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Scientist profile

Nicola McLoughlin

Researcher

Centre for Geobiology

Department of Earth Science

Geobiology

Homepage: http://www.uib.no/geobio/en/public-outreach/field-activities/drilling-2008

Title: Researcher

Phone: +47 55 58 34 40

E-mail:

Visiting address: Realfagbygget, Allegt. 41

I am a geologist by training with a background in palaeobiology and Precambrian geology. My major research interests concern the evolution of the early life on earth and the nature of Archean environments. Key questions that motivate my research include: when and where did life first emerge on earth? What is the role of endolithic microorganisms in the evolution of life on Earth and beyond?

My research begins with field-based investigations of Precambrian sedimentary and volcanic systems that contain candidate biosignatures especially cherts, carbonates and meta-volcanic glass. I then employ micron-scale morphological mapping combined with chemical and isotopic tools to characterize putative microbial micro-fabrics. By correlating primary environmental gradients with changing textural and chemical signatures it is possible to reconstruct ancient microbial ecosystems and distinguish these from abiotic artefacts.

My focus on the Precambrian biosphere is informed by studies of modern geomicrobiological systems and takes an experimental approach to investigating how taphonomic pathways and metamorphism modifies the resultant biosignatures we find in the ancient rock record. In addition to improving our fundamental understanding of Precambrian life my research provides a testing ground for refining biosignatures used to seek life beyond earth.

Current field and laboratory work focuses on 3.5 billion year old scientific drill core from the Barberton region of South Africa and surface samples from the Pilbara region of West Australia. In addition to modern analogue sites, especially from the N Atlantic.

EDUCATION

2006 DPhil Oxford University, U.K.
Thesis title “Earth’s earliest biosphere: Western Australia”. Supervisors Prof. M.D. Brasier and Dr R. Rickaby, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Scholarship.

2002 Cambridge University, U.K., MSc  Earth Sciences: First Class Hons. Research project: “Silicon Isotope Fractionation in Freshwater Diatoms”.

2001 Cambridge University, U.K., BA Natural Sciences, Geology: First Class Hons. Dissertation: “The Geology of an area in northeast Arran, Scotland”. Undergraduate subjects: geology (major) also chemistry, material sciences, maths, the history and philosophy of science.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Editorial board: Astrobiology 2009 onwards.
Co-ordinator: Geobiology Group seminars Bergen 2007+, Oxford University Palaeobiology Lecture Series 2005.
Scientific reviewer: NSF proposals, NASA Astrobiology Institute, also the Journals of Geology, Geobiology, Chemical Geology, ISME, Palios, Earth Sci. Rev. and Geochim. Cosm. Acta.
Exam Invigilator: Oxford University Entrance exams and Undergraduate exams. 
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Department of Earth Science and Centre for Excellence in Geobiology, Bergen University, 2009-present: researcher and theme leader, early earth and biosignatures. 

Department of Earth Science Bergen University 2006-2009: postdoctoral researcher part of NFR project: "Life in volcanic crust: conditions, timing and depth" lead by Prof H. Furnes.

Scottish Parliament Information Centre March-May 2006: scienctific advisor to MSPs on the planning, rural affairs, energy, environment and transport team.

Department of Earth Sciences and Oxford University 2002-2006: undergrad. tutor, demonstartor for lab classes, fieldwork and small group tutorials.

Oxford International College and Oxford Science Studies (college and revision school) 2003-2006: part time tutor of geology and geography. 

UCB Films Cumbria 1997-2001 (international manufacturer of plastic and cellulose films): lab scientist and marketing department

 

Publications in Cristin

Note: enteries in **Crista** are entered under Mc Loughlin (2 words) and McLoughlin (1 word, correct) please search both for a complete list.

