Button to scroll to the top of the page.
McDonald, Gene

Gene D McDonald

Assistant Professor of Instruction
Biology Instruction Office


gmcdonald@cm.utexas.edu

Phone: 512-471-5258

Office Location
NHB

Postal Address
100 E 24TH ST
AUSTIN, TX 78712

 

Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry (Biochemistry), University of Texas at Austin, 1990
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry, Texas Tech University, 1984

Professional History
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Biology Instructional Office, University of Texas at Austin, 2018-present
Lecturer, Biology Instructional Office, University of Texas at Austin, 2013-2018
Biochemistry Laboratory Director, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Austin, 2004-2013
Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1997-2004
Lecturer, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Pomona College, 2002-2003
Research Associate, Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, 1994-1997, 1990-1992
Postdoctoral Fellow, NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training in Exobiology, University of California San Diego, 1992-1994

 

Recent Publications

 

McDonald, G. D. 2014. Biochemical pathways as evidence for prebiotic syntheses.  In Astrobiology: An Evolutionary Approach, V. Kolb, ed., CRC Press, pp. 119-147.

 

McDonald, G. D. and M. C. Storrie-Lombardi 2010. Biochemical constraints in a
protobiotic Earth devoid of basic amino acids: the “BAA- World”. Astrobiology 10,
989-1000.

McDonald, G. D. and M. C. Storrie-Lombardi 2006. Amino acid distribution in meteorites: Diagenesis, contamination, and standard metrics in the search for extraterrestrial biosignatures. Astrobiology 6, 17-33.

Scott, J. H., D. M. O’Brien, D. Emerson, H. Sun, G. D. McDonald, A. Salgado, and M. L. Fogel 2006. An examination of the carbon isotope effects associated with amino acid biosynthesis. Astrobiology 6, 867-880.

Schelble, R. T., G. D. McDonald, J. A. Hall and K. H. Nealson 2005. Community structure comparison using FAME analysis of desert varnish and soil, Mojave desert, California. Geomicrobiol. J. 22, 353-360.

Hodyss, R., G. D. McDonald, N. Sarker, M. A. Smith, P. M. Beauchamp and J.L. Beauchamp 2004. Fluorescence spectra of Titan tholins: In-situ detection of astrobiologically interesting areas on Titan’s surface. Icarus 171, 525-530.

Outstanding Teaching Award, Biology Instructional Office, University of Texas at Austin, 2016
NASA Group Achievement Award, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 2004
NASA Certificate of Recognition, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 2003

Invited talk, “Chirality as a Biosignature”, UT Pop-Up Institute, “Understanding Planetary Habitability”, July 10, 2018

Biochemistry Laboratory (CH369L)