Des Marais

Email: David.J.DesMarais@nasa.gov

Phone: (650)604-3220

Professional Biography

• 1976-present, Research Scientist, Space Sciences, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
• 1975-1976, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Geophysics, University of CA at Los Angeles
• 1974-1975, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Indiana University
• 2008-present, Member, science team, Mars Science Laboratory rover mission
• 2017-2019, Mars 2020 Landing Site Selection Committee
• 2017-2019, Mars 2020 Surface Operations Critical Design Review Panel
• 1997-2019, Interdisciplinary Scientist, Astrobiology, Mars Exploration Rover 2003 team
• 2015-2019, Associate editor, American Mineralogist
• 2017-2018, Mars 2020 Mission Architecture Review team
• 2001-2016, Interdisciplinary Scientist, CRISM instrument on the Mars 2005 Orbiter Mission
• 2000-2015, Member, Editorial Board, Astrobiology Journal
• 1998- 2014, PI, Ames Research Center team of the NASA Astrobiology Institute
• 2010-2013, Chair, Mars Exploration Program Advisory Group (MEPAG)
• 1976-2014, Principal Investigator, NASA Exobiology Program
• 1997-2003, TERC Advisory Board (astrobiology curriculum development)
• 2000-2002, Member, Terrestrial Planet Finder Science Working Group (TPFSWG)
• 1999-2000, NASA Planetary Protection Task Force
• 1998-2000, CAPTEM, member
• 1997-2000, NASA Space Science Advisory Council (SSAC)
• 1983-2000, Editorial board, Biogeochemistry
• 1999, Co-chair, Pale Blue Dot II Conference, Ames Research Center
• 1992-1999, Associate Editor, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
• 1996-1998, Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets
• 1993-1997, Member, NASA Mars Science Working Group
• 1994, Chairman, Gordon Research Conference on the Origins of Life
• 1990-1995, Editorial Board, Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere

Education

B.S. Chemistry, 1969, Purdue University
M.S. Geology, 1972, Indiana University
Ph.D. Geochemistry, 1974, Indiana University

Research Interests

Des Marais has studied both living communities of microorganisms and their ancient fossil records. He has investigated the chemistry of carbon in meteorites, lunar samples, and volcanic rocks and ancient sediments on Earth. He is currently a member of the science operations team for NASA’s Curiosity Rover Mars mission. He has been a co-leader of the Lassen Astrobiology Student Intern Program since 2008.

Select Publications

2023

Des Marais, D.J., M.C. Farmer, A.D. Anbar, J. Zaloumis, S. Shkolyar, C. Estrada, S.L. Cady (2023) Jack Dwayne Farmer April 18, 1947-February 22, 2023. Astrobiology 23(7). DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0044

Chipera, S. J., D. T. Vaniman, E. B. Rampe, T. F. Bristow, G. Martínez, V. M. Tu, T. S. Peretyazhko, A. S. Yen, R. Gellert, J. A. Berger, W. Rapin, R. V. Morris, D. W. Ming, L. M. Thompson, S. Simpson, C. N. Achilles, B. Tutolo, R. T. Downs, A. A. Fraeman, E. Fischer, D. F. Blake, A. H. Treiman, S. M. Morrison, M. T. Thorpe, S. Gupta, W. E. Dietrich, G. Downs, N. Castle, P. I. Craig, D. J. Des Marais, R. M. Hazen, A. R. Vasavada, E. Hausrath, P. Sarrazin, and J. P. Grotzinger (2023) Mineralogical Investigation of Mg-Sulfate at the Canaima Drill Site, Gale Crater, Mars. JGR Planets. DOI: 10.1029/2023JE008041

Davila, A.F. T. Hoehler, N. Parenteau, M. Neveu, S. Shkolyar, D. J. Des Marais, S. L. Cady, A. C. Rios, L. Bebout, G. Lau, L. Jahnke, S. Perl, J. L. Eigenbrode, A. Pohorille, and R. Quinn (2023) Life Detection Knowledge Base: Taxonomy of Potential Biosignatures. Astrobiology, in press.

Wolf, S. R., B. Lafuente, R. M. Keller, A. M. Detweiler, T. F. Bristow, M. N. Parenteau, K. Boydstun, C. E. Dateo, S. Rojo, N. Stone, Mark Vorobets, and D. J. Des Marais (2023) Enabling Data Discovery with the Astrobiology Resource Metadata Standard. Astrobiology, in press.