ARTICLES peer reviewed

  1. Wilson, J.P., Grotzinger, J.P., Fischer, W.W., Hand, K.P., Jensen, S., Knoll, .H., Abelson, J., Metz, J.J., McLoughlin, N., Cohen, P.A., Tice, M.M. (2012 in press). Deep-Water Incised Valley Deposits at the Proterozoic-Cambrian Boundary in Southern Namibia contain Abundant Treptichnus Pedum. Palios, 27, 252-273.
  2. Grosch, E.G., Vidal, O., Abu-Alam, T., McLoughlin, N., (2012). PT-Constraints on the metamorphic evolution of the Paleoarchean Kromberg type-section, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Journal of Petrology, 53(3), 513-545.
  3. Grosch, E.G., Kosler, J., McLoughlin, N., Drost, K., Slama, J., Pedersen, R.B. (2011). Paleoarchean detrital zircon ages from the earliest tectonic basin in the Barberton Greenstone Belt, Kaapvaal craton, South Africa. Precambrian Research 191, 85-99.
  4. McLoughlin, N., Wacey, D., Kruber, C., Kilburn, M.R., Thorseth, I.H., Pedersen, R.B. (2011). A combined TEM and NanoSIMS study of Endolithic microfossils in altered seafloor basalt. Chemical Geology, 154-162.
  5. Wacey, D., McLoughlin, N., Whitehouse, M.J. and Kilburn, M.R. (2010). Two co-existing sulfur metabolisms in a ca. 3,400 Ma sandstone. Geology, 38, 1115-1118.
  6. Fliegel, D., Kosler, J., McLoughlin, N., Simonetti, A., de Wit, M.J., Wirth, R., Furnes, H. (2010). In situ dating of earth's oldest trace fossil at 3.34 Ga. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 299: 290-298.
  7. McLoughlin, N., Staudigel, H., Furnes, H., Eickmann, B. and Ivarsson, M. (2010). Mechanisms of microtunneling in Rock Substrates - Distinguishing Endolithic Biosignatures from Abiotic Microtunnels. Geobiology, 8: 245-255
  8. McLoughlin, N., Fliegel, D. J., Furnes, H., Staudigel, H., Simonetti, A., Zhao, G. C., and Robinson, P.T. (2010). Assessing the Biogenicity and Syngenicity of Candidate Bioalteration Textures in Pillow Lavas of the ~2.52 Ga Wutai Greenstone Terrane of China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 55, 188-199.
  9. Grosch, E.G., McLoughlin, N., de Wit, M. and Furnes, H. (2009). Deciphering Earth's Deep History: Drilling in Africa's Oldest Greenstone Belt. Eos Trans. AGU, 90(40), doi:10.1029/2009EO400002.
  10. Grosch, E.G., McLoughlin, N., de Wit, M. and Furnes, H. (2009). Drilling for the Archean Roots of Life and Tectonic Earth in the Barberton Mountains. Scientific Drilling 8, 24-28.
  11. McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Banerjee, N.R., Muehlenbachs, K. and Staudigel, H. (2009). Ichnotaxonomy of Microbial Trace Fossils in Volcanic Glass. J. Geol. Soc. London 166, 159-170.
  12. Cohen, P.A., Bradley, A., Knoll, A.H., Grotzinger, J.P., Jensen, S., Abelson, J., Hand, K., Love, G., Metz, J., McLoughlin, N., Meister, P., Shepard, R., Tice, M., Wilson, J.P. (2009). Tubular Compression Fossils from the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia. J. Palaeontology, 83, 110-122.
  13. Staudigel, H., Furnes, H., McLoughlin, N., Banerjee, N.R., Connell, L.B., Templeton, A. (2008) 3.5 Billion years of glass bioalteration: Volcanic rocks as a basis for microbial life? Earth Science Reviews, 89, 156-176.
  14. McLoughlin, N., Wilson, L. A.and Brasier, M.D. (2008) Growth of synthetic stromatolites and wrinkle structures in the absence of microbes - implications for the early fossil record. Geobiology, 6, 95-105.
  15. Wacey, D., Kilburn, M. R., McLoughlin, N., Parnell, J. and Brasier, M.D. (2008) Using NanoSIMS in the search for early life on Earth: ambient inclusion trails in a c. 3400 Ma sandstone. Journal of the Geological Society of London, 165, 43-53.
  16. Furnes, H., Banerjee, N.R., Staudigel, H., Muehlenbachs, K., McLoughlin, N., de Wit, M., and Van Kranendonk, M.,  (2007). Comparing petrographic signatures of bioalteration in recent to Mesoarchean pillow lavas: tracing subsurface life in oceanic igneous rocks. Precambrian Research, 158, 156-176.
  17. Perry, R.S., McLoughlin, N., Lyne, B.Y., Sephton, M.A., Oliver, J., Perry, C.C., Campbell, K., Engel, M.H., Farmer, J.D., Brasier, M.D., and Staley, J.T. (2007). Defining biominerals and organominerals: direct and indirect indicators of life? Sedimentary Geology, 201, 157-179.
  18. McLoughlin, N., Brasier, M.D., Perry, R.S., Wacey, D., and Green, O.R. (2007). On Biogenicity Criteria for Endolithic Microborings on Early Earth and Beyond. Astrobiology, 7, 10-11. 
  19. Wacey, D., McLoughlin, N., Green, O.R., Parnell, J. Stoakes, C.A. and Brasier, M.D. (2006). The ~ 3.4 billion-year-old Strelley Pool Sandstone: a new window into early life on Earth. Int. J. Astrobiology 6, 1-10.
  20. Brasier, M.D., McLoughlin, N., Green, O.R. and Wacey, D. (2006). A fresh look at the fossil evidence for early Archaean cellular life: the taphonomic potential of sandstones. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 361, 887-902.
  21. Brasier, M.D., Green, O.R., Lindsay, J.F., McLoughlin, N., Steele, A., and Stoakes, C. (2005). Critical testing of Earth’s oldest putative fossil assemblage from the ~3.5 Ga Apex Chert, Chinaman Creek, Western Australia. Precambrian Research 140, 55-120.
  22. Lindsay, J.F., Brasier, M.D., McLoughlin, N., Green, O.R., Fogel, M. Steele, A., and Mertzman, S.A. (2005). The Problem of Deep Carbon – An Archean Paradox. Precambrian Research 143, 1-22.
  23. Brasier, M.D., Green, O.R., and McLoughlin, N. (2004). Characterisation and critical testing of potential microfossils from the early Earth: the Apex 'microfossil debate' and its lessons for Mars sample return. Int. J. of Astrobiology 3, 139-150.

