Who I Am and What I Do
Hi, my name is Mary Hogan and I work with the Astrobiology group at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. My official job title is "Assistant Lab Specialist." I study marine bacterial communities. Bacteria are the oldest (fossil record of existence at 3.5 billion years ago) and most abundant form of life on Earth. They grow everywhere on Earth including what are considered the most extreme environments (such as very cold or very hot temperatures, very low moisture, very high pressure, very high salinity, no sunlight, or no oxygen). I work with a variety of instruments and equipment to measure the chemicals that are both used and produced by bacteria during their growth processes. These chemicals include those that we humans commonly use and produce, such as oxygen, carbon and nitrogen as well as chemicals that we do not use, for example methane. I also participate in the operation of a simulated habitat. In this habitat we have samples of a marine bacterial community collected from a high salinity pond in Guerrero Negro, Baja, Mexico. Since we can't stay at the field site indefinitely and investigate the activity of the bacteria over time, we have brought samples of a microbial mat community back with us and are attempting to duplicate the microbial ecosystem in our habitat here at NASA Ames. Some of the key environmental conditions we control are temperature, light and salinity. Knowledge gained from the studies of the life processes of the organisms found on Earth can help to indicate what should be looked for as signs of life elsewhere in the universe. Since bacteria have been here the longest and developed optimum strategies for living in the most diverse environments known, they may provide the best source or indication of what to look for as evidence of past or present life elsewhere.

Growing Up
I grew up in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York. I think the thing that got me involved in science is that I'm just plain nosy. I wanted to know how things worked. The weirder the better—that's what grabbed me. In 4th grade we got to eat seaweed and in 10th grade we got to see how a cow's lungs worked. Of course some of it could be a little dull—just ask my high school physics teacher who threw chalk at me to keep me awake. But physics did explain some of the most inexplicable things, like how planes fly and boats float. My education includes an A.A.S. in Medical Laboratory Technology from Orange County Community College of Middletown, NY, a B.S. in Biology from Ramapo College of Ramapo, NJ and an M.S. in Marine Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I have worked in a variety of laboratories that mostly had a connection to microbiology. When asked, "What would be your perfect job," my answer always included working outside. My work in marine science has allowed me to be outside in some of the most wonderful places, including the California coast, the Pacific Ocean, the Arabian Sea and this summer I visited Yellowstone National Park to investigate thermal springs and the bacteria that live within them.

 

Personal
When I'm not working, I love any excuse to be outside. My favorite thing is to ride my bike (preferably downhill), but I can be found trundling behind my sister as she jogs. My answer to swimming, hiking, skiing and most things outside is invariably "let's go," but I do like the warm weather activities better than the cold. I really enjoy reading, too. I think I was around 12 when my brother was reading a series of books called "The Narnia Tales" by C.S. Lewis, and I couldn't wait for him to finish each one. I was hooked on fantasy for life. Another favorite book from 8th grade was "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White. Current favorite authors of mine are Orson Scott Card, J. Gregory Keyes and George R.R. Martin. My favorite reading subjects are sci-fi, fantasy and history. I live in Los Gatos, CA with my calico cat named "Gertie," (the name of the little girl in the movie "E.T.") and my favorite food is CHOCOLATE!!!

Advice
My advice to students is to try new things, find what interests you and have some fun. If you think science might be for you, try to get involved in activities with your school or town that have a scientific connection. And if you find out that it's not what you want to do, keep searching. Talk to people working at things you like. Read as much as you can about the things you like and also the things you don't—you never know what could be hiding there. Never stop learning!

Last Updated: September 28, 2001