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Dr. Eric T. Parker

Photo of ERIC PARKER

Dr. Eric T. Parker

  • Research AST, Planetary Studies
  • 301.614.5107
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 691
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: NASA

    • Brief Bio

    Dr. Eric Parker is an Astrochemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. His areas of interest span the fields of analytical chemistry, astrochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, environmental chemistry, prebiotic chemistry, astrobiology, origins of life, and Earth sciences. 

    Research Interests

    Dr. Eric Parker's Research Interests

    Applying liquid chromatography- and mass spectrometry-based analytical tecniques to analyze complex mixtures for biomolecules considered to be important for life. This includes analyzing extraterrestrial samples (e.g., meteorites and micrometeorites) and samples resulting from laboratory simulations of prebiotic environments. Molecules of interest in these studies include amino acids and peptides.

    Education

    Ph.D., Chemistry - Georgia Institute of Technology

    M.S., Earth System Science - University of California at Irvine

    B.S., Environmental Chemistry - University of California at San Diego

    Positions/Employment

    11/2016 - Present

    Research Space Scientist

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
    8/2012 - 8/2016

    Graduate Student

    School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
    6/2012 - 8/2012

    Research Fellow

    Marine Biological Laboratory, Greenbelt, MD
    8/2009 - 6/2012

    Graduate Student

    School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
    8/2008 - 8/2009

    Researcher

    Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA
    6/2007 - 7/2008

    Graduate Student

    University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA

    Awards

    2017
    • American Chemical Society’s Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Astrochemistry

    2016
    • First Runner-Up, Suddath Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student, Presented by Georgia Tech Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience

    2015
    • Astrobiology Science Conference Grant
    • Georgia Tech College of Sciences Graduate Research Award
    • Georgia Tech Career, Research, and Innovation Scholarship

    2014
    • First Place, Research Talk Competition, Georgia Tech School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student Research Symposium
    • NASA Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award
    • Center for Chemical Evolution (CCE) Service Award for Education, Outreach, and Diversity
    • NASA Astrobiology Program Origins Grant

    2013
    • NASA Astrobiology Institute Nordic Scholar
    • Georgia Tech Research and Innovation Fellowship

    2012
    • NASA Astrobiology Institute Santander Scholar
    • NASA Planetary Biology Research Fellowship

    2011
    • NASA Astrobiology Institute Origins Grant

    2007
    • UCSD Undergraduate Research Scholar

    2006
    • UCSD Physical Sciences William M. Hawkins, Jr. Award
    • UCSD Physical Sciences Dean’s Undergraduate Award for Excellence
    • California Water Environment Association Kirtland Brooks Scholarship
     

    Publications

    Refereed

    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, [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13531]

    Glavin, D. P., J. E. Elsila, H. L. McLain, et al. J. C. Aponte, E. T. Parker, J. P. Dworkin, D. H. Hill, H. C. Connolly, and D. S. Lauretta. 2020. "Extraterrestrial amino acids and L-enantiomeric excesses in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrites Aguas Zarcas and Murchison." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13451]

    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]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, J. L. Bada, and F. M. Fernández. 2016. "Quantitation of α-hydroxy acids in complex prebiotic mixtures via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry." Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 30: 2043-2051 [10.1002/rcm.7684]

    Cleaves, H. J., C. Neish, M. P. Callahan, et al. E. Parker, F. M. Fernández, and J. P. Dworkin. 2014. "Amino acids generated from hydrated Titan tholins: Comparison with Miller–Urey electric discharge products." Icarus, 237: 182-189 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.042]

    Parker, E. T., J. H. Cleaves, A. S. Burton, et al. D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, J. P. Zhou, J. L. Bada, and F. M. Fernández. 2014. "Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments." Journal of Visualized Experiments , 83: 1-13 [Full Text (Link)] [10.3791/51039 ]

    Parker, E. T., M. Zhou, A. S. Burton, et al. D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, R. Krishnamurthy, F. M. Fernndez, and J. L. Bada. 2014. "A Plausible Simultaneous Synthesis of Amino Acids and Simple Peptides on the Primordial Earth." Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 53: 8132-81336 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1002/ange.201403683]

    Liu, J., X. Zhang, E. T. Parker, et al. P. R. Veres, J. M. Roberts, J. A. de Gouw, P. L. Hayes, J. L. Jimenez, J. G. Murphy, R. A. Ellis, L. G. Huey, and R. J. Weber. 2012. "On the gas-particle partitioning of soluble organic aerosol in two urban atmospheres with contrasting emissions: 2. Gas and particle phase formic acid." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 117: [10.1029/2012jd017912]

