2026 LIFE RCN Seminar Series Episode 7: Dr. Rika Anderson and Alia Sanger

Dr. Rika Anderson is an Associate Professor of Biology at Carleton College.

From Dr. Anderson: 'As astrobiologists seeking to understand the co-evolution of life and the planet, we are interested in understanding when specific microbial metabolisms arose (such as those that produce or consume putative biosignatures), as well as the scope of the biosphere at different points in Earth history (which would impact the flux of those biosignatures). We have been using phylogenomics techniques to estimate the timing for when specific microbial capabilities first arose, and working with early Earth geologists to contextualize those evolutionary events in Earth history. I will share the results of some of those analyses, with a focus on nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus cycling genes.'

Her talk is entitled "Genomic time travel: Microbial chronicles of Earth's early evolution". 

Alia Sanger is a PhD candidate in the Geomicrobiology lab at McGill University. She uses genomic data to study microbial exoenzymes, their evolution, and the impact on organic matter degradation and nutrient availability on the early Earth.

Her talk is entitled "The evolution of microbial exoenzymes and their role in planetary oxygenation".

The meeting room can be found here.