Dr. Dorothy Oehler
Senior Scientist
Currently resides in TX
Targets of Interest: Mars
Disciplines/Techniques: MARS: Methane and Astrobiological Potential of specific regions and landing sites using geomorphology and facies prediction, based on ArcGIS analysis of NASA and ESA image/spectral datasets. BIOSIGNATURES: Characterization of ancient Earth, organic microfossils as potential analogues to remains of lifeforms that may be preserved on extraterrestrial bodies, using optical microscopy, SEM, NanoSIMS, and SIMS.
Missions: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Mission Roles: MSL Science Team member, 2012 through 2016
Dr. Dorothy Z. Oehler is a planetary geologist and Precambrian paleontologist. With 22 years experience in predictive geology for petroleum exploration, she applies that approach to to Mars, identifying regions where accumulations of organic materials, including methane and potential biosignatures, could occur. Dr. Oehler is also interested in establishing criteria for identifying biosignatures of fragmentary remains of primitive life, as such criteria could be used to identify poorly preserved remains of life forms on other planets. To this end, she has has been one of the first to use the technique of NanoSIMS to study some of the oldest, organic microfossils on Earth, elucidating their detailed chemical and morphological structure.
LEFT: Acidalia Planitia, Mars. Prediction of catchment and fluvial facies for organic concentration. RIGHT: Comparison of Precambrian organic microfossils and abiotic organics by optical microscopy and NanoSIMS.
