Matthew A. Pasek
School of Geosciences
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Ave
Tampa FL 33620
Phone: (813)-974-8979
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
(813)-974-2474
US Citizen
Professional Preparation
College of William and Mary
Geology & Chemistry
University of Arizona
Planetary Science
Ph.D. Advisor: Dante Lauretta
B.S. 2002
Ph.D. 2006
Appointments:
Assistant Professor of Geochemistry, University of South Florida 08/10-present
Visiting Assistant Professor of Geochemistry, University of South Florida 01/09-05/10
NASA Astrobiology Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Arizona, 1/07-12/08
Research Goals:
1) To understand the role of meteorites in the origin of life from the perspective
phosphorus redox biogeochemistry
2) To constrain the aqueous redox geochemistry of phosphorus
3) To determine the effects of lightning on geologic samples
4) To detail chemical processes occurring in the solar system
Peer- Reviewed Publications (26 published, H = 10 [Google Scholar])
Gull, M., Zhou, M., Fernandez, F.M., Pirim, C., Orlando, T., Bryant, D.E., Kee, T.P., and Pasek,
M.A., 2013, Phosphorylation of organic compounds by the meteorite mineral
schreibersite and synthetic analogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
USA, in review.
Pasek, M.A., 2013, Without phosphate limits. Nature Geoscience 6, 806-807.
Kee, T.P., Bryant, D.E., Herschy, Marriott, K.E.R., Cosgrove, N., Pasek, M.A., Atlas, Z.D., and
Cousins, C. 2013. Phosphate activation via reduced oxidation state phosphorus (P). Mild
routes to condensed-P energy currency molecules. Life 3, 386-402.
Pasek, M.A., Harnmeijer, J., Buick, R., Maheen, G. and Atlas, Z., 2013, Evidence for reactive
reduced phosphorus species in the early Archean ocean. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Science USA 110, 10089-10094.
Gull, M. and Pasek, M.A., 2013. Is struvite a prebiotic mineral? Life 3, 321-330.
Mousis, O., Lakhlifi, A., Picaud, S., Pasek, M.A., and Chassefiere, E. 2013, On the abundances
of noble and biologically useful gases in Lake Vostok, Antarctica. Astrobiology 13, 380-
390.
Bryant, D.E., Greenfield, D., Walshaw, R.D., Johnson, B.R.G., Herschy, B., Smith, C., Pasek,
M.A., Telford, R., Scowen, I., Munshi, T., Edwards, H.G.M., Cousins, C.R., Crawford, I.,
and Kee, T.P., 2013. Hydrothermal modification of Sikhote-Alin under low pH
geothermal environments. A plausible prebiotic route to activated phosphorus on the
early earth. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 109, 90-112.
Pasek, M.A., Block, K., and Pasek, V.D., 2012, Fulgurite morphology: a classification scheme
and clues to formation. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 164, 477-492.
Pasek, M.A., and Greenberg, R., 2012, Acidification of Europa’s subsurface ocean as a
consequence of oxidant delivery. Astrobiology 12, 151-159.
Pasek, M.A., Mousis, O., and Lunine, J.I., 2011, Phosphorus Chemistry on Titan. Icarus 212,
751-761.
Pech, H., Vasquez, M., Van Buren, J., Xu, L., Salmassi, T., Pasek, M.A., and Foster, K., 2011,
Elucidating the redox cycle of environmental phosphorus using ion chromatography.
Journal of Chromatographic Science 49, 573-581.
Bryant, D.E., Marriott, K.E.R., Macgregor, S.A., Fishwick, C.W.G., Pasek, M.A., and Kee, T.P.,
2010, Plausible prebiotic ancestors of sugar-phosphates. Chemical Communications 46,
3726-3728.
Carter, E.A., Pasek, M.A., Smith, T., Kee, T.P., Hines, P., and Edwards, H.G.M., 2010, Rapid
Raman mapping of a fulgurite. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 397, 2647-2658.
Carter, E.A., Hargreaves, M.D., Kee, T.P., Pasek, M.A., and Edwards, H.G.M., 2010, A Raman
spectroscopic study of a fulgurite. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A
368, 3087-3097.
