Zachary K. Garvin

Zachary K. Garvin is a Postdoctoral Fellow working in the Johnson Biosignatures Lab through the STIA Program and Department of Biology at Georgetown University. He received his Ph.D. in Geomicrobiology from Princeton University.

Dr. Garvin's educational background includes:

• Ph.D., Geology from Princeton University
• M.A., Geology from Princeton University
• B.S., Microbiology from Brown University

His primary research interests lie at the intersection of microbial ecology, biochemistry, and geochemistry. Dr. Garvin utilizes techniques from traditional microbiology, metagenomics, and analytical chemistry to study "extreme" terrestrial environments, the microorganisms that inhabit them, and the strategies life employs to survive under such challenging conditions. His research spans topics from bacterial ether lipid production in peat environments to microbial trace gas oxidation in desert soils as analogs for Martian surface environments.

Dr. Garvin's work focuses on preparing for astrobiology-relevant instruments on upcoming Mars missions. Specifically, he has worked on modifying and applying commercial LDI-MS to serve as a science analog to the MOMA instrument onboard the Rosalind Franklin rover. He collaborates extensively with NASA and ESA partners in instrument development and data interpretation.

His research has been presented at major conferences including:

• Biennial European Astrobiology Conference (BEACON)
• AbSciCon
• AGU Fall Meeting
• Mars Extant Life: What's Next?

Dr. Garvin is an active contributor to the astrobiology community with expertise in developing life-detection strategies for extraterrestrial environments, particularly focusing on Mars exploration and analog studies in extreme terrestrial environments like the Andean Altiplano.