Summary
Overview
I am a postdoctoral research in the Imperial College Organic Geochemistry group. I have worked the NASA, ESA, and Airbus to develop novel organic geochemistry techniques and contamination protocols for the Europa Clipper and ExoMars rover missions.
My PhD was focused on the preservation of lipids in iron-rich environments on Mars. To accomplish this, I study a variety of terrestrial analogue sites that mimic the conditions of specific parts of the Martian surface environment, and attempt to determine how the minerals in these environments influence the preservation of organic matter.
In particular, I am interested in the organic matter-mineral interactions in these environments, and how they work together to complete the story of preservation in these environments on Mars.
Publications
Journals
Tan J, Salter T, Watson J, et al., 2023, Organic biosignature degradation in hydrothermal and serpentinizing environments: Implications for life detection on Icy Moons and Mars, Astrobiology, Vol:10, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:1045-1055
Tan JSW, Sephton MA, 2021, Quantifying preservation potential: lipid degradation in a Mars-analog circumneutral iron deposit, Astrobiology, Vol:21, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:1-17
Royle SH, Tan J, Watson JS, et al., 2021, Pyrolysis of carboxylic acids in the presence of iron oxides: implications for life detection on missions to Mars, Astrobiology, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:1-19
Tan J, Royle S, Sephton M, 2021, Artificial maturation of iron- and sulfur-rich Mars analogues: Implications for the diagenetic stability of biopolymers and their detection with pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, Astrobiology, Vol:21, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:199-218
Tan J, Sephton M, 2020, Organic records of early life on Mars: the role of iron, burial and kinetics on preservation, Astrobiology, Vol:20, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:53-72