Landing Page for AstroBioBot [M.B.]

⚞ Martina Bennick - Geobiologist ⚟

Welcome! I built this site to network with other researchers, display my professional projects and employment history, and seek job opportunities within my field. I also archive data files and media. Send me an email if you have any questions, or if something on the site could be improved! Thanks for stopping by!

©2025 M.Bennick

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⚞ Hello! My CV can be found in the scrollbox on the right, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to email me!

Graduated in 2022 with an M.S. in Biology focusing on algal ecology. In this thesis I observed the effects of anthropogenic acid deposition and acid mine drainage on algal physiology, microbial ecology, bedrock geology, and aqueous geochemistry in headwater streams of Northeast Pennsylvania. My B.S. in Environmental Geociences included a senior research project on calcite formation in Arionoceras Orthocerids. I utilized multiple types of microscopy to determine the possible origin of the two different calcite formation types along siphuncles and within intracameral deposits. Specifically, imaging the differences in calcite formations deposited during life vs. post death/during mineralization. ⚟

Academics + More
M.S. Bio B.S. Geo Side Projects

This website currently works best on desktop. Working on responsive format!
©2019-2025
last edited:
Oct 15 2025

⚞ Current employment ⚟

Milton Community Center - STEAM Instructor & Science Communicator

Providing hands-on STEAM cirriculum to rural middle, high school, and college students through a mix of after school programs and special events. Currently developing, leading, and co-running multiple long-duration programs that cover many disciplines. Subjects include but are not limited to: environmental science, robotics, coding, novel methods of fabrication, earth science, digital arts, and more.

Email! Data Files Blog

Relevant links
Milton Community Center
The Improved Milton Experience

From Town to the Trail; find me outside!

GSA 2019 - 1st International Poster Win [SEP 2019]

Shikellamy State Park Syncline [custom teaching material]: PSU 4-H Geology at the Marina event [APR 2024]

Painter Run, Columbia Plateau, Columbia Co., PA [OCT 31 2020]

1st major event, organization overhaul [JUN 14 2025]

Current programs + available instruction

Right click for full-size images! :]

Primary goal:

Obtain a research position in a preferred discipline. PhD optional. Currently searching for an opening in these labs in North America or Europe:

⋆ field hydrogeology or geobiology monitoring extreme environments and/or researching resident extremophiles

⋆ aerospace-adjacent labs working with astromaterials, plant pathology, algal ecology, or geobiological spaceflight experiments

About

I'm Martina, an American geobiologist who loves microbes and snowsports. I've cross-country skied for many years and find joy in snowshoeing, snowboarding, and backpacking. During university I TA'd in both the Geology and Biology departments, and was very active with student outreach. Post-graduation, I've gained experience within diverse work environments [large and small labs, academic, federal, medical, agricultural, and science communication/outreach].

Research Interests

Currently in search of an industry or academic opening focused in astrobiology/astrogeobiology that prioritizes/includes field work.

My research interests include the geobiochemical aspects of Mars, microfossil formation and preservation, and Earth-Mars/Earth-Europa analogs. I would prefer field work anywhere with stromatolite/microbial mats, to polar microbe research, to isolated cave systems. I'm very passionate about field research and extreme environments, and their relations to astrobiology.

Site Updates

☼ Curriculum Vitae [New - 2025]

10-15-25: added scrollbox for documents, reformatted responsive grid, uploaded images, streamlined code

10-14-25: added updated CV + fixed gap where cards linked to page with home button, but CV on home page had no return! Addressing broken images, and updated employment [grant concluded].

1-20-25: resolved errors with responsive text, images, and other formatting over the last two weeks

1-1-25: ❅ Happy new year! :D ❅

5-5-24: switched to responsive textboxes, fixed issues that made pages unusable on mobile

5-5-24: Updated CV with linked qr code [business cards], reworked/fixed some pages

4-30-24: added search bar

1-2-24: Upgraded the homepage "featured" slideshow, fixed CSS

1-1-24: ❅ Happy new year! :D ❅

12-31-23: Added CV and blog page. Happy New Year! :D

Up next: visitor counter and search bar!

Cohort pics coming soon!

Data files coming soon!

pics coming soon! :] [have to dig them up!]