ProfessorMarkSephton

Faculty of Engineering, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Professor of Organic Geochemistry

Contact

Location

2.34Royal School of MinesSouth Kensington Campus

Summary

Organic Geochemistry involves the recognition and interpretation of organic records in planetary settings. Organic structures and their stable isotopic compositions can record chemical evolution in the solar system, the origin of life, habitation of environments and biological evolution over time. Organic compounds are also very sensitive to alteration and post formation changes can be related to thermal, aqueous, radiative and oxidative processing. From prebiotic chemistry in meteorites, through the many reservoirs of organic molecular fossils on Earth, to the search for evidence of past or present life on Mars, information-rich organic chronicles can be read using modern analytical methods.

Biography

Professor, Imperial College London 2007 – present
Head of Department, Earth Science & Engineering 2016 – 2021
Director of Imperial Space Lab, Imperial College London 2015 - 2016
Reader, Imperial College London 2005 – 2007
Lecturer, Open University 2000 – 2005
Post Doc, Open University 1998 – 2000
Post Doc, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and University of Utrecht 1996 – 1998
PhD, Open University 1993 – 1996
MSc, University of Newcastle 1991– 1992
BSc, University of Durham 1988 – 1991

Research Interests

Missions to Mars
Mars Analogue Studies
Astrobiology of Icy Moons
Planetary Protection
Meteorites and their Organic Matter
Space Spin-Offs
Causes and Consequences of Mass Extinctions
Organic Proxies of Environmental Change
Organic Molecules in Forensic Science and Biochemistry

Notable Outreach Activities

2023 – Sky at Night “The Search for Alien Life” Interview
2022 – Learning Under New Artistic Regimes (LUNAR)
2022 - Planetary Radio Live in London: The Moons Symphony
2021 - Trustee of Education Charity Space Science Engineering Foundation
2021 - ESA Coverage for Landing of Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
2021 - UKSA and NASA Perseverance - Discover the Mission and Space Careers
2021 - UKSA UK scientists play key part in NASA mission to Mars
2020 - ITV report for Launch of Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
2018 - Voice of America report for Lipid Biosignatures in a Mars Analogue
2016 - Sky at Night "Life on Mars" Interview
2013 - Exploring Mars, part of How to Put a Human on Mars (ICL-BBC collaboration; Winner of European and World Digital Awards)

Notable Community Activities

2024 - Member, UK Space Agency Planetary Protection Advisory Panel
2023 - Member, Mars Sample Return Sample Safety Assessment Protocol Tiger Team
2023 - Member, Mars Sample Return Planetary Protection Re-entry Safety Review Panel
2023 - Member, ESE Programme Board, UK Space Agency
2022 - Member, Royal Society Working Group, Perspective on Space
2022 - Co-Chair Mars Sample Return Temperature and Time Tiger Team
2021 - Speciality Chief Editor for Space Exploration | Frontiers in Space Technologies
2020 - Selected as Returned Sample Science Participating Scientist NASA Mars 2020
2019 - Member of COSPAR Sample Safety Assessment Protocol Working Group
2016 - Team Coordinator for Planetary Protection of Outer Solar System
2015 - Member NASA Mars 2020 Returned Sample Science Board
2014 - Winner of Student Academic Choice Award for Best Supervision
2014 - Member of ESA Planetary Protection Working Group
2013 - Chair of UK Space Agency Space Exploration Advisory Committee
2013 - Member of NASA Science Definition Team for the 2020 Mars Rover
2011 - Member of STFC Astronomy Grants Panel
2010 - Co-Chair of NASA/ESA Mars Sample Return End 2 End International Science Analysis Group

Management and Administration

2021 - 2023 Chair of Targeted Scholarships Sub-Group, Imperial College
2021 - 2023 Societal Engagement Champion, Earth Science & Engineering
2016 - 2021 Head of Department, Earth Science & Engineering
2015 - 2016 Director of Imperial Space Lab, Imperial College
2011 - 2016 Chair of the Department Promotions Panel, Earth Science & Engineering
2010 - 2015 Head of Section, Earth & Planets, Earth Science & Engineering
2005 - 2010 Director of Postgraduate Studies, Earth Science & Engineering
2009 - 2021 Chair of the Department Safety Committee, Earth Science & Engineering
2009 - Present Department Safety Officer, Earth Science & Engineering
2005 - Present Group Leader, Imperial College Organic Geochemistry group

