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Dr. Aaron Noell

Researcher

About

Bio

Dr. Noell is a technologist working in the instruments division at JPL. Currently, he is developing instruments for the assessment of habitability and the search for extant life on other bodies in the solar system. His research interests also include the radiation chemistry of low temperature ices, and the impact of that chemistry on habitability/bio-markers in the ices. His instrument development has focused on microfluidic implementation of capillary electrophoresis, ion chromatography, and selective electrochemical detection (e.g., ion selective electrodes). Additionally, he has worked to develop sample handling and extraction techniques compatible with microfluidic instruments, such as subcritical water extraction. Previously, he was an NPP Postdoc at JPL working on instrumentation to detect bacterial spores for both biodefense and astrobiology purposes, and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Caltech in 2010.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, CA (2010)
  • B.A. in Chemistry, New York University, NY (2002)

Research Interests

Astrobiology, Microfluidic instrumentation, Sample extraction and preparation, Cryogenic ice chemistry

Experience

Professional Experience

  • Technologist IV, Chemical Analysis and Life Detection Group, JPL (Mar 2023 – Present) 
  • Technologist III, Planetary Surface Instruments Group, JPL (Apr 2018 – Mar 2023)
  • Technologist II, Planetary Surface Instruments Group, JPL (Jan 2013 – Mar 2018)
  • Caltech Postdoctoral Program, JPL (Feb 2012 – Dec 2012)
  • NASA Postdoctoral Program, JPL (Dec 2009 – Jan 2012)

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

  • JPL Voyager Award (2016)
  • NASA Award | NASA Group Achievement Award: Icebreaker team (2015)
  • JPL Award | JPL Postdoc Poster Day, Best Poster for Planetary Science and Life Detection (2011)

Publications

  1. Cieslarova, Z., Noell, A. C., Willis, P. A. and Mora, M. F., 2022. From Microorganisms to Biosignatures: Subcritical Water Extraction as a Sample Preparation Technique for Future Life Detection Missions. Geophysical Research Letters 49, e2022GL098082. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098082
  2. Mauceri, S., Lee, J., Wronkiewicz, M., Mandrake, L., Doran, G., Lightholder, J., Cieslarova, Z., Kok, M., Mora, M. F. and Noell, A., 2022. Autonomous CE Mass-Spectra Examination for the Ocean Worlds Life Surveyor. Earth and Space Science 9, e2022EA002247. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EA002247
  3. Mora, M. F., Kok, M. G. M., Noell, A. and Willis, P. A., 2022. Detection of Biosignatures by Capillary Electrophoresis Mass Spectrometry in the Presence of Salts Relevant to Ocean Worlds Missions. Astrobiology 22, 914-925. 10.1089/ast.2021.0091
  4. Zamuruyev, K., Ferreira Santos, M. S., Mora, M. F., Kurfman, E. A., Noell, A. C. and Willis, P. A., 2021. Automated Capillary Electrophoresis System Compatible with Multiple Detectors for Potential In Situ Spaceflight Missions. Analytical Chemistry. 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02119
  5. Jaramillo, E. A. and Noell, A. C., 2020. Development of miniature solid contact ion selective electrodes for in situ instrumentation. Electroanalysis, 10.1002/elan.201900761
  6. Fayolle, E. C., Noell, A. C., Johnson, P. V., Hodyss, R. and Ponce, A., 2020. Viability of Bacillus subtilis Spores Exposed to Ultraviolet Light at Ocean World Surface Temperatures. Astrobiology 20, 889-896. 10.1089/ast.2019.2214
  7. Ferreira Santos, M. S., Noell, A. C. and Mora, M. F., 2020. Methods for onboard monitoring of silver biocide during future human space exploration missions. Analytical Methods 12, 3205-3209. 10.1039/D0AY00518E
  8. Lam, B. R., Barge, L. M., Noell, A. C. and Nealson, K. H., 2020. Detecting Endogenous Microbial Metabolism and Differentiating Between Abiotic and Biotic Signals Observed by Bioelectrochemical Systems in Soils. Astrobiology 20, 39-52. 10.1089/ast.2018.1892
  9. Ferreira Santos, M.S., Cordeiro, T.G., Noell, A.C., Garcia, C.D., Mora, M.F. (2018) Analysis of Inorganic Cations and Amino Acids in High Salinity Samples by Capillary Electrophoresis and Conductivity Detection: Implication for In-Situ Exploration of Ocean Worlds. Electrophoresis, 39(22), 2890-2897.
  10. Noell, A.C., Fisher, A.M., Fors-Francis, K., and Sherrit, S. (2018) Subcritical water extraction of amino acids from Mars analog soils. Electrophoresis, 39(22), 2854-2863.
  11. Stewart Sherrit, Aaron C. Noell, Anita Fisher, Mike C. Lee, Nobuyuki Takano, Xiaoqi Bao, Thomas C. Kutzer, Frank Grunthaner (2017) “A Microfluidic Sub-Critical Water Extraction Instrument”, Review of Scientific Instruments, 88(11): p. 114101.