopes and Ti-thermometry Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 8. doi:10.1029/2006GC001449.).
33. Papineau, D., Mojzsis, S.J., and Schmitt, A.K. (2007) Multiple sulfur isotopes from Paleoproterozoic Huronian interglacial sediments and the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 255, 188-212.
2006
32. Papineau, D. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2006) Mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes in sulfides from the pre-3770 Ma Isua Supracrustal Belt, West Greenland. Geobiology 4, 227-238.
31. Cates, N.L. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2006) Chemical and isotopic evidence for widespread Eoarchean (>3700 Ma) metasedimentary enclaves in southern West Greenland. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 70, 4229-4257.
30. Manning, C.E., Mojzsis, S.J. and Harrison, T.M. (2006) Geology, age and origin of supracrustal rocks, Akilia, Greenland. Am. J. Sci. 306, 303-366.
29. Harrison, T.M., Blichert-Toft, J., Mueller, W., Albarede, F., Holden, P. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2006) Response to comment on "Heterogeneous Hadean Hafnium: Evidence of continental crust at 4.4 to 4.5 Ga." Science 312, 1139b.
2005
28. Harrison, T.M., Blichert-Toft, J., Mueller, W., Albarede, F., Holden, P. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2005) Heterogeneous Hadean Hafnium: Evidence of continental crust at 4.4 to 4.5 Ga. Science 310, 1947-1950.
27. Papineau, D., Mojzsis, S.J., Coath, C.D., Karhu, J.A. and McKeegan, K.D. (2005) Multiple sulfur isotopes of sulfides from sediments in the aftermath of Paleoproterozoic glaciations. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 69, 5033-5060 (doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2005.07.005).
26. Papineau, D., Walker, J.J, Mojzsis, S.J., and Pace, N.R. (2005) Composition and structure of microbial communities from stromatolites of Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Appl. Environ. Microbio. 71, 4822-4832 (doi: 10.1128/AEM.71.8.4822-4832.2005).
25. Mojzsis, S.J. (2005) Precambrian hydrocarbons: Products of changing geology and biology with time. Petrol. Front. 20, 3-10.
24. Papineau, D., Mojzsis, S.J., Karhu, J.A. and Marty, B. (2005) Nitrogen isotopic composition of ammoniated phyllosilicates: Case studies from Precambrian metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. Chem. Geol. 216, 37-58 (doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2004.10.009).
23. *Mojzsis, S.J. Atmosphere evolution. In Encyclopedia of Geology, edited by R. Selley, R. Cocks and I.R Plimer: Elsevier, Oxford 1, 197-207.
2004
22. Turner, G., Harrison, T.M., Holland, G., Mojzsis, S.J. and Gilmour, J. (2004) Extinct 244Pu in ancient zircons. Science 306, 89-91.
2003
21. Mojzsis, S.J., Devaraju, T.C. and Newton, R.C. (2003) Ion microprobe U-Pb age determinations on zircon from the Late Archean granulite facies transition zone of southern Karnataka, India. J. Geol. 111(4), 407-425.
20. Mojzsis, S.J., Coath, C.D., Greenwood, J.P., McKeegan, K.D. and Harrison, T.M. (2003) Confirmation of mass-independent isotope effects in Archean (2.5 – 3.8 Ga) sedimentary sulfides as determined by ion microprobe analysis. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 67(9), 1635-1658.
2002
19. Mojzsis, S.J. (2002) Origin of Life: The First Fossils. In Encyclopedia of Evolution, edited by M. Pagel: Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 843-845.
18. Mojzsis, S.J., and Harrison, T.M. (2002) Establishment of a 3.83 Ga magmatic age for the Akilia tonalite (southern West Greenland). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 202, 563-576.
17. Mojzsis, S.J. and Harrison, T.M. (2002) Origin and Significance of Archean Quartzose Rocks at Akilia, Greenland. Science 298, 917a.
2001
16. Mojzsis, S.J., Harrison, T.M., Pidgeon, R.T., C.D. (2001) Oxygen isotope evidence from ancient zircons for liquid water at Earths surface 4,300 Myr ago. Nature 409, 178-181.
15. Anbar, A.D., Zahnle, K.J., Arnold, G. and Mojzsis, S.J. (2001) Extraterrestrial iridium, sediment accumulation and the habitability of the early Earths surface. J. Geophys. Res. 106(2), 3219-3236.