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Simon JI, Hickman‐Lewis K, Cohen BA, et al.Simon JI, Hickman‐Lewis K, Cohen BA, Mayhew LE, Shuster DL, Debaille V, Hausrath EM, Weiss BP, Bosak T, Zorzano M, Amundsen HEF, Beegle LW, Bell JF, Benison KC, Berger EL, Beyssac O, Brown AJ, Calef F, Casademont TM, Clark B, Clavé E, Crumpler L, Czaja AD, Fairén AG, Farley KA, Flannery DT, Fornaro T, Forni O, Gómez F, Goreva Y, Gorin A, Hand KP, Hamran S, Henneke J, Herd CDK, Horgan BHN, Johnson JR, Joseph J, Kronyak RE, Madariaga JM, Maki JN, Mandon L, McCubbin FM, McLennan SM, Moeller RC, Newman CE, Núñez JI, Pascuzzo AC, Pedersen DA, Poggiali G, Pinet P, Quantin‐Nataf C, Rice M, Rice JW, Royer C, Schmidt M, Sephton M, Sharma S, Siljeström S, Stack KM, Steele A, Sun VZ, Udry A, VanBommel S, Wadhwa M, Wiens RC, Williams AJ, Williford KH close, 2023, Samples collected from the floor of Jezero crater with the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol:128, ISSN:2169-9097, Pages:1-42

Vaughan A, Minitti ME, Cardarelli EL, et al.Vaughan A, Minitti ME, Cardarelli EL, Johnson JR, Kah LC, Pilleri P, Rice MS, Sephton M, Horgan BHN, Wiens RC, Yingst RA, Zorzano Mier M, Anderson R, Bell JF, Brown AJ, Cloutis EA, Cousin A, Herkenhoff KE, Hausrath EM, Hayes AG, Kinch K, Merusi M, Million CC, Sullivan R, Siljeström SM, St. Clair M close, 2023, Regolith of the crater floor units, Jezero crater, Mars: textures, composition, and implications for provenance, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol:128, ISSN:2169-9097, Pages:1-32

Sephton M, Chan Q, Watson J, et al.Sephton M, Chan Q, Watson J, Burchell M, Spathis V, Grady M, Verchovsky A, Abernethy F, Franchi I close, 2023, Insoluble macromolecular organic matter in the Winchcombe meteorite, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, ISSN:1086-9379

Royle S, Cropper L, Watson J, et al.Royle S, Cropper L, Watson J, Sinibaldi S, Entwisle M, Sephton M close, 2023, Solid phase micro extraction for organic contamination control throughout assembly and operational phases of space missions, Astrobiology, Vol:23, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:127-143

Kumar P, Zavala-Reyes JC, Kalaiarasan G, et al.Kumar P, Zavala-Reyes JC, Kalaiarasan G, Abubakar-Waziri H, Young G, Mudway I, Dilliway C, Lakhdar R, Mumby S, Kłosowski MM, Pain CC, Adcock IM, Watson JS, Sephton MA, Chung KF, Porter AE close, 2023, Characteristics of fine and ultrafine aerosols in the London underground., Science of the Total Environment, Vol:858, ISSN:0048-9697

Chan QHS, Watson JS, Sephton MA, et al.Chan QHS, Watson JS, Sephton MA, O'Brien ÁC, Hallis LJ close, 2023, The amino acid and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compositions of the promptly recovered CM2 Winchcombe carbonaceous chondrite, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, ISSN:1086-9379

Scheller EL, Hollis JR, Cardarelli EL, et al.Scheller EL, Hollis JR, Cardarelli EL, Steele A, Beegle LW, Bhartia R, Conrad P, Uckert K, Sharma S, Ehlmann BL, Abbey WJ, Asher SA, Benison KC, Berger EL, Beyssac O, Bleefeld BL, Bosak T, Brown AJ, Burton AS, V. Bykov S, Cloutis E, Fairen AG, DeFlores L, Farley KA, Fey DM, Fornaro T, Fox AC, Fries M, Hickman-Lewis K, Hug WF, Huggett JE, Imbeah S, Jakubek RS, Kah LC, Kelemen P, Kennedy MR, Kizovski T, Lee C, Liu Y, Mandon L, McCubbin FM, Moore KR, Nixon BE, Nunez JI, Sanchez-Vahamonde CR, Roppel RD, Schulte M, Sephton MA, Sharma SK, Siljestrom S, Shkolyar S, Shuster DL, Simon JI, Smith RJ, Stack KM, Steadman K, Weiss BP, Werynski A, Williams AJ, Wiens RC, Williford KH, Winchell K, Wogsland B, Yanchilina A, Yingling R, Zorzano M-P close, 2022, Aqueous alteration processes in Jezero crater, Mars-implications for organic geochemistry, Science, Vol:378, ISSN:0036-8075, Pages:1105-1110

