Brief Bio

Dr. Danielle Simkus is a researcher in the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Dr. Simkus' research focus is on investigating the soluble organic content of meteorites and other astromaterials. She primarily uses gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) techniques to characterize, quantify, and measure the stable isotopic and enantiomeric signatures of prebiotic organic molecules (e.g., aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, monocarboxylic acids, amino acids) in extraterrestrial samples. Her work aims to better understand the abiotic processes involved in the synthesis and preservation of prebiotic organic matter relevant to the origin of life.

Positions/Employment

Education

Ph.D. (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences - 2018) University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

• Thesis: "The Prebiotic Synthesis of Soluble Organic Matter in Carbonaceous Chondrites and the Influence of Asteroidal Aqueous Alteration". Advisor: Dr. Christopher Herd

M.Sc. (Earth and Environmental Sciences, Collaborative Graduate Program in Astrobiology - 2013) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

• Thesis: "Exploring Microbial Communities and Carbon Cycling within the Earth's Deep Terrestrial Subsurface". Advisor: Dr. Greg Slater

B.Sc. (Double Major in Biological Sciences and Earth & Atmospheric Sciences - 2011) University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Professional Service

• Prebiotic Chemistry and Early Earth Environments (PCE3) Seminar Series Co-Organizer (2021 - Present)
• OSIRIS-REx Science Team Collaborator (2020 - Present)
• NASA Goddard Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (NGAPS+) Co-President (2019 - 2020), Advocacy Co-Officer (2020 - 2021), and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Subcommittee Member (2021)
• Co-Founder and Co-Organizer of the NASA Goddard Early Career Scientist Spotlights (2020 - 2021)
• NASA Goddard Early Career Scientist Forum, Organizing Committee Member (2019)
• Executive Secretary and Panelist for proposal review panels (ROSES, FINESST, and NESSF) (2018 - Present)
• Co-Founder and Co-Organizer of the Grace Anne Stewart Speaker Series, University of Alberta (2015 - 2017)

Awards

• NASA Goddard Sciences and Exploration Directorate - Special Act Award (2022)
• NASA Goddard Sciences and Exploration Directorate - Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity - Group Award (2021)
• NASA Goddard Annual Code 690 Peer Award (2021)
• NASA Goddard Code 690 Special Thanks and Recognition (STAR) Award (2021)
• Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (2016 – 2018)
• Gordon A. McKay Award, The Meteoritical Society (2016)
• Astromaterials Training and Research Opportunities (ASTRO) Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) Graduate Student Travel Award (2015)
• Graduate Student Fellowship, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (2014)
• NASA-Nordic Astrobiology Winter School Scholar (2014)
• President's Doctoral Prize of Distinction, University of Alberta (2013 – 2016)
• NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (2013 – 2016)
• University of Alberta Professional Development Award (2013)
• NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) M.Sc. Fellowship (2011 – 2013)
• Sao Paulo Advanced School of Astrobiology Scholar (2011)
• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2009)
• University of Alberta Entrance Scholarship for Academic Excellence (2006)

Publications

Refereed

Simkus, D. N., J. C. Aponte, J. E. Elsila, et al. H. L. McLain, E. T. Parker, J. P. Dworkin, and D. P. Glavin. 2021. "Low total abundances and a predominance of n ‐ω‐amino acids in enstatite chondrites: Implications for thermal stability of amino acids in the inner solar system." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 56 (11): 2118–2127 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13757]

Smith, H. H., A. S. Hyde, D. N. Simkus, et al. E. Libby, S. E. Maurer, H. V. Graham, C. P. Kempes, B. Sherwood Lollar, L. Chou, A. D. Ellington, G. M. Fricke, P. R. Girguis, N. M. Grefenstette, C. I. Pozarycki, C. H. House, and S. S. Johnson. 2021. "The Grayness of the Origin of Life." Life, 11 (6): 498 [10.3390/life11060498]

Glavin, D. P., H. L. McLain, J. P. Dworkin, et al. E. T. Parker, J. E. Elsila, J. C. Aponte, D. N. Simkus, C. I. Pozarycki, H. V. Graham, L. R. Nittler, and C. M. Alexander. 2020. "Abundant extraterrestrial amino acids in the primitive CM carbonaceous chondrite Asuka 12236." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 55 (9): 1979–2006 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13560]

