About

I am currently a Biology Ph.D. student in Jeff Marlow's Geomicrobiology lab ! I recieved