Eric Boyd PhD

Eric Boyd is the deputy PI of the Rock Powered Life NAI. Eric’s research combines molecular biological and geochemical analyses through the lens of evolutionary biology to understand the distribution and extent of diversity of metabolic strategies in geological environments. Laboratory- and field-based studies are integrated through the application of contemporary microbial physiology and next-generation sequencing, geochemical, bioinformatics, and isotopic techniques, to determine why such diversity exists. Applied to RPL targets, this work will provide a unique new perspective on the physiological mechanisms that sustain life in energy-limited settings with new insights for astrobiological applications.