Aponte, J. C., H. L. McLain, D. N. Simkus, et al. J. E. Elsila, D. P. Glavin, E. T. Parker, J. P. Dworkin, D. H. Hill, H. C. Connolly, and D. S. Lauretta. 2020. "Extraterrestrial organic compounds and cyanide in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrites Aguas Zarcas and Murchison." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 55 (7): 1509-1524 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13531]

Simkus, D., J. C. Aponte, J. E. Elsila, et al. E. T. Parker, D. P. Glavin, and J. P. Dworkin. 2019. "Methodologies for Analyzing Soluble Organic Compounds in Extraterrestrial Samples: Amino Acids, Amines, Monocarboxylic Acids, Aldehydes, and Ketones." Life, 9 (47): 30 pages [Full Text (Link)] [10.3390/life9020047]

Simkus, D. N., J. C. Aponte, J. E. Elsila, et al. R. W. Hilts, H. L. McLain, and C. D. Herd. 2019. "New insights into the heterogeneity of the Tagish Lake meteorite: Soluble organic compositions of variously altered specimens." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 54: 1283-1302 [10.1111/maps.13276]

Simkus, D. N., J. C. Aponte, R. W. Hilts, J. E. Elsila, and C. D. Herd. 2019. "Compound-specific carbon isotope compositions of aldehydes and ketones in the Murchison meteorite." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 54 (1): 142-156 [10.1111/maps.13202]

Orata, F. D., A. R. Rosana, Y. Xu, et al. D. N. Simkus, A. R. Bramucci, Y. Boucher, and R. J. Case. 2016. "Draft Genome Sequences of Four Bacterial Strains Isolated from a Polymicrobial Culture of Naked (N-Type)Emiliania huxleyiCCMP1516: TABLE 1 ." Genome Announcements, 4 (4): e00674-16 [10.1128/genomea.00674-16]

Rosana, A. R., F. D. Orata, Y. Xu, et al. D. N. Simkus, A. R. Bramucci, Y. Boucher, and R. J. Case. 2016. "Draft Genome Sequences of Seven Bacterial Strains Isolated from a Polymicrobial Culture of Coccolith-Bearing (C-Type)Emiliania huxleyiM217: TABLE 1 ." Genome Announcements, 4 (4): e00673-16 [10.1128/genomea.00673-16]

Herd, C. D., R. W. Hilts, A. W. Skelhorne, and D. N. Simkus. 2016. "Cold curation of pristine astromaterials: Insights from the Tagish Lake meteorite." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 51 (3): 499-519 [10.1111/maps.12603]

Simkus, D. N., G. F. Slater, B. S. Lollar, et al. K. Wilkie, T. L. Kieft, C. Magnabosco, M. C. Lau, M. J. Pullin, S. B. Hendrickson, K. E. Wommack, E. G. Sakowski, E. V. Heerden, O. Kuloyo, B. Linage, G. Borgonie, and T. C. Onstott. 2016. "Variations in microbial carbon sources and cycling in the deep continental subsurface." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 173: 264-283 [10.1016/j.gca.2015.10.003]

Hilts, R. W., C. D. Herd, D. N. Simkus, and G. F. Slater. 2014. "Soluble organic compounds in the Tagish Lake meteorite." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 49 (4): 526-549 [10.1111/maps.12272]

Herd, C. D., A. Blinova, D. N. Simkus, et al. Y. Huang, R. Tarozo, C. M. Alexander, F. Gyngard, L. R. Nittler, G. D. Cody, M. L. Fogel, Y. Kebukawa, A. L. Kilcoyne, R. W. Hilts, G. F. Slater, D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, M. P. Callahan, J. E. Elsila, B. T. De Gregorio, and R. M. Stroud. 2011. "Origin and Evolution of Prebiotic Organic Matter As Inferred from the Tagish Lake Meteorite." Science, 332 (6035): 1304-1307 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1126/science.1203290]

Herd, C., A. Blinova, D. N. Simkus, et al. Y. Huang, R. Tarozo, C.-D. Alexander, F. Gyngard, L. R. Nittler, G. D. Cody, M. L. Fogel, Y. Kebukawa, A. Kilcoyne, R. W. Hilts, G. F. Slater, D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, M. P. Callahan, J. E. Elsila, B. T. De Gregorio, and R. M. Stroud. 2011. "Origin and evolution of prebiotic organic matter as inferred from the Tagish Lake meteorite." Science, 332: 1304-1307 [10.1126/science.1203290]