Research
Modeling the Origin(s) of Life.
We use numerical simulation, and statistical modeling to explore properties of living systems and understand how they can emerge from simpler, non-living components.
Life Detection from First Principles.
A key challenge in astrobiology is that we don't have widely accepted definitions of life. We take a pragmatic approach to life detection, while still engaging with this underlying challenge.
Assembly Theory for Complex Systems.
We use assembly theory to understand the emergence of complex features in physical systems, and how to build systems that will enable the open-ended evolution complex features, both the lab and in silico.
Highlighted Publications
Self-organization in computation and chemistry: Return to AlChemy
Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science
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01 Sep 2024
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doi:10.1063/5.0207358
Life detection in a universe of false positives
BioEssays
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11 Oct 2023
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doi:10.1002/bies.202300050
Identifying molecules as biosignatures with assembly theory and mass spectrometry
Nature Communications
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24 May 2021
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doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23258-x