Mark Sephton

• Professor, Imperial College London 2007 – present
• Head of Department, Earth Science & Engineering 2016 – 2021
• 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

• 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 - How to Put a Human on Mars (ICL-BBC collaboration; Winner of European and World Digital Awards)

Notable Community Activities

• 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 - Present Chair of Targeted Scholarships Sub-Group, Imperial College
• 2021 - Present 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

• Vaughan A, Minitti ME, Cardarelli EL, et al., 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
• Sephton M, Chan Q, Watson J, et al., 2023, Insoluble macromolecular organic matter in the Winchcombe meteorite, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, ISSN:1086-9379
• Simon JI, Hickman‐Lewis K, Cohen BA, et al., 2023, Samples collected from the floor of Jezero crater with the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, ISSN:2169-9097
• Royle S, Cropper L, Watson J, et al., 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., 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., 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., 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., 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., 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., 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., 2022, Mass spectrometric fingerprints of Bacteria and Archaea for life detection on icy moons, Astrobiology, Vol:22, ISSN:1531-1074, Pages:143-157
• 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