Fall 2026

Field Studies of Planetary Microbiology and Life in the Universe

Explores microbial life origins and biosignature detection via simulated planetary field missions and advanced analytical techniques.

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Prerequisites

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MICROBIO 520 or graduate/professional standing

MICROBIO 525

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Fall 2026

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Fall 2026

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Student experience

the class

Explores the origins, early evolution, and most common traces left by our planet's form of microbial life. Discovery and interpretation of microbial biosignatures in the context of a simulated surface lander mission through travel to field sites. Introduction to microbial biosignatures as inferred through satellite and drone imagery interpretation, portable XRF elemental analysis, UV-VIS-IR spectrophotometry, body and trace fossil analysis and interpretation, and metagenome sequencing. Explore evidence and methods of detection of life on other planets.

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Topics

  • Origins and early evolution of microbial life.
  • Detection of life on other planets.
  • Metagenome sequencing applications.

Skills

  • Interpreting microbial biosignatures in simulated planetary field contexts.
  • Using satellite/drone imagery, XRF, spectrophotometry, fossil analysis, and metagenomics to detect life.

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UW–Madison

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Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
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Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "58e36f1da1f099619a339cf0b252d7b2991dc0fef37e5b9735c8e8c8bb73ecdd",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}