Ben Pearce
Research Areas
Education:
2021, PhD, Physics and Astronomy - Astrobiology, McMaster University
2017, MSc, Physics and Astronomy - Astrobiology, McMaster University
2015, BSc, Astronomy, University of British Columbia
2010, BSc, Software Engineering, University of Calgary
Research Interests:
Dr. Pearce studies the origin of life on Earth from atmospheric and terrestrial processes. To tackle this, he uses a combination of laboratory experimentation and atmospheric modeling to recreate the conditions that led to the formation of the first information polymers.
Selected Honors:
PNAS Cozzarelli Prize (2017)
Professional Experience:
2024–present, Assistant Professor, Purdue University
2023–2024, 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
2021–2023, Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
Selected Publications:
Pearce, B. K. D. , He, Chao, Hörst, S. M. (2022) An experimental and theoretical investigation of HCN production in the Hadean Earth atmosphere. ACS Earth Space Chem, 6, 2385–2399.
Pearce, B. K. D. , Molaverdikhani, K., Pudritz, R. E., Henning, Th., & Cerrillo, K. E. (2022) Toward RNA life on Early Earth: From atmospheric HCN to biomolecule production in warm little ponds. Astrophys J , 932, 1.
Pearce, B. K. D. , Molaverdikhani, K., Pudritz, R. E., Henning, Th., & Hébrard, E. (2020) HCN production in Titan's Atmosphere: Coupling quantum chemistry and disequilibrium atmospheric modeling. Astrophys J , 901, 110.
Pearce, B. K. D. , Tupper, A. S., Pudritz, R. E., & Higgs, P. G. (2018) Constraining the Time Interval for the Origin of Life on Earth. Astrobiology , 18, 343–364.
Pearce, B. K. D. , Pudritz, R. E., Semenov, D. A., & Henning, Th. (2017) Origin of the RNA World: The Fate of Nucleobases in Warm Little Ponds. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA , 114, 11327–11332 (Cozzarelli Prize Winner)