Pasek, M.A., and Block, K., 2009, Lightning-induced reduction of phosphorus oxidation state.
Nature Geoscience 2, 553-556.
Mousis, O., Lunine, J.I., Pasek, M., Cordier, D., Waite, J.H., Mandt, K.E., Lewis, W.S., and
Nguyen, M-J., 2009, A primordial origin for the atmospheric methane of Saturn’s Moon
Titan. Icarus 204, 749-751.
Mousis, O., Lunine, J.I., Thomas, C., Pasek, M., Marbouef, U., Alibert, Y., Ballenegger, V.,
Cordier, D., Ellinger, Y., Pauzat, F., and Picaud, S., 2009, Clathration of volatiles in the
solar nebula and implications for the origin of Titan’s atmosphere. Astrophysical Journal
691, 1780-1786.
Bryant, D.E., Greenfield, D., Walshaw, R.D., Evans, S.M., Nimmo, A.E., Smith, C., Wang, L.
Pasek, M.A., and Kee, T.P., 2009, Electrochemical studies of iron meteorites.
Phosphorus redox chemistry on the early Earth. International Journal of Astrobiology
8, 27-36.
Pasek, M.A., Kee, T.P., Bryant, D.E., Pavlov, A.A., and Lunine, J.I., 2008, Production of
potentially prebiotic condensed phosphates by phosphorus redox chemistry. Angewandte
Chemie International Edition 47, 7918-7920.
Pasek, M.A., 2008, Rethinking early Earth phosphorus geochemistry. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences USA 105, 853-858.
Pasek, M.A. and Lauretta, D.S. 2008, Extraterrestrial flux of potentially prebiotic C, N, and P to
the early Earth. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres 38, 5-21.
Pasek, M.A., Dworkin, J.P., and Lauretta, D.S., 2007, A radical pathway for organic
phosphorylation during schreibersite corrosion with implications for the origin of life.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71, 1721-1736.
Owens, B.E. and Pasek, M.A., 2007, Kyanite quartzites in the Piedmont Province of Virginia:
evidence for protolith production in a high-sulfidation hydrothermal system. Economic
Geology 102, 495-509.
Pasek, M.A., Milsom, J.A., Ciesla, F.J., Lauretta, D.S., Sharp, C., and Lunine, D.S., 2005,
Sulfur chemistry in protoplanetary nebulae with time-varying oxygen
abundances. Icarus 175, 1-14.
Pasek, M.A. and Lauretta, D.S., 2005, Aqueous corrosion of phosphide minerals from
iron meteorites: a highly reactive source of prebiotic phosphorus on the
surface of the early Earth. Astrobiology 5, 515-535.
Book Chapters (2)
Pasek, M.A., The role of phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry. Kolb, V (ed). Astrobiology: an
Evolutionary Approach. CRC/Francis Taylor Press. In press
Pasek, M.A., and Kee, T.P., Origins of Phosphorylated Biomolecules. Egel, R., D.-H. Lankenau,
and A. Y. Mulkidjanian (eds.). 2011. Origins of Life: The Primal Self-organization.
Springer Verlag, Heidelberg, p. 57-84.
Encyclopedia Entries (2)
Pasek, M.A., Entries for: Phosphate, Phosphite, Pyrophosphate, and Phosphine. Gargaud, M.,
Amils, R., Cernicharo-Quintanilla, J., Cleaves, H.J., Irvine, W.M., Pinti, D., and Viso, M.
(eds.). 2011. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Springer Verlag, Heidelberg.
Pasek, M.A., Entries for: Phosphate, Phosphite, Pyrophosphate, and Phosphine. Gargaud, M.,
Amils, R., Cernicharo-Quintanilla, J., Cleaves, H.J., Irvine, W.M., Pinti, D., and Viso, M.
(eds.). 2014. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Springer Verlag, Heidelberg.
Patents
Provisional Patent (April 2012). Phosphorylation in deep eutectic solvents.