King AJ, Daly L, Rowe J, et al.King AJ, Daly L, Rowe J, Joy KH, Greenwood RC, Devillepoix HAR, Suttle MD, Chan QHS, Russell SS, Bates HC, Bryson JFJ, Clay PL, Vida D, Lee MR, O'Brien Á, Hallis LJ, Stephen NR, Tartèse R, Sansom EK, Towner MC, Cupak M, Shober PM, Bland PA, Findlay R, Franchi IA, Verchovsky AB, Abernethy FAJ, Grady MM, Floyd CJ, Van Ginneken M, Bridges J, Hicks LJ, Jones RH, Mitchell JT, Genge MJ, Jenkins L, Martin P-E, Sephton MA, Watson JS, Salge T, Shirley KA, Curtis RJ, Warren TJ, Bowles NE, Stuart FM, Di Nicola L, Györe D, Boyce AJ, Shaw KMM, Elliott T, Steele RCJ, Povinec P, Laubenstein M, Sanderson D, Cresswell A, Jull AJT, Sýkora I, Sridhar S, Harrison RJ, Willcocks FM, Harrison CS, Hallatt D, Wozniakiewicz PJ, Burchell MJ, Alesbrook LS, Dignam A, Almeida NV, Smith CL, Clark B, Humphreys-Williams ER, Schofield PF, Cornwell LT, Spathis V, Morgan GH, Perkins MJ, Kacerek R, Campbell-Burns P, Colas F, Zanda B, Vernazza P, Bouley S, Jeanne S, Hankey M, Collins GS, Young JS, Shaw C, Horak J, Jones D, James N, Bosley S, Shuttleworth A, Dickinson P, McMullan I, Robson D, Smedley ARD, Stanley B, Bassom R, McIntyre M, Suttle AA, Fleet R, Bastiaens L, Ihász MB, McMullan S, Boazman SJ, Dickeson ZI, Grindrod PM, Pickersgill AE, Weir CJ, Suttle FM, Farrelly S, Spencer I, Naqvi S, Mayne B, Skilton D, Kirk D, Mounsey A, Mounsey SE, Mounsey S, Godfrey P, Bond L, Bond V, Wilcock C, Wilcock H, Wilcock R close, 2022, The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system., Science Advances, Vol:8, ISSN:2375-2548

Salter TL, Watson J, Waite JH, et al.Salter TL, Watson J, Waite JH, Sephton MA close, 2022, Hydrothermal processing of microorganisms: Mass spectral signals of degraded biosignatures for life detection on icy moons, Acs Earth and Space Chemistry, Vol:6, ISSN:2472-3452, Pages:2508-2518

Farley KA, Stack KM, Shuster DL, et al.Farley KA, Stack KM, Shuster DL, Horgan BHN, Hurowitz JA, Tarnas JD, Simon JI, Sun VZ, Scheller EL, Moore KR, McLennan SM, Vasconcelos PM, Wiens RC, Treiman AH, Mayhew LE, Beyssac O, Kizovski TV, Tosca NJ, Williford KH, Crumpler LS, Beegle LW, Bell JF, Ehlmann BL, Liu Y, Maki JN, Schmidt ME, Allwood AC, Amundsen HEF, Bhartia R, Bosak T, Brown AJ, Clark BC, Cousin A, Forni O, Gabriel TSJ, Goreva Y, Gupta S, Hamran S-E, Herd CDK, Hickman-Lewis K, Johnson JR, Kah LC, Kelemen PB, Kinch KB, Mandon L, Mangold N, Quantin-Nataf C, Rice MS, Russell PS, Sharma S, Siljeström S, Steele A, Sullivan R, Wadhwa M, Weiss BP, Williams AJ, Wogsland BV, Willis PA, Acosta-Maeda TA, Beck P, Benzerara K, Bernard S, Burton AS, Cardarelli EL, Chide B, Clavé E, Cloutis EA, Cohen BA, Czaja AD, Debaille V, Dehouck E, Fairén AG, Flannery DT, Fleron SZ, Fouchet T, Frydenvang J, Garczynski BJ, Gibbons EF, Hausrath EM, Hayes AG, Henneke J, Jørgensen JL, Kelly EM, Lasue J, Le Mouélic S, Madariaga JM, Maurice S, Merusi M, Meslin P-Y, Milkovich SM, Million CC, Moeller RC, Núñez JI, Ollila AM, Paar G, Paige DA, Pedersen DAK, Pilleri P, Pilorget C, Pinet PC, Rice JW, Royer C, Sautter V, Schulte M, Sephton MA, Sharma SK, Sholes SF, Spanovich N, St. Clair M, Tate CD, Uckert K, VanBommel SJ, Yanchilina AG, Zorzano M-P close, 2022, Aqueously altered igneous rocks sampled on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars, Science, Vol:377, ISSN:0036-8075

