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Tori Hoehler

Contact Information
Title: 
Research Scientist
Phone: 
(650)604-1355
Email : 
Tori.M.Hoehler@nasa.gov
Affiliation: 
Exobiology Branch (Code SSX)
Professional Background
Professional Biography: 
2001 to Present: Research Scientist, Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center
1998 to 2001: National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center
Education: 
1998 - Ph.D. Marine Chemistry and Biogeochemistry, University of North Carolina

1992 - B.S. Chemistry, Highest Honors and Highest Distinction, University of North Carolina
Research Interests: 
Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry with an emphasis on anaerobic processes, hydrogen cycling, and bioenergetics. Subsurface and low energy ecosystems. Planetary habitability.
Select Publications: 
Orphan, VJ and TM Hoehler (2011) Hydrogen for dinner, Nature, 476, 154-155.

Hoehler, TM and F Westall (2010) Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group Goal One: Determine if life ever arose on Mars, Astrobiology, 10, 859-867.

Alperin, MJ and TM Hoehler (2010) The ongoing mystery of seafloor methane, Science, 329, 288-289.

Hoehler, TM (2010) Innumerable globes like this one?, Nature Geoscience, 3, 447.

Hoehler, TM, RP Gunsalus, and MJ McInerney (2010) Environmental constraints that limit methanogenesis, in Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology, KN Timmis (Ed.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 636-654.

Alperin, MJ and TM Hoehler (2009) Anaerobic methane oxidation by archaea/sulfate-reducing bacteria aggregates: 2. Isotopic constraints, American Journal of Science, 309, 869-957.

Alperin, MJ and TM Hoehler (2009) Anaerobic methane oxidation by archaea/sulfate-reducing bacteria aggregates: 1. Thermodynamic and physical constraints, American Journal of Science, 309, 958-984.

Hoehler, TM (2007) An energy balance concept of habitability, Astrobiology, 7, 824-838.

Hoehler, TM (2004), Biological energy requirements as quantitative boundary conditions for life in the subsurface, Geobiology, 2, 205-215.

Hoehler, TM, DB Albert, MJ Alperin, BM Bebout, CS Martens, and DJ Des Marais (2002), Comparative ecology of H2 cycling in phototrophic and sedimentary ecosystems. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 81, 575-585.

Hoehler, TM, BM Bebout, and DJ Des Marais (2001), The role of microbial mats in the production of reduced gases on the early Earth, Nature, 412, 324-327.

Hoehler, TM, MJ Alperin, DB Albert, and CS Martens (2001), Apparent minimum free energy requirements for methanogenic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria in an anoxic marine sediment. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 38(1), 33-41.

Hoehler, TM, MJ Alperin, DB Albert, and CS Martens (1998), Thermodynamic controls on hydrogen concentrations in anoxic sediments, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 62, 1745-1756.

Hoehler, TM, MJ Alperin, DB Albert, and CS Martens (1994), Field and laboratory studies of methane oxidation in an anoxic marine sediment: evidence for a methanogen-sulfate reducer consortium, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 8, 451-463.
Curriculum Vita: 
application/pdf iconTori Hoehler CV.pdf
Other Information
NASA Missions: 
Mars Science Laboratory Collaborating Research Scientist; Europa lander science definition team
Awards and Other: 
Carl Sagan Lecturer, American Geophysical Union, 2009

NASA Ames Honor Award for Excellence in Research, 2009

Editorial Boards: Astrobiology (2008-present), Geobiology (2006-present), Environmental Microbiology (2006-present), Frontiers in Microbiological Chemistry (2011-present)

Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow (National Academy of Sciences), 2007

Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, 2007

Best First Paper Award, Ames Research Center, 2001

NASA Spotlight Award for Education and Public Outreach, 2001