BOOK CHAPTERS

  1. McLoughlin N.; Furnes, H; Staudigel, H, and Hanski E, (2012). Seeking Textural Evidence of a Palaeoproterozoic Sub-seafloor Biosphere in Pillow Lavas of the Pechenga Greenstone Belt. In "Reading the Archive of Earth Oxygenation" (Ed) Melezhik, V.A., Fallick, A.E., Kump, L.R., Lepland, A. Prave, A.R., Strauss, H., Springer.
  2. McLoughlin, N., Melezhik, V.A., Brasier, A.T. and Medvedev, P.V. (2012). Palaeoproterozoic Stromatolites from the Lomagudi-Jatuli interval of the Fennoscandian Shield In "Reading the Archive of Earth Oxygenation" (Ed) Melezhik, V.A., Fallick, A.E., Kump, L.R., Lepland, A. Prave, A.R., Strauss, H., Springer.
  3. McLoughlin N. (2011) Archean Traces of Life an overview. In "Encyclopedia of Astrobiology" Gargaud (Ed), Springer, 74-84p.
  4. McLoughlin N. (2011) Stromatolites an overview. In "Encyclopedia of Astrobiology" Gargaud (Ed), Springer, 1603-1613p.
  5. McLoughlin N. (2011) Biogenicity, Endogencity, Syngenicity medium definitions. In "Encyclopedia of Astrobiology" Gargaud (Ed), Springer, 171, 489, 1645.
  6. Brasier, M.D., Wacey, D. and McLoughlin, N.  (2010). Taphonomy in Temporally Unique Settings: an environmental traverse in search of the earliest life on earth. In Topics in Geobiology "Taphonomy: Process and Bias Through Time" (Ed) P.A. Allison and D.J. Bottjer, Springer Book Series, p487-518
  7. Wacey, D.,  McLoughlin, N., and Brasier, M.D. (2008). The search for windows into the earliest history of life on Earth and Mars. In "From Fossils to Astrobiology"  M. Walsh and J. Sekbach (Eds) Springer, 39-68.
  8. Antcliffe, J. and McLoughlin, N. (2008). Deciphering the fossil evidence for the Origins of Life, Origins of Animals: Common problems in different worlds. In "From Fossils to Astrobiology"  M. Walsh and J. Sekbach (Eds) Springer, 211-229.
  9. McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Banerjee, N.R. Staudigel, H., Muehlenbachs, K., de Wit, M., and Van Kranendonk, M.,  (2008). Micro-Bioerosion in Volcanic Glass: extending the ichnofossil record to Archean Basaltic Crust. In "Current Developments in Bioersion" (Ed) M. Wisshak and L. Tapinla, Springer, Berlin, pp372-396.
  10. Furnes H., McLoughlin, N.  Muehlenbachs, K., Banerjee, N.R., Staudigel, H., Dilek, Y., de Wit, M., Van Kranendonk, M., Schiffmann, P. (2008). Oceanic pillow lavas and hyaloclastites as habitats for microbial life through time – A review "In: Links between Geological Processes, Microbial Activities, and Evolution of Life" (Ed) Y. Dilek, H. Furnes and K. Muehlenbachs Springer Book Series, pp1-68.