14. Mojzsis, S.J. (2001) Life and the evolution of Earths atmosphere, In Earth inside and out, edited by E. Mathez: New Press, New York, pp. 32-39. [peer-reviewed book chapter for lay audience]
*13. Mojzsis, S.J., and Ryder, G. (2001) Extraterrestrial accretion to the Earth and Moon ca. 3.85 Ga. In: Accretion of Extraterrestrial Matter Throughout Earth History, edited by B. Peuckner-Ehrenbrink and B. Schmitz: Kluwer, pp. 423-446.
2000
12. Mojzsis, S.J., and Harrison, T.M. (2000) Vestiges of a beginning: clues to the emergent biosphere recorded in the oldest known sedimentary rocks. GSA Today 10: 1-6.
*11. Ryder, G., Koeberl, C., and Mojzsis, S.J. (2000) Heavy bombardment of the Earth at ~3.85 Ga: The search for petrographic and geochemical evidence. In: Origin of the Earth and Moon; edited by K. Righter and R. Canup: University of Arizona Press pp.475-492.
10. Greenwood, J.P., Mojzsis, S.J. and Coath, C.D. (2000) Sulfur isotopic compositions of individual sulfides in ALH84001 and Nakhla: implications for crust-regolith exchange on Mars. Earth Planet. Sci. Letts. 184, 23-25.
The following papers were published prior to my arrival at the University of Colorado
1999
*9. Mojzsis, S.J., Krishnamurthy, R., and Arrhenius, G. (1999) Before RNA and After: Geophysical and geochemical constraints on molecular evolution. In: The RNA World II, edited by Gesteland, R., Cech, T. and Atkins, J.: Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York pp. 1- 47.
8. Mojzsis, S.J., Harrison, T.M., Arrhenius, G., McKeegan, K.D., and Grove, M. (1999) Origin of life from apatite dating? Reply. Nature 400, 127-128.
1998
7. Mojzsis, S.J., and Arrhenius, G. (1998) Phosphates and carbon on Mars: Exobiological implications and sample return considerations. J. Geophys. Res. 103(E12), 28,495-28,511.
1997
6. Arrhenius, G., Sales, B., Mojzsis, S.J., and Lee, T. (1997) Entropy and charge in molecular evolution: the role of phosphate. J. Theor. Bio. 187, 503-522.
5. Eiler, J.M., Mojzsis, S.J., and Arrhenius, G. (1997) Carbon isotope evidence for early life: Nature 386, 665.
4. Nutman, A.P., Mojzsis, S.J., and Friend, C.R.L. (1997) Identification of the oldest water-lain sediments at >3850 Ma from Akilia island, southern West Greenland. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61(12), 2475-2484.
1996
3. Arrhenius, G., and Mojzsis, S.J. (1996) Extraterrestrial life: Life on Mars-then and now. Curr. Bio. 6(10), 1213-1216.
2. Mojzsis, S.J., Arrhenius, G., McKeegan, K.D., Harrison, T.M., Nutman, A.P., and Friend, C.R.L. (1996) Evidence for life on Earth by 3800 million years ago. Nature 384 (6604), 55-59.
1993
*1. Arrhenius, G., Gedulin, B., and Mojzsis, S.J. (1993) Phosphate in models for chemical evolution. In: Chemical Evolution: Origin of Life, edited by Ponnamperuma, C., and Chela-Flores, J.: A. Deepak, Hampton, Virginia, pp. 25-50.
Other Publications
4. #Mojzsis, S.J. (2004) The First Billion Years: New insights from geochemistry. Precambrian Research 135 (4), 245-250. [preface to a special issue].
3. #Mojzsis, S.J. (2004) Life in the first billion years. Journal of High School Science (Canada) 3 (1), 46-51. [public service/outreach activity].
2. *Mojzsis, S.J. (2003) Probing early atmospheres. Nature 425 (6955), 249-251 doi:10.1038/425249a. [News and Views piece].
1. *Mojzsis, S.J. . (2003) The Early Earth: Physical, Chemical and Biological Development. Eos Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union 88 (36), 358. [Book review]
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Geological Sciences | Graduate Program in Planetary Sciences | Univ. of Colorado at Boulder
Last modified on Friday October 9, 2009 2:59 PM