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Welcome to AstrobiologyOU.

We are an enthusiastic and friendly group of over 50 staff and students who are working together to understand how, and where, life might be found and to address the scientific, governance and ethical challenges faced by astrobiology-related exploration missions. 

With an increasing number of life-detection and habitability missions, astrobiology is at the core of nations’ space strategies. Our group members are involved in key astrobiology-related missions and in developing planetary protection regulations. 

AstrobiologyOU has grown from four colleagues with an incredible vision to a multi-disciplinary research group, across four schools and three faculties, working in three of the Open University’s Strategic Research Areas.

We are committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. We offer exciting programmes in Outreach and Public Engagement with research. We also develop commercial and social enterprises as a means of maximising the impact of our academic and research activities.

Latest News

PhD Opportunities Open for Applications *CLOSED*

These PhD opportunities are now closed: 

13th November 2023

Intern Opportunity at ESTEC

There is a new exciting opportunity for an intern with the European Space Agency at ESTEC working on contamination aspects and their impacts Moon’s missions

10th November 2023
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Latest Blog entries

A Summer Placement with AstrobiologyOU

My interest for the area of astrobiology stems from the study of microbiology as an undergraduate student in biological sciences. Our microbiology courses are co-lectured by different UCL faculties, and the lectures delivered by Joanne Satini based on her research of arsenic metabolism has drawn my interest into the field of extremophilic microbiology. She introduced not only resistance to arsenic contamination, but also the intriguing ability of incorporating arsenate into genetic material as analogue of phosphate, as well as arsenite oxidisers from hypersaline environments.

12th January 2024

Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Internship

After having completed a 10-week internship with SPS and Astrobiology, I can highly recommend the experience to anyone who may be interested. I first came across the opportunity on the OU’s OpportunityHub and sent my application into the OU internships team. I was invited for an online interview where I was asked to make a presentation outlining how I would drive engagement to a specific event. Once I started the internship my line managers, Alice and Hannah, were extremely supportive, empowering, encouraging and gave me autonomy over the projects I worked on.

24th October 2023
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