  11. Rose, E.C., McLoughlin, N. and Brasier, M.D. (2006). Ground Truth: the epistemology of searching for the earliest life on earth. In "Life as we know it” (Ed) J. Seckbach, vol. 11 Cellular Origin and Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Springer, pp 259-285.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORTS and PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFINGS (peer reviewed)

  1. Wacey, D., McLoughlin, N., Stoakes, C.A., Kilburn, M.R., Green, O.R. and Brasier, M.D., (2010). The ~3.4Ga Strelley Pool Chert in the East Strelley greenstone belt - a field and petrographic guide. Geological Survey of Western Australia Record 2010\10, 64p.
  2. Brasier, M.D. Green, O.R., Lindsay, J.F., McLoughlin, N., Stoakes, C.A., Brasier, A. and Wacey, D. (2011). Earth’s oldest putative fossil assemblage from the ~3.5 Ga Apex chert, Chinaman Creek, Western Australia: a field and petrographic guide. Geological Survey of Western Australia Record 2011/17, 60p.
  3. McLoughlin. N. (2006). Soil Protection in Scotland. Scottish Parliament Information Center Briefing 06/53, 31pp.
  4. McLoughlin. N. (2006). Geothermal Heat Generation in Scotland. Scottish Parliament Information Center Briefing 06/54, 14pp.

 
SELECTED RECENT CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

McLoughlin N., Furnes H., Staudigel H. (2010). Developing an Ichnological Framework for bioerosion in volcanic glass. Geological Society of America Annual General Meeting, Denver, Colorado, October 2010.

McLoughlin N., Furnes H., Staudigel H., Ivarsson M., Eickmann B. (2010). Life or Not Life? Criteria for Distinguishing Endolithic Biosignatures and Crystal Migration Trails in Volcanic Substrates. NGF Vinterkonferansen, Oral Presentation, Oslo Jan, 2010.

McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Staudigel, H., Muehlenbachs, K., Fliegel, D.,  Grosch, E. G., and de Wit, M. (2009). Microbial Bioalteration Textures in Greenstone Belt Pillow Lavas. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programmes 41, 7, 530, Oral Presentation, Portland Oregon, October, 2009.

McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Fliegel, D., Simonetti, A., Banerjee, N.R., Staudigel, H., Muehlenbachs, K., de Wit, M., and van Kranendonk, M. (2009). Age, Distribution and Preservation of Microbial Alteration Textures in the Precambrian Sub-seafloor. European Geophysical Union, Geophysical Research Abstracts, 11, EGU2009, Oral Presentation Vienna, April 2009.
 
McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Fliegel, D., Banerjee, N.R., and Staudigel, H. (2008).  A New Twist on Bioerosion: Helicoidal Ichnofossils in Volcanic Glass and Microbial Life in the Sub-seafloor. Gottingen Geobiology Symposium, Oral Presentation, October 2008.