Funded Grants (Total = $1,063,712)
NASA Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology: Reduced Phosphorus Assemblages
as Sources of Reactive P the Origin and Evolution of Early Life. $305,295 for 3 years.
01/01/2008-12/31/2010. PI: Pasek
Renewed 09/01/2010-02/01/2014 with $255,167 for 3 years. PI: Pasek
NASA Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology:: Oxygen Isotope Investigations of
Phosphite Oxidation: Alternative Sources of P for the Origin and Evolution of Life.
$396,489
06/01/2013-05/31/2015
PI: Ruth Blake, Co-I Pasek
Recipient of NASA Carl Sagan and Larry Haskin Fellowship for Early Career Researchers.
$100,000-125,000 tenure-track institutional start-up. NASA Astrobiology: Exobiology
and Evolutionary Biology. PI: Pasek, in review.
Center for Chemical Evolution (NSF center). $314,000. Schreibersite as the prebiotic
phosphorus source. 10/01/2012-09/30/2014. Subcontract. PI: Pasek. One more year
extension expected.
Royal Society visiting scientist travel grant. ~$3500 (1800 pounds). 4/1/2007.
Awards and Scholarships
10/07
Sagan/Haskin NASA Fellow
11/06
NASA Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellow
7/06
Gordon Origins of Life Conference Young Researcher Poster Award
4/06
Galileo Scholar at University of Arizona, Astrobiology
9/05
Received NASA Cosmochemistry travel grant for Meteoritical Society meeting
4/05
Galileo Scholar at University of Arizona, Theoretical Astrophysics Program
12/04
Research named one of the top 100 science stories of 2004, Discover Magazine
9/04
Recipient of NASA Graduate Student Research Proposal award
6/04, 6/05
Full tuition scholarship at University of Arizona
4/04
Galileo Scholar at University of Arizona, Department of Planetary Sciences
5/02
Highest Honors Thesis at College of William and Mary
12/01
Recipient of Gerry Johnson Phi Beta Kappa Award
12/01
Phi Beta Kappa at College of William and Mary
8/98-5/02
Dean’s list at College of William and Mary
8/98-5/02
Dow Scholar at College of William and Mary
8/98-5/02
Monroe Scholar at College of William and Mary
Invited Talks and Presentations
Phosphorus in the Origin of Life. University of Florida, 02/14.
Phosphorus in the Origin of Life. Gordon Conference on Geobiology, 01/14.
Phosphorus in the Archean. University of Washington, 11/13.
Phosphorus in the Origin of Life. Southeastern regional ACS, 11/13.
Phosphorus in the Archean. National Academy of Sciences, 09/13
Phosphorus in the Origin of Life. University of Arizona, 05/13
Fulgurites: Florida’s Metamorphic Rock. Southeastern Geological Society, 04/13.
Phosphorus in the Origin of Life. From Stars to Life Conference, 04/13.
Phosphorus in the Archaean. Gordon Conference on Geobiology, 01/13.
Phosphate recovery in Sustainability. University of Leeds, 10/12
Phosphorus cosmochemistry. Carnegie Institute of Washington, 06/12.
Metallic phosphides as sources of P for the origin of life. Georgia Tech, 11/11.
Phosphorus in Astrobiology. University of Florida, 10/11.
Phosphorus in Astrobiology: Europa and Titan. University of Leeds, 05/11.
Sources of Phosphorus in Prebiotic Evolution: Not Just Phosphate. Georgia Tech, 11/10.
Meteorites in the Origin of Life. The Case for Phosphorus. Society of Economic Phosphate
Mining 10/10.
Titan phosphorus chemistry. Planetary Science Institute, 09/10.
Shocked quartz and lightning- rethinking impact hypotheses. University of Washington, 6/10
Aqueous Phosphorus Biogeochemistry. University of South Florida, 4/10
Phosphorus in Astrobiology. Johns Hopkins University, 11/09.
Beyond Phosphate: Phosphorus Redox Processes in the Environment. University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, 09/09.
Phosphorus cosmochemistry from the ISM to the early Earth. American Chemical Society
Geochemistry division, 08/09.