    Zhang, X., J. Liu, E. T. Parker, et al. P. L. Hayes, J. L. Jimenez, J. A. de Gouw, J. H. Flynn, N. Grossberg, B. L. Lefer, and R. J. Weber. 2012. "On the gas-particle partitioning of soluble organic aerosol in two urban atmospheres with contrasting emissions: 1. Bulk water-soluble organic carbon." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 117: [10.1029/2012jd017908]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Prebiotic synthesis of methionine and other sulfur-containing organic compounds on the primitive Earth: a contemporary reassessment based on an unpublished 1958 Stanley Miller experiment." Orig. Life Evol. Biosph., 41: 201-212 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11084-010-9228-8]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, J. P. Dworkin, et al. D. P. Glavin, M. P. Callahan, A. D. Aubrey, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H2S-rich spark discharge experiment." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108 (14): 5526-5531 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1073/pnas.1019191108]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Enhanced synthesis of alkyl amino acids in Miller's 1958 H2S experiment." Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. , 41: 569-574 [ 10.1007/s11084-011-9253-2]

    Glavin, D. P., A. Aubrey, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, J. E. Elsila, E. T. Parker, J. L. Bada, P. Jenniskens, and M. H. Shaddad. 2010. "Extraterrestrial amino acids in the Almahata Sitta meteorite." Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 45 (10-11): 1695-1709 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/j.1945-5100.2010.01094.x ]

    Talks, Presentations and Posters

    Invited

    Expanding Our Knowledge of the Ranges of Environmental Conditions that May Have Been Able to Support Peptide Synthesis on the Primitive Earth and Elsewhere

     8 / 2017

    Parker, E.T. (2017) 254th American Chemical Society Natonal Meeting. Abstract #550. 

    An Evaluation of the Prebiotic Plausibility of Depsipeptide Synthesis Under Possible Primitive Conditions

     7 / 2017

    Parker, E.T.; Forsythe, J.G.; Fernández, F.M. (2017) International Societey for the Study of the Origin of Life Conference. Abstract #4163.

    Other

    Talks

     2018

    Synthesis of Di-depsipeptides Under Possible Solar System Environments

     4 / 2017

    Parker, E.T.; Forsythe, J.G.; Fernández, F.M. (2017) 253rd American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exhibition, Abstract # 2644609.

    An Assessment of Amino Acid Stability in the Early Oceans by Analyzing Archived Seawater Samples with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

     3 / 2016

    Parker, E.T.; Brinton, K.L.; Burton, A.S.; Glavin, D.P.; Dworkin, J.P.; Bada, J.L. (2016) Pittcon 2016, Abstract #360-3.

    Amino Acid Stability in the Early Oceans

     6 / 2015

    Parker, E.T.; Brinton, K.L.; Burton, A.S.; Glavin, D.P.; Dworkin, J.P.; Bada, J.L. (2015) Astrobiology Science Conference, Abstract #7019.

    A Plausible Simultaneous Synthesis of Amino Acids and Simple Peptides on the Primordial Earth

     7 / 2014

    Parker, E.T.; Zhou, M.; Burton, A.S.; Glavin, D.P.; Dworkin, J.P.; Krishnamurthy, R.; Fernández, F.M.; Bada, J.L. (2014) Origins 2014-2nd ISSOL-The International Astrobiology Society and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference, Abstract #1131188.

    Mass Spectrometric-Based Investigations of Polymerized Biomolecules Synthesized in Miller’s Unreported Cyanamide Spark Discharge Experiment

     5 / 2013

    Parker, E.T.; Zhou, M.; Burton, A.S.; Glavin, D.P.; Dworkin, J.P.; Fernández, F.M.; Bada, J.L. (2013) American Society for Mass Spectrometry Annual Conference, Abstract #505.

    Stanley Miller’s Cyanamide Spark Discharge Experiment

     5 / 2013

    Parker, E.T. (2013) Astrobiology Graduate Conference.

    The Production of Gaseous Species in a Primitive Atmosphere: Gas Phase Chemistry in Spark Discharge Experiments

     4 / 2012

    Parker, E.T.; Cleaves, H.J.; Bada, J.L.; Orlando, T.M.; Fernandez, F.M. (2012) Astrobiology Science Conference, Abstract # 1342863.

