Meet the people who make up STEM Faculty.
Karen is a Professor of Geomicrobiology in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences at The Open University. She is the Director of AstrobiologyOU, a dynamic, interdisciplinary research group comprising academics, laboratory and support staff, and students. Our mission addresses the scientific, governance and ethical challenges of advancing astrobiology. Karen’s current research combines her expertise in microbiology and astrobiology to study microbial survival and habitability. She uses environmental simulation facilities and field sites on Earth to examine the limits of life and biosignature formation. Karen serves on multiple UK and international strategic panels, including the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection, the UK Planetary Protection Advisory Panel and the Space Exploration Advisory Committee.
2020 to present day: Professor in Geomicrobiology
2019 to present day: Director of AstrobiologyOU
2017 to 2020: Senior Lecturer in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem sciences
2014 to 2017: Independent Research Fellow/ University lecturer in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem sciences
2013: Maternity leave
2012: UK Space Agency Aurora Fellow (part-time)
2011: Maternity leave
2007 to 2012: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Open University
2005 to 2007: Researcher, Rumen Microbiology Group, AgResearch, New Zealand
2001 to 2004: PhD in Microbiology, University of Otago, New Zealand. Title of thesis: ‘Life at the Extreme Limits: Adaptation to Extreme pH and Temperature’
Current Key Funding:
PI on a UKSA International Bilateral Fund grant (£1.2m, funded 2023 - 2025) that aims to integrate microbiology and Bayesian statistics to develop a viable framework for assessing microbial contamination within cleanroom environments. The grant collaborates with Imperial College London and the Coventry University.
Co-I on an ESA Technology Transfer-funded project focused on developing the Double Walled Isolator qualification model for the Sample Receiving Facility for the ESA-NASA Mars Sample Return mission (funded 2023 - 2025). This will ensure samples returned from Mars are contained safely and can be handled and analysed.
PI on an Open University Open Societal Challenges grant: Earth and space sustainability (£100k, 2022-2025). The project aims to understand the risks and benefits of space activities and develop best-practice guidance for individuals and organizations involved in space activities.
PI on a UK Space Agency Exploration Science Studentship: How to find life on Mars (funded 2024-2027). Investigating biological potential and putative biosignature formation.
Research Impact:
Planetary Protection Policy: As planetary protection advisor to the UKSA, Karen has been involved in the development of a framework for planetary protection and established the UK Planetary Protection Advisory Panel to ensure that all UK launches adhere to the UN Outer Space Treaty on avoidance of contamination. The Advisory Panel’s work underpins the UK's ambition to lead global standard-setting to ensure sustainable space activities for future generations. Internationally, she represents the UK on the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection, which is responsible for the international planetary protection policy. Within this role, she actively led the Mars sub-committee, recently publishing a paper highlighting the knowledge gaps to enable more complex missions to Mars.
Industry and space mission safety: Karen has strong collaborations with industry, including: collaborating with Airbus and the University of Southampton to develop a hand-held non-thermal plasma surface for decontaminating sensitive material. She is actively supporting the Mars Sample Return mission as part of the ESA Mars Sample Return Re-entry Safety Review Panel, which aims to ensure that all biological risk associated with returning samples to Earth is fully mitigated.
Space Missions: Karen is part of the Europa Clipper mission science team, investigating whether Europa, a moon of Jupiter, has the conditions to support life. Additionally, she is a member of the European BioSignatures and Habitable Niches (BioSigN) consortium, launching in 2026. She has been involved in the BIOPAN VI and EXPOSE missions, where they have been investigating the effect of low Earth orbit on microbial survival and bio-signatures.
Further information regarding AstrobiologyOU can be found here: open.ac.uk/AstrobiologyOU
In 2024, Karen hosted the Inaugural International COSPAR Planetary Protection Week at the Royal Society. Representatives attended from 17 international space agencies, 20 commercial and aerospace industry partners, and over 50 academic institutes spanning 24 countries. The event increased international awareness of planetary protection and identified the need for international collaboration.
Karen is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists through engagement with astrobiology research. She has been interviewed for several major news outlets, including the Radio 4 Inside Science episode Life Beyond Earth and, in 2023, she talked about astrobiology at the Bluedot festival, a music and science event and she regularly visit local primary and secondary schools to discuss her research with students.