The Impact History of the Inner Solar System. Causes and Consequences. University of
California, Santa Cruz, 02/09.
A Salubrious Late Heavy Bombardment? Geological Society of America Meeting, 10/08.
Phosphorus redox chemistry in aqueous geochemical systems. Yale University, 09/08.
Phosphorus redox chemistry on the early Earth. Clues to biochemistry. Goldschmidt
Conference, 07/08.
LUNSMET? Constraining the Terrestrial Meteorite Flux from the Lunar Surface. Astrobiology
Science Conference, Santa Clara, California, 03/08
Early Earth Phosphorus Geochemistry: From Pallasites to P. stutzeri. University of Minnesota.
11/07.
Phosphorus and the Origin of Life. University of Washington, 11/07.
Rethinking Early Earth Phosphorus Geochemistry. Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Conference,
5/07.
Phosphorus Cosmochemistry: From Meteorites to the Origin of Life. University of Arkansas.
02/07.
Meteorites, Phosphorus, and the Origin of Life. Graduate Conference, Gordon Research
Conference on the Origins of Life. 07/06.
Meteorites and the Origin of Life. Phosphides as a Source of Prebiotic Phosphorus. Carnegie
Institute of Washington. 02/06
Mentoring
Postdocs
Maheen Gull (2011-present).
Graduate students (Acting as research advisor):
Bryan Booth (2013-present). Ph. D. student. Project: Karst modeling.
Kristyn Rodzinyak (2013-present). Ph. D. student. Project: Phosphorus redox geochemistry.
Nikita La Cruz (2013-present). Master’s student. Project: Synthesizing schreibersite.
Brian Szenay (2012-present). Master’s student. Project: Modeling early earth geochemistry.
Jacqueline Sampson (2011-present). Master’s Student. Project: Phosphorus in Florida waters.
Michael Joseph (2010-2012). Master’s student. Thesis: A Geochemical Analysis of
Fulgurites: From the Inner Glass to the Outer Crust. M.S. 2012. Employed by US Corps
of Army Engineers.
Kristin Block (2007-2011). Master’s student. Thesis: Lightning in Planetary Environments.
M.S. 2011. 2 publications.
Undergraduates:
Theresa Whorely (2013): Project: Models of Planetary Environments.
Kate Morozova (2013): Project: Environmental P redox.
Greg Maurer (2013): Project: Struvite-apatite conversion.
Blake Lazzeri (2013): Project: Struvite-apatite conversion.
Vitaliy Morozov (2012-2013). Project: Raman spectroscopy of geologic samples.
Andrew Ropp (2013). Project: Raman spectroscopy of geologic samples.
Danny Lindsay (2012-2013). Project: Prebiotic chemistry in simulated tidal environments
Jacob Simmons (2011). Project: Trace Elements in rock samples.
Jakob Centlivre (2011-2012). Project: Miller-Urey apparatus with phosphorus.
Frank Thrailkill (2011). Project: Platinum Group Elements in Meteorites
James Wilson (2009). Project: Fulgurite mineralogy.
Virginia Smith (2003-2004). Project: Phosphate in meteorites.
Professional Affiliations:
Geochemical Society (2003-2004)
American Chemical Society (2005-present)
Meteoritical Society (2002-present)
Reviewing Efforts
04/13 + 08/13 NASA Postdoctoral Program
04/13
NSF Major Research Instrumentation
02/13
UK Space Agency Reviewer
11/12
Czech Science Foundation Reviewer
07/12
NASA Exobiology Review Panel Member
04/11
NSF Low Temperature Geochemistry and Geobiology Reviewer
01/09
NASA Exobiology Review Panel Member
02/09
Aurora Fellowship in Astrobiology (UK)
Journals:
Icarus (×2), Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (×3), Astrophysical
Journal, ChemBioChem, Journal of Molecular Evolution, Chinese Science Bulletin,
Astrobiology (×2), Environmental Science and Technology, Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences,
Nature Geoscience, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA), Biogeochemistry
Synergistic Activities
06/13
Astrobiology Roadmap Panel of Experts member
04/13
Organizing committee for “From Stars to Life”, an astrobiology conference at UF
04/12
Co-chair of Phosphorus session at AbSciCon, w/Ruth Blake
08/08-05/09 Organizer of the Frontiers of Astrobiology Research Seminar Series
07/08
Convener of “Early Life” session at 2008 Goldschmidt Conference.