Schubotz F, Sephton MA, Derenne S, 2022, Biomarkers in Extreme Environments on Earth and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar System, Elements, Vol:18, ISSN:1811-5209, Pages:100-106

Salter TL, Magee BA, Waite JH, et al.Salter TL, Magee BA, Waite JH, Sephton MA close, 2022, Mass spectrometric fingerprints of Bacteria and Archaea for life detection on icy moons, Astrobiology, Vol:22, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:143-157

Open Access Link

Potiszil C, Montgomery W, Sephton M, 2021, Heterogeneity within refractory organic matter from CM2 carbonaceous chondrites: evidence from Raman spectroscopy, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol:574, ISSN:0012-821X, Pages:1-10

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

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

Royle S, Watson J, Zhang Y, et al.Royle S, Watson J, Zhang Y, Chatzitheoklitos G, Sephton M close, 2019, Solid Phase Micro Extraction: Potential for Organic Contamination Control for Planetary Protection of Life-Detection Missions to the Icy Moons of the Outer Solar System, Astrobiology, Vol:19, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:1153-1166

Kminek G, Fellous J-L, Rettburg P, et al.Kminek G, Fellous J-L, Rettburg P, Moissl-Eichinger C, Sephton MA, Royle SH, Spry A, Yano H, Chujo T, Margheritis DB, Brucato JR, Haddaji AJ close, 2019, The international planetary protection handbook, Space Research Today, Vol:205, ISSN:1752-9298, Pages:e1-e120

Montgomery W, Jaramillo EA, Royle S, et al.Montgomery W, Jaramillo EA, Royle S, Kounaves S, Schulze-Makuch D, Sephton MA close, 2019, Effects of oxygen-containing salts on the detection of organic biomarkers on Mars and in terrestrial analogue soils, Astrobiology, Vol:19, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:711-721

Beaty DW, Grady MM, McSween HY, et al.Beaty DW, Grady MM, McSween HY, Sefton-Nash E, Carrier BL, Altieri F, Amelin Y, Ammannito E, Anand M, Benning LG, Bishop JL, Borg LE, Boucher D, Brucato JR, Busemann H, Campbell KA, Czaja AD, Debaille V, Des Marais DJ, Dixon M, Ehlmann BL, Farmer JD, Fernandez-Remolar DC, Filiberto J, Fogarty J, Glavin DP, Goreva YS, Hallis LJ, Harrington AD, Hausrath EM, Herd CDK, Horgan B, Humanyun M, Kleine T, Kleinhenz J, Mackelprang R, Mangold N, Mayhew LE, McCoy JT, McCubbin FM, McLennan SM, Moser DE, Moynier F, Mustard JF, Niles PB, Ori GG, Raulin F, Rettberg P, Rucker MA, Schmitz N, Schwenzer SP, Sephton MA, Shaheen R, Sharp ZD, Schuster DL, Siljestrom S, Smith CL, Spry JA, Steele A, Swindle TD, ten Kate IL, Tosca NJ, Usui T, Van Kranendonk MJ, Wadhwa M, Weiss BP, Werner SC, Westall F, Wheeler RM, Zipfel J, Zorzano MP close, 2019, The potential science and engineering value of samples delivered to Earth by Mars sample return, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Vol:54, ISSN:1086-9379, Pages:667-671

Royle SH, Tan J, Kounaves SP, et al.Royle SH, Tan J, Kounaves SP, Sephton M close, 2018, Survivability of 1-chloronapthalene during simulated early diagenesis – Implications for chlorinated hydrocarbon detection on Mars, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol:123, ISSN:2169-9097, Pages:2790-2802

Sephton MA, Waite JH, Brockwell TG, 2018, How to Detect Life on Icy Moons, Astrobiology, Vol:18, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:843-855

Tan J, Lewis JMT, Sephton MA, 2018, The fate of lipid biosignatures in a Mars-analogue sulfur stream., Scientific Reports, Vol:8, ISSN:2045-2322, Pages:7586-7586

Gordon PR, Sephton MA, 2018, A method for choosing the best samples for Mars sample return, Astrobiology, Vol:18, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:556-570

