Margaret Birmingham


Margaret Birmingham
  • PhD Candidate

Biography

Advisor: Alison Olcott

Education

B.S. in Biochemistry, Saint Vincent College, 2018
M.S. in Geology, University of Kansas, 2020

Research

Meg is currently working on an NAI project entitled Oceans Across Space and Time. Her research focuses on biosignature preservation in gypsum to further life detection on relict ocean worlds. With field sites ranging from the US to Spain to Australia, Meg studies a wide variety of past and present hypersaline systems to better understand how microbes and microorganisms are preserved over time in salts.



Research Interests:



Paleobiogeochemistry

Life detection in gypsum

Acidic, hypersaline systems

Fluid inclusions

Teaching

GEOL 103- Geology Fundamentals Laboratory

BIOL 152- Principles of Organismal Biology Laboratory

Awards & Honors

2019 Association for Women Geoscientists Osage Chapter Graduate Research Scholarship

Service

Secretary, Geology Graduate Student Organization, 2023-24

Treasurer, Geology Graduate Student Organization, 2022-23

President, Association of Women Geoscientists, 2021-22, 2022-23