04/08
Co-chair of AbSciCon session: The Evolution of the Biogeochemical Cycling of
Phosphorus and other Bioessential Elements.
08/06-08/08 Co-chair of Gordon-Keenan Graduate Research Conference on the origin of life,
designed to expose young researchers in the origins of life field to a variety of
research programs.
08/06-12/08 Leader of Arizona NAI center Astrobiology Journal Club
2005
Presented a lecture to a group of Tucson science teachers on the
Creationism/Intelligent Design vs. evolution debate
2004-2005
Member of the Public Outreach Program, a group of professors, staff, and
students of the Lunar and Planetary Lab that presented science at groupcoordinated events which were open to the public.
2003-2005
Organizer of Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Conference, an intra-departmental
conference located at Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson AZ
Teaching Experience
01/09-present Teaching 3 courses each year, typically 2 graduate and 1 undergraduate
Courses Taught:
*GLY 4045: Undergraduate planetary science course
*GLY 3720 at USF: The Fluid Earth 1: A course in aqueous &
environmental geochemistry for junior/senior undergraduates.
GLY 4930/6285: Analytical Techniques in Geology (joint grad/undergrad
course)
*GLY 6246: General Geochemistry (graduate course)
*GLY 6828: Groundwater Geochemistry (graduate course)
*GLY 6249: Geochemical Modeling (graduate course)
GLY 6329: Biogeochemistry (graduate course)
*Developed all course material.
8/05-12/05
Teaching associate to Dante Lauretta’s NATS102 class (70% excellent or good)
1/05-5/05
Teaching associate to Caitlin Griffith’s NATS102 class (82.5% excellent or good
rating)
01/02-05/02 Geology 101 Lab Teaching Assistant. College of William and Mary
8/99-05/02
Private Tutor in chemistry and physics. Student Christian O’Neil now a M.D.
Selected Abstracts & Poster Presentations
Melosh, H.J., and Pasek, M.A. Biogenic element reduction during impacts. AGU 2012.
Pasek, M.A., Phosphorus Chemistry on Titan. AbSciCon 2012.
Pasek, M.A., and Greenberg, R. The pH of Europa’s subsurface ocean. AbSciCon 2012.
Centlivre, J., and Pasek, M.A., Oxidation rate of reduced phosphorus species. AbSciCon 2012.
Gull, M., and Pasek, M.A., Phosphorylation in Deep Eutectic Solvents. AbSciCon 2012.
Joseph, M.L., Atlas, Z., Royall, D., and Pasek, M.A. Geochemical Analysis of a Type II
Fulgurite. Meteoritical Society Meeting 2010.
Pasek, M.A., Collins, G., Carter, E.A., Melosh, H.J., and Atlas, Z., Shocked Quartz in a
Fulgurite. Meteoritical Society Meeting 2010.
Bryant, D.E., Greenfield, D., Edwards, H.G.M., Scowan, I., Munshi, T., Pasek, M.A., Smith,
C.A., and Kee, T.P., Siderophilic phases within iron meteorites. Sources of reactive
phosphorus on the early earth. EPSC 2010.
Bryant, D.E., Marriott, K.E.R., Macgregor, S.A., Fishwick, C., Kilner, C., Bullough, E.K., Pasek,
M.A., and Kee, T.P., Prebiotic Potential Of Reduced Oxidation State Phosphorus. The HPhosphinate-pyruvate System. AbSciCon 2010.
Pasek, M.A., Kee, T.P., Carter, E.A., Hargreaves, M.D., and Edwards, H.G.M. Fried Phosphate
and Organic Survival. AbSciCon 2010.
Pasek, M.A., and Kee, T.P. Phosphorus chemistry from the ISM to the origin of life. ACS
national meeting, 2009.
