Tyler James Mackey

Tyler James Mackey is an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM), specializing in sedimentology, geobiology, and Antarctic lake ecosystems. His research focuses on microbial communities in extreme environments, particularly in perennially ice-covered lakes of Antarctica. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis (2016) and is a 2018 Agouron Institute Geobiology Fellow. His work integrates field studies and laboratory analyses to explore microbial habitats and their preservation in the rock record, with applications to understanding Earth's early evolution and astrobiology.

• Key Affiliations: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, UNM
• Education: Ph.D., University of California–Davis (2016)

Research Interests: Sedimentology, geobiology, carbonate geochemistry, and diagenesis. He investigates microbial mat morphologies and their response to environmental changes, using ice-covered Antarctic lakes as analogs for early Earth and extraterrestrial habitats. His studies bridge modern ecosystems with ancient records, particularly in Neoproterozoic sediments.

Recent Article Trends: Focus on Antarctic lake geochemistry, microbial carbonate formation, and isotopic signatures. His work employs cutting-edge techniques like metagenomics and clumped isotope analysis to trace environmental shifts over geological timescales.

• Awards: 2018 Agouron Institute Geobiology Fellowship

Advising & Grants: Mackey advises students on Antarctic fieldwork and geochemical analyses. His grants support projects in microbial ecology and early Earth analog studies. Collaborations include work with international teams in Svalbard and Oman.

Labs/Teams: Active in the EPS Research Group at UNM, focusing on sedimentology, geochemistry, and geobiology. Leads field expeditions to Antarctic lakes and lab-based geochemical experiments.