2022

Van Bommel,S. J., J. A. Berger, R. Gellert, C. D. O’Connell-Cooper, M. A. McCraig, L. M. Thompson, C. M. Fedo, D. J. Des Marais, D. M. Fey, A. S. Yen, B. C. Clark III, A. H. Treiman,and N. I. Boyd (2022) Elemental Composition of Manganese- and Phosphorus-rich Nodules in the Knockfarril Hill Member, Gale Crater, Mars. Icarus 392, 115372 doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115372

M. T. Thorpe, T, F. Bristow, E. B. Rampe, N. J. Tosca, J. P. Grotzinger, K. A. Bennett, C. N. Achilles, D. F. Blake, S. J. Chipera, G. Downs, R. T. Downs, S. M. Morrison, V. Tu, N. Castle, P. Craig, D. J. Des Marais, R. M. Hazen, D. W. Ming, R. V. Morris, A. H. Treiman, D. T. Vaniman, A. S. Yen, A. R. Vasavada, E. Dehouck, J.C. Bridges, J. Berger, A. B. Byrk, V. K. Fox, K.L. Siebach, A. A. Fraeman, C. M. Fedo, T. S. Peretyazhko (2021) Mars Science Laboratory CheMin data from the Glen Torridon region and the significance of lake-groundwater interactions in interpreting mineralogy and sedimentary history, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, e2021JE007099. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE007099

2021

Tu, V. M., E. B. Rampe, T. F. Bristow, M.T. Thorpe, J. V. Clark, N. Castle, A. A. Fraeman, L. A. Edgar, A. McAdam, Candice Bedford, Cherie N. Achilles, D. Blake, S. J. Chipera, P. I. Craig, D. J. Des Marais, G. W. Downs, R. T. Downs, V. Fox, J. P. Grotzinger, R. M. Hazen, D. W. Ming, R. V. Morris, S. M. Morrison, B. Pavri, T. S. Peretyazhko, P. C. Sarazin, B. Sutter, A. H. Treiman, D. T. Vaniman, A. R. Vasavada, A. S. Yen, J. C. Bridges (2021) A Review of the Phyllosilicates in Gale Crater as Detected by the CheMin Instrument on the Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity Rover. Minerals 2021, 11, 847. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080847

Bristow, T. F. , J. P. Grotzinger, E. B. Rampe, J. Cuadros, S. J. Chipera, G. Downs, C. M. Fedo, J. Frydenvang, A. C. McAdam, R. V. Morris, C. N. Achilles, D. F. Blake, N. Castle,P. Craig, D. J. Des Marais, R. T. Downs, R. M. Hazen, D. W. Ming,S. M. Morrison, M.T. Thorpe, A. H. Treiman, V. Tu, D. T. Vaniman, A. S. Yen, R. Gellert, P. R. Mahaffy, R. C. Wiens, A. B. Byrk, K. A. Bennett, V. K. Fox, R. E. Millken, A. A. Fraeman, A. R. Vasavada (2021) Brine driven diagenesis of clay minerals in Gale Crater, Mars. Science 373:198-204.

2020

Morris, R. V., E. B. Rampe, D. T. Vaniman, R. Christoffersen, A. S. Yen, S. M. Morrison, D. W. Ming, C. N. Achilles, A. A. Fraeman, L. Le, V. M. Tu, J. P. Ott, A. H. Treiman, J. V. Hogancamp, T. G. Graff, M. Adams, J. C. Hamilton, S. A. Mertzman, T. F. Bristow, D. F. Blake, N. Castle, S. J. Chipera, P. I. Craig, D. J. Des Marais, G. Downs, R. T. Downs, R. M. Hazen, J.-M. Morookian, M. Thorpe (2020) Hydrothermal precipitation of sanidine (adularia) having full Al,Si structural disorder and specular hematite at Maunakea Volcano (Hawai’i) and at Gale crater (Mars). J. Geophys. Res. 125, e2019JE006324

2019

Des Marais, D. J., and M. R. Walter (2019) Terrestrial hot spring systems: Introduction. Astrobiology 19(12), 1419-1432. DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.1976.

Lee, C., G. D. Love, L. L. Jahnke, M. D. Kubo, and D. J. Des Marais (2019) Early diagenetic sequestration of microbial mat lipid biomarkers through covalent binding into insoluble macromolecular organic matter (IMOM) as revealed by sequential chemolysis and catalytic hydropyrolysis. Organic Geochemistry 132, 11-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.orggeochem.2019.04.002

Awards & Others

Education and Outreach Award, Ames Research Center, 2020

Pollack Lecture, Ames Research Center, 2016

NASA Exceptional Service Medal, 2014

Alfred Treibs Medal, Organic Geochemistry, Geochemical Society, 2012

Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, 2010

Hamilton Visiting Scholar, Southern Methodist University, 2009

NASA Group Achievement Award (Astrobiology Roadmap), 2009

Richard Owen Alumni Award, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University, 2009

Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2008

Sagan Lecturer, American Geophysical Union, 2006

Fellow, California Academy of Sciences, 2004

NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, 2003

Ames Associate Fellow, 2003

Fellow, Geochemical Society, 2002

Fellow, European Association of Geochemistry, 2002

H. Julian Allen Award, Best Paper, Ames Research Center, 2001

NASA Group Achievement Award, Astrobiology, 2000

NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, 1988

Ames Associate Fellow, 1983

Fellow, National Speleological Society, 1977

Sigma Xi, 1973