Welcome!
I am an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati in the Department of Geology specializing in Precambrian Paleobiology, Biogeochemistry, and Astrobiology. I am interested in learning everything I can about the origin and evolution of the earliest life on Earth, namely bacteria, cyanobacteria, archaea, and their distant relatives (see my Research page). I go about studying fossils of these groups via standard microscopy, as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman spectroscopy (see my Facilities page for more information). 


My research interests include:
  • The study of Precambrian microfossils with an emphasis on those of the Archean (oldest 2 billion years of Earth history)
  • The search for organic/isotope geochemical evidence and morphological evidence of past terrestrial life and past or present extraterrestrial life
  • Understanding the geochemical alteration of fossil organic matter and inorganic aspects of such fossilization (e.g., permineralization)
  • Geochemical, isotopic, and taphonomic studies of ancient sediments and stromatolites to understand their genesis and evidence of past life preserved within
  • The Phanerozoic history of microbial life
**Czaja Lab In The News**
UC and Outside Magazine featured Andrew Gangidine and his work developing a trace element biosignature that could be applied to the search for life on Mars. We were also interviewed by WCPO ABC 9 for their Cincy Lifestyle program.
UC Magazine
Outside Magazine
Cincy Lifestyle (video)

UC featured my work with the Mars 2020 mission as a member of the Returned Sample Science Board and Landing Site Working Group. Subsequently Andrew Gangidine and I were interviewed on Cincinnati Edition on 91.7 FM WVXU.
UC Magazine
Cincinnati Edition (audio)

Press for my paper in Geology on 2.52-billion-year-old deep water sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from South Africa:
UC Magazine  
Live Science   
Phys.org   
Biotechniques   
Daily Mail online (UK)   
TimesLive (South Africa)
 
Please visit the other tabs to learn more about my research, the folks I work with, and where we have been.
Note, this site is perpetually under construction so please check back periodically and/or contact me for more information

last updated:   22 November 2019