McLoughlin, N., Furnes, H., Banerjee, N.R., Simonetti, A., Muehlenbachs, K., Staudigel, H., de Wit M., and Van Kranendonk, M. (2007). Volcanic Glass a Habitat for the Origins and Evolution of Microbial Life. Plenary Lecture: II International Conference, Biosphere Origin and Evolution, Loutraki, Greece, October 2007.

McLoughlin, N., Brasier, M.D. and Wilson, L.A. (2006). Synthesing Stromatolites And Wrinkle Structures in the Absence of Microbes: Implications for the Early Sedimentary Rock Record. British Sedimentological Research Group Annual General Meeting, Oral Presentation, Aberdeen, December (2006).


CONVENOR AND EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
Session co-chair “Common Approaches to Investigating Patterns and Processes of Bioerosion across Substrates” Geol. Soc of America Annual Meeting, Denver 2010 with L. Tapanila.

Session co-chair “Volcanic Environments and Astrobiology” Astrobiology Science Conference Houston 2010 with C. Cockell and S. Cady. Editor of an accompanying Special issue.

Session co-chair “Contributions to Biogeoscience” 33rd Int. Geol. Congress Oslo 2008 with B. Hannisdal

Board of Editors Astrobiology 2009 onwards. 


INVITED TALKS 

Nanoscale investigations of microbial biosignatures in Volcanic Glass – tracing life in the subseafloor on the early Earth and beyond (2012). Invited talk, Open University, Milton Keynes, U.K. January.

Life in Volcanic Glass Under the Microscope (2010). Invited Talk, Center for Microscopy and Microcharacterisation, University of West Australia, Perth, September.

The Bedrock for the Emergence of Life on Earth (2010). Invited Lecture NGF Stavanger, Norway, March.

The Emergence of Microbial Life in Archean Pillow Lavas (2009). Invited Lecture University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Life in volcanic glass: the recent to Archean trace fossil record (2009). Invited lecture University of Jena, Germany.

The Emergence of Life on Earth 3+ Billion years ago: holes in the evidence and evidence in the holes? (2009). Invited lecture Norwegian Geological Society, Bergen March.

Darwin’s Lost World: the Co-Evolution of Microbial Life and Our Planet (2009). Invited lecture for the Darwin Bicentenary Celebrations, Oslo and Bergen, Norway, March.

3.5 Billion Years of Microbial Life in Volcanic Glass (2009). Visiting lecture University of Leeds, advances in Palaeontology, 4th Year Course, Jan.

Life in the oceanic crust: the present is the key to the past. International Geomicrobiology Workshop, Bergen, October, 2008.

Ground Truthing the Search for Life Beyond Earth: Investigation of the Early Archean Fossil Record. Bergen-Stockholm Astrobiology Meeting, September, 2008.

Volcanic Glass a Habitat for the Origins and Evolution of Microbial Life. Plenary Lecture: II International Conference, Biosphere Origin and Evolution, Loutraki, Greece, October 2007.

Life in volcanic glass: extending the ichnofossil record to the Archean sub-seafloor. Geological Survey of West Australia, July 2007.

Ramman Spectroscopy of bioalteration in volcanic rocks. Vibrational Spectroscopy Workshop the University of Vienna, Austria, March 2007.

Microbial Fossils and Pseudofossil from the Archean of Western Australia. Department of Earth Sciences Memorial University, Newfoundland, August 2005.

Principal advisor PhD Student Leif-Erik Rydland Pedersen

GEOV348 -Current topics in geochemistry and geobiology

GEOV344 - Geomicrobiology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bergen Research Foundation and the University of Bergen 2011-2014 "Investigating the emergence of Life on Earth 3+ billion years ago".

UiB FriForsk 2010 "The emergence of Life on Earth 3+ billion years ago".

WUN (World University Network) 2010 "Nanosignatures of Microbial Life in Volcanic Ecosystems" with D. Wacey UWA.

Center for Geobiology Seed Project 2009, 2010 "Barberton Greenstone Belt" with H. Furnes Bergen. 

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