ACL: Advent of Complex Life - MIT Astrobiology Team

Christian Hallmann

Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
E25-623, 45 Carleton Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Email:  hallmann at mit dot edu
Tel.:  617-324-3958

Christian Hallmann is an Agouron Institute postdoctoral fellow working in the MIT geobiology labs. He uses molecular and isotopic organic geochemical methods to study the co-evolution of the biosphere and environmental conditions during the Precambrian. Current projects focus on some key questions in Earth history, addressing the origin of eukaryotes, life during the great oxidation event, Mesoproterozoic biotic evolution, the Neoproterozoic rise of complex life, and nitrogen cycling in ancient oceans.
 
Efforts within the NAI-ACL team include tracing the emergence and evolution of basal metazoa on an interregional basis, evaluating the effects of Neoproterozoic ‘snowball’ glaciations on biospheric structure, and understanding the causes of large carbon cycle perturbations in the Neoproterozoic.
 
Christian received his MSc in Geology and Palaeontology with highest distinction from the University of Cologne, Germany, in 2005 and his PhD in Applied Chemistry from Curtin University of Technology, Australia, in 2009. Recent awards include the Berndt Rendel Prize (German research foundation; DFG), a Marie Curie predoctoral fellowship, and an Agouron Institute Fellowship.

Also see: http://www-eaps.mit.edu/geobiology/people/chris.htm