Lewis JMT, Najorka J, Watson JS, et al.Lewis JMT, Najorka J, Watson JS, Sephton MA close, 2018, The search for Hesperian organic matter on Mars: Pyrolysis studies of sediments rich in sulfur and iron, Astrobiology, Vol:18, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:454-464

Schulze-Makuch D, Wagner D, Kounaves SP, et al.Schulze-Makuch D, Wagner D, Kounaves SP, Mangelsdorf K, Devine KG, de Vera J-P, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Grossart H-P, Parro V, Kaupenjohann M, Galy A, Schneider B, Airo A, Froesler J, Davila AF, Arens FL, Caceres L, Cornejo FS, Carrizo D, Dartnell L, DiRuggiero J, Flury M, Ganzert L, Gessner MO, Grathwohl P, Guan L, Heinz J, Hess M, Keppler F, Maus D, McKay CP, Meckenstock RU, Montgomery W, Oberlin EA, Probst AJ, Saenz JS, Sattler T, Schirmack J, Sephton MA, Schloter M, Uhl J, Valenzuela B, Vestergaard G, Woermer L, Zamorano P close, 2018, Transitory microbial habitat in the hyperarid Atacama Desert, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol:115, ISSN:0027-8424, Pages:2670-2675

Potiszil C, Montgomery W, Sephton MA, 2017, The Effects of Pressure on Model Compounds of Meteorite Organic Matter, Acs Earth and Space Chemistry, Vol:1, ISSN:2472-3452, Pages:475-482

Matthewman R, Crawford IA, Jones AP, et al.Matthewman R, Crawford IA, Jones AP, Joy KH, Sephton MA close, 2016, Organic matter responses to radiation under lunar conditions, Astrobiology, Vol:16, ISSN:1557-8070, Pages:900-912

Montgomery WB, Bromiley GB, Sephton MA, 2016, The nature of organic records in impact excavated rocks on Mars, Scientific Reports, Vol:6, ISSN:2045-2322

Montgomery W, Sephton MA, 2016, Pressure effects in polycyclic aromatic nitrogenated heterocycles (PANHs): Diagnostic qualities and cosmobarometry potential, Astrophysical Journal, Vol:819, ISSN:0004-637X

Sephton MA, Carter JN, 2015, The chances of detecting life on Mars, Planetary and Space Science, Vol:112, ISSN:0032-0633, Pages:15-22

Sephton MA, Jiao D, Engel MH, et al.Sephton MA, Jiao D, Engel MH, Looy CV, Visscher H close, 2015, Terrestrial acidification during the end-Permian biosphere crisis?, Geology, Vol:43, ISSN:1943-2682, Pages:159-162

Lewis JMT, Watson JS, Najorka J, et al.Lewis JMT, Watson JS, Najorka J, Luong D, Sephton MA close, 2015, Sulfate Minerals: A Problem for the Detection of Organic Compounds on Mars?, Astrobiology, Vol:15, ISSN:1557-8070

Montgomery, WB, Sephton MA, et al.Montgomery, WB, Sephton MA, Watson JS, Zeng H, Rees A close, 2015, Minimising hydrogen sulphide generation during steam assisted production of heavy oil, Scientific Reports, Vol:5, ISSN:2045-2322

Sephton MA, Lewis JMT, Watson JS, et al.Sephton MA, Lewis JMT, Watson JS, Montgomery W, Garnier C close, 2014, Perchlorate‐induced combustion of organic matter with variable molecular weights: Implications for Mars missions, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol:41, ISSN:0094-8276, Pages:7453-7460

Sephton MA, Carter JN, 2014, Statistics Provide Guidance for Indigenous Organic Carbon Detection on Mars Missions, Astrobiology, Vol:14, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:706-713

Montgomery W, Watson JS, Sephton MA, 2014, An organic cosmo-barometer: Distinct pressure and temperature effects for methyl substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Astrophysical Journal, Vol:784, ISSN:0004-637X

Carter JN, Sephton MA, 2013, A Bayesian statistical assessment of representative samples for asteroidal or meteoritical material, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Vol:48, ISSN:1086-9379, Pages:976-996

Sephton MA, 2013, Aromatic units from the macromolecular material in meteorites: Molecular probes of cosmic environments, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol:107, ISSN:0016-7037, Pages:231-241

Sephton MA, Hazen RM, 2013, On the origins of deep hydrocarbons, Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry, Vol:75, ISSN:1529-6466, Pages:449-465

Chapters

Sephton MA, 2014, Organic Geochemistry of Meteorites, Treatise on Geochemistry, Editor(s): Turekian, Elsevier Science, Pages:1-31

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