Mousis, O., Lunine, J.I., Pasek, M.A., Cordier, D., Waite, J.H., Mandt, K..E., Lewis, W.S., and
Nguyen, M-J., 2009. Is serpentinization the source of Titan’s atmospheric methane?
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XL, Houston TX
Block, K. M. and Pasek, M. A., 2008. Phosphorus redox on the early Earth: First identification
of low-oxidation state phosphorus compounds in terrestrial samples. AGU Fall Meeting,
San Francisco, CA, oral presentation.
Pasek, M.A., 2008, A salubrious late-heavy bombardment? Geological Society of America
Meeting, Houston 2008.
Block, K., and Pasek, M.A., 2008, Lightning in biogeochemical processes. American Chemical
Society Meeting, Philadelphia 2008.
Pasek, M.A., and Block, K., 2008, First report of reduced phosphorus in terrestrial
environment- lightning and the biogeochemistry of phosphorus. American Chemical
Society Meeting, Philadelphia 2008.
Mousis, O., Lunine, J.I., Thomas, C., Pasek, M., Marboeuf, U., Alibert, Y., Ballenengger, V.,
Ellinger, Y., Pauzat, F. and Picaud, S., 2008, A partial sublimation of the planetesimals
that formed Titan. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XXXIX, Houston TX.
Adam, Z., and Pasek, M.A., 2008, Pyrophosphate and triphosphate production near
Hadean beach natural nuclear reactors. Astrobiology Science Conference, Santa Clara,
California.
Pasek, M.A. 2008, Identifying Biogeochemical Phosphorus Redox Pathways. Astrobiology Science
Conference, Santa Clara, California.
Pasek, M.A., Kee, T.P., and Lunine, J.I., 2007, Oxidative pathways of reduced phosphorus
compounds: a primary source of condensed phosphates on the early Earth. 7th EANA
Workshop on Astrobiology, Turku Finland.
Bryant, D.E., Gorrell, I.B., Greenfield, D., Evans, S.M., Wang, L., Heard, D.E., Blitz, M.A.,
Goddard, A., Smith, C., Pasek, M.A., and Kee, T.P., 2007, Phosphorus redox chemistry in
planetary environments. Implications for the origins of life. 7th EANA Workshop on
Astrobiology, Turku Finland.
Pasek, M.A. and Pasek, V.D., 2007, Experimental and petrologic constraints on
schreibersite corrosion. Meteoritical Society, Tucson, AZ.
Pasek, M.A., 2007, Rethinking Early Earth Phosphorus Geochemistry. Bioastronomy,
San Juan, PR.
Pasek, M.A., Dworkin, J.P., and Lauretta, D.S., 2006, Prebiotic phosphorylation
through phosphorus radicals. AbSciCon, Washington D.C.
Owens, B.E. and Pasek, M.A. 2005, Kyanite quartzites in the Piedmont province of Virginia:
evidence for protolith production in a high-sulfidation (advanced argillic) hydrothermal
system. Geological Society of America National Meeting, Salt Lake City UT.
Pasek, M.A., and Lauretta, D.S., 2005, Meteorite mass flux and the delivery of prebiotic
material. 68th Meteoritical Society Meeting, Gatlinburg TN.
Pasek, M.A., Dworkin, J.P., and Lauretta, D.S. 2005, Meteoritic phosphides as a
source of prebiotic, reactive phosphorus. NAI 2005 Biennial Meeting, Boulder CO.
Pasek, M.A., Smith, V.D., and Lauretta, D.S., 2004, Meteorites as a source/supplement
of phosphorus for the origin of life. American Chemical Society: Geochemistry, Origins
of Life, Philadelphia PA.
Pasek, M.A., Smith, V.D., and Lauretta, D.S., 2004, A quantitative NMR analysis of
phosphorus in carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. Lunar and Planetary
Science Conference XXXIV, Houston TX.
Pasek, M.A. and Owens, B.E., 2002, Regional geochemical constraints on the
petrogenesis of kyanite quartzites in the Piedmont Province of Virginia and an
evaluation of anomalous Ga/Al values. SE Geological Society of America, Lex., KY.