Peter Doran

Peter Doran is a Professor and John Franks Endowed Chair in the Department of Geology & Geophysics at Louisiana State University's College of Science. His research focuses on Antarctic climate systems, astrobiology, planetary protection, and climate change. He previously held positions at the University of Illinois at Chicago and has led NASA-funded projects exploring Mars analog environments. Doran is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and Earth Leadership Program, with over 30 years of Antarctic fieldwork experience.

Education: B.Sc. from Trent University, M.Sc. from Queen's University (Canada), Ph.D. in Hydrology from University of Nevada, Reno.

Research Interests: Doran investigates polar ecosystems, climate dynamics, and extraterrestrial habitats. Notable contributions include the 2002 Antarctic climate study in Nature and co-authoring the 2009 consensus on human-caused climate change in Eos. His work bridges Earth science and space exploration, advising NASA on planetary protection policies.

Awards: Named Antarctic stream and glacier by USGS, COSPAR Planetary Protection Panel Vice Chair, and multiple fellowships. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, such as the OAST initiative with Indigenous communities.

Grants & Advising: Led over $10M in NASA grants, advised graduate students on Antarctic and astrobiology projects. Current research includes brine lake geochemistry and Mars sample return protocols.

Labs & Teams: Collaborates with McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program and NASA's Planetary Protection Office. Active in COSPAR policy development.