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Carolynn Harris (Carrie)

she/ her

carolynn.harris[at]asu.edu

Welcome!

Carolynn Harris is a geomicrobiologist and astrobiologist whose research focuses on how microbes shape and record Earth’s biogeochemical cycles, with a particular focus on extreme environments that serve as analogs for other planetary bodies.

Currently, Carolynn is a a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University in Dr. Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert’s Microbiology of the Deep group. She combines NanoSIMS stable isotope probing with metatranscriptomics to characterize enigmatic carbon metabolisms in the deep-sea in both lab cultures and environmental samples.

Carolynn earned her PhD in Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College in Dr. Wil Leavitt’s Geomicrobiology group. Her dissertation research focused on lipid and isotope biosignatures in Mars analog sediments and lab experiments. She has conducted research in many planetary analog environments, including the Atacama Desert in Chile, hydrothermal systems in Yellowstone and El Tatio, the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, and the Arctic. These experiences continue to shape her interests in microbial adaptation, biosignature formation, and the search for life beyond Earth.

Carolynn is passionate about integrating research, teaching, and mentorship. She has received multiple awards recognizing her scientific and educational contributions, including the Lewis & Clark Field Scholar in Astrobiology the John A. Ebers Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Outside of work, Carolynn’s hobbies include hiking & trail running with her dog, Finnegan the astrodoodle, and reading about exploring.

Education

  • PhD Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College
  • MS Marine Science, UT Austin/ Marine Science Institute
  • BA Biology, Bates College
  • Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics, Montana State University

Research Interests

  • Geomicrobiology & astrobiology
  • Stable isotope geochemistry
  • Extreme environments & planetary analogs
  • Applied data science & statistics

Publications

In prep

[17] Harris, C., S. Kopf, W. Leavitt. In Prep. Tracing the production pathways of archaeal lipids using dual 2H-H2O and 13C-glucose stable isotope probing. (Target Journal: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta).

[16] Liu, J, E.D. Young, A. Pellerin, J.L. Ash, G.T. Barrett, P.R. Girguis , C. Harris, S.J.E. Krause , W.D. Leavitt, K. Murphy , Q. Qin, O. Sivan, A. Teske, D.L., Valentine, K.W. Anthony, T. Treude. In Prep. Methane clumped isotopes reveal the formation mechanism of microbial methane. (Target Journal: Nature Geosciences).

Submitted

[15] Harris, C., S. Kopf, M. J. Amenabar, X. Feng, A. Pearson, and W. D. Leavitt. Lipid hydrogen stable isotope probing reveals decadal-scale generation times for archaea in hot spring sediments. Submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. Preprint available on bioRxiv.

Published

[14] Calhoun, A.N., J. Blewett, D.R. Colman, M.J. Amenabar, C. Harris, E. Boyd, A. Pearson, W. Leavitt. 2026.  Environmental controls on crenarchaeol distributions in hydrothermal springs. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

[13] Harris, C., Y. Zhang, A. Cobban, J. McFarland, A. Pearson, S. Kopf, W. Leavitt. 2025. Lipid hydrogen isotope compositions primarily reflect growth water in the model archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Special Issue on Planetary Microbiology.

[12] Rhim, J., S. Kopf, J. McFarlin, A. Maloney, H. Batther, C. Harris, A. Zhou, X. Feng, Y Weber, S. Hoeft-McCann, A. Pearson and W. Leavitt. 2024. Metabolic imprints in the hydrogen isotopes of Archaeoglobus fulgidus tetraether lipids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, (386):196-212.

[11] Liu, J., T. Treude, O. Abbasov, E. Baloglanov, A. Aliyev, C. Harris, W. Leavitt, and E. Young. 2023. Clumped isotope evidence for microbial alteration of thermogenic methane in terrestrial mud volcanoes. Geology.

[10] Harris, C.*, M. Maclay*, K. Lutz, V. Nathan, N. Ortega Dominguez, W. Leavitt†, M. Palucis†. 2022. Remote and in-situ characterization of Mars Analogs: Coupling scales to improve the search for microbial signatures on Mars. Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. *share first authorship †share senior authorship

[9] Krumpen, T., Birrien, F., Kauker, F., Rackow, T., von Albedyll, L., Angelopoulos, M., Belter, H. J., Bessonov, V., Damm, E., Dethloff, K., Haapala, J., Haas, C., Harris, C., Hendricks, S., and others. 2020. The MOSAiC ice floe: sediment-laden survivor from the Siberian shelf, The Cryosphere Discuss., doi.org:10.5194/tc-2020-64.

[8] Carroll, K. and C. Harris. 2020. Using a Repetitive Instructional Intervention to Improve Students’ Higher-Order Thinking Skills. College Teaching: 1-9. doi:10.1080/87567555.2020.1823310

[7] Harris, C., N. McTigue, J. McClelland, and K. Dunton. 2018. Do high Arctic coastal food webs rely on a terrestrial carbon subsidy? Food Webs:doi:10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00081

[6] Harris, C., W. Ambrose, G. Bigelow, W. Locke, S Silverberg. 2017. Analysis of the Size, Shape, and Age of Common Limpets (Patella vulgata) from Late Norse Middens at Sandwick, Unst, Shetland Islands, UK: Evidence for Anthropogenic and Climatic Impacts. Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology: 1-30. doi:10.1080/ 15564894.2017.1368743

[5] Harris, C., J. McClelland, T. Connelly, B. Crump, and K. Dunton. 2017. Salinity and temperature regimes in Eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea lagoons in relation to source water contributions. Estuaries and Coasts: 1-13. doi:10.1007/s12237-016-0123-z

[4] Mohan, S., T. Connelly, C. Harris, K. Dunton, J. McClelland. 2016. Seasonal trophic linkages in Arctic marine invertebrates assessed via fatty acids and compound-specific stable isotopes. Ecosphere 7(8): doi.01429. 10.1002/ecs2.1429

[3] Valiela, I., M. Bartholomew, A. Giblin, J. Tucker, C. Harris, P. Martinetto, M. Otter, L. Camilli, and T. Stone. 2013. Watershed deforestation and down-estuary transformations alter sources, transport, and export of suspended particles in Panamanian mangrove estuaries. Ecosystems. doi: 10.1007/s10021-013-9709-5

[2] Valiela, I., A. Giblin, C. Barth-Jensen, C. Harris, T. Stone, S. Fox, and J. Crusius. 2013. Nutrient gradients in Panamanian estuaries: effects of watershed deforestation, rainfall, upwelling, and within-estuary transformations. Marine Ecological Progress Series 482: 1-15. doi: 10.3354/meps10358

[1] Valiela, I., L. Camilli, T. Stone, A. Giblin, J. Crusius, S. Fox, C. Barth-Jensen, R.O. Monteiro, J. Tucker, P. Martinetto, and C. Harris. 2012. Increased rainfall remarkably freshens estuarine and coastal waters on the Pacific coast of Panama: Magnitude and likely effects on upwelling and nutrient supply. Global Planetary Change 92-93: 130-137. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.05.006