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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Astrobiology research area
AstrobiologyOU is research group of over 50 staff and students who work together to understand how, and where, life might be found beyond Earth and the scientific and ethical challenges faced by astrobiology-related exploration missions.
AstrobiologyOU work across four key themes:
These themes are addressed through dedicated, interdisciplinary teams with expertise in biology, chemistry, physics, Earth and environmental sciences, social science, geography, education and law.
Our research funding is from Research England, The Science and Technology Facilities Council, the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the European Union and the Leverhulme Trust.
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
Our research cuts across discipline areas, and benefits from access to support and facilities across a number of OU faculties and Schools.
Science-based PhD projects benefit from an extensive suite of laboratories on campus, housing advanced analytical instrumentation and simulation facilities.
The state-of-the-art Astrobiology laboratories accommodate microbiology, molecular biology, geochemistry and environmental chemistry. They also include bespoke Parr continuous-flow pressure reactors that can be used to simulate a variety of space environments over a range of temperatures and pressures.
To complement these reactors, we have an array of instrumentation designed to grow microorganisms from extreme, mostly anaerobic, conditions; from anaerobic chambers to a dedicated gas purging station for making media, to bioreactors that can be used to grow continuous cultures.
We use molecular techniques to extract and identify microorganisms from extreme environments and have a dedicated low-biomass nucleic acid extraction facility for working with these samples.
The laboratories include analytical instrumentation, such as gas chromatography techniques, and access to instrumentation, such as electron microscopy, which is available via School and Faculty facilities.
Our PhD graduates have gone on to build successful research careers internationally or have applied their skills to industry or education. The interdisciplinarity of astrobiology equips students with many specialist and transferable skills, including critical thinking, creative problem solving, and collaboration.
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Governance and ethics
Science
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
Astrobiology and habitats for life
I combine engineering lab work with science, not only developing my expertise as a scientist but also developing transferable skills for the future.
I combine engineering lab work with science, not only developing my expertise as a scientist but also developing transferable skills for the future.
I combine engineering lab work with science, not only developing my expertise as a scientist but also developing transferable skills for the future.
I combine engineering lab work with science, not only developing my expertise as a scientist but also developing transferable skills for the future.