Carolynn Harris

About Carolynn Harris

I am a geobiologist & astrobiologist with a passion for exploring microbially-mediated Earth-life interactions. I study organic molecules produced by microbes in extreme environments. My work integrates a broad variety of techniques, including geochemistry, microbiology, and statistical modeling. I am particularly interested in the stable isotope ratios of organics, because this signal may serve as a biosignature, providing clues to the presence and activity of extinct or extant life. My research has taken me to a range of planetary analog environments, including sea ice in the high Arctic, ice-covered lakes in Antarctica, salt flats in the Atacama Desert, hot springs in El Tatio and Yellowstone, and deep sea hydrothermal vents. Beyond research, I am an avid outdoor adventurer and have a keen interest in human space flight. I thru-hiked the mile Appalachian Trail in 2016 and served as an analog astronaut for a long-duration space flight simulation with NASA\'s Human Exploration Research Analog in 2020.

Experience

1. Lecturer

   Metavisionaries Academy

   Feb 2023 — Present

Education

• The University of Texas at Austin

  M.S., Marine Sciences - Polar Biogeochemistry

  2013 — 2015

• Dartmouth College

  PhD in Earth Sciences, Stable Isotope Geochemistry

• Montana State University-Bozeman

  Graduate Certificate, Applied Statistics

  2017 — 2019

• Bates College

  B.A. with honors, Biology - Marine Ecology

  2007 — 2011

Skills

• Data Analysis
• Arcgis
• Outreach
• Microsoft Office
• Arctic
• Statistics
• Science Education
• Ecology
• Research
• Sclerochronology
• Sediment Coring
• Science
• R
• Microsoft Excel
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Laboratory Skills
• Marine Biology
• Biogeochemistry
• Field Work