Tanja Bosak

Tanja Bosak is a geobiologist and paleontologist whose research laboratory is based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, she investigates the co-evolution of life and the physical environment. She serves as a faculty member in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.

Bosak's laboratory focuses on the preservation of microbial fossils and sedimentary structures from the early Earth. She heavily investigates the Proterozoic Eon, analyzing ancient microbialites and stromatolites. Her work helps scientists understand how early microorganisms altered the planet's chemistry and geology billions of years ago.

Bosak's expertise in how microbial fossils are preserved in sedimentary rocks directly informs the search for biosignatures on other planets. Her experimental methods help NASA scientists understand what types of microbial textures might survive the harsh conditions on Mars. She has been involved in discussions surrounding the Mars 2020 mission's sample collection strategies.

Her laboratory combines field observations of modern microbial environments with controlled laboratory experiments and microscopic analysis. She specifically analyzes how minerals precipitate around microbial cells, creating microfossils over time. This approach helps differentiate true biological structures from purely physical geological formations.