    New Insights into Prebiotic Chemistry from Old Archived Miller Extracts

     7 / 2011

    Parker, E.T.; Cleaves, H.J.; Dworkin, J.P.; Glavin, D.P.; Callahan, M.P.; Aubrey, A.D.; Lazcano, A; Bada, J.L. (2011) Origins 2011-ISSOL and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference, Abstract #249.

    Professional Societies

    American Chemical Society, 2015 - Present
    Member
    American Geophysical Union, 2008 - Present
    Member
    International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life, 2011 - Present
    Member

    Brief Bio

    Dr. Eric Parker is an Astrochemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. His areas of interest span the fields of analytical chemistry, astrochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, environmental chemistry, prebiotic chemistry, astrobiology, origins of life, and Earth sciences. 

    Publications

    Refereed

    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 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13531]

    Glavin, D. P., J. E. Elsila, H. L. McLain, et al. J. C. Aponte, E. T. Parker, J. P. Dworkin, D. H. Hill, H. C. Connolly, and D. S. Lauretta. 2020. "Extraterrestrial amino acids and L-enantiomeric excesses in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrites Aguas Zarcas and Murchison." Meteoritics & Planetary Science [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/maps.13451]

    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]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, J. L. Bada, and F. M. Fernández. 2016. "Quantitation of α-hydroxy acids in complex prebiotic mixtures via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry." Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 30 2043-2051 [10.1002/rcm.7684]

    Cleaves, H. J., C. Neish, M. P. Callahan, et al. E. Parker, F. M. Fernández, and J. P. Dworkin. 2014. "Amino acids generated from hydrated Titan tholins: Comparison with Miller–Urey electric discharge products." Icarus 237 182-189 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.042]

    Parker, E. T., J. H. Cleaves, A. S. Burton, et al. D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, J. P. Zhou, J. L. Bada, and F. M. Fernández. 2014. "Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments." Journal of Visualized Experiments 83 1-13 [Full Text (Link)] [10.3791/51039 ]

    Parker, E. T., M. Zhou, A. S. Burton, et al. D. P. Glavin, J. P. Dworkin, R. Krishnamurthy, F. M. Fernndez, and J. L. Bada. 2014. "A Plausible Simultaneous Synthesis of Amino Acids and Simple Peptides on the Primordial Earth." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 53 8132-81336 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1002/ange.201403683]

    Liu, J., X. Zhang, E. T. Parker, et al. P. R. Veres, J. M. Roberts, J. A. de Gouw, P. L. Hayes, J. L. Jimenez, J. G. Murphy, R. A. Ellis, L. G. Huey, and R. J. Weber. 2012. "On the gas-particle partitioning of soluble organic aerosol in two urban atmospheres with contrasting emissions: 2. Gas and particle phase formic acid." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 117 [10.1029/2012jd017912]

    Zhang, X., J. Liu, E. T. Parker, et al. P. L. Hayes, J. L. Jimenez, J. A. de Gouw, J. H. Flynn, N. Grossberg, B. L. Lefer, and R. J. Weber. 2012. "On the gas-particle partitioning of soluble organic aerosol in two urban atmospheres with contrasting emissions: 1. Bulk water-soluble organic carbon." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 117 [10.1029/2012jd017908]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Prebiotic synthesis of methionine and other sulfur-containing organic compounds on the primitive Earth: a contemporary reassessment based on an unpublished 1958 Stanley Miller experiment." Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 41 201-212 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11084-010-9228-8]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, J. P. Dworkin, et al. D. P. Glavin, M. P. Callahan, A. D. Aubrey, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Primordial synthesis of amines and amino acids in a 1958 Miller H2S-rich spark discharge experiment." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108 (14): 5526-5531 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1073/pnas.1019191108]

    Parker, E. T., H. J. Cleaves, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, D. P. Glavin, A. Lazcano, and J. L. Bada. 2011. "Enhanced synthesis of alkyl amino acids in Miller's 1958 H2S experiment." Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 41 569-574 [ 10.1007/s11084-011-9253-2]

    Glavin, D. P., A. Aubrey, M. P. Callahan, et al. J. P. Dworkin, J. E. Elsila, E. T. Parker, J. L. Bada, P. Jenniskens, and M. H. Shaddad. 2010. "Extraterrestrial amino acids in the Almahata Sitta meteorite." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 45 (10-11): 1695-1709 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1111/j.1945-5100.2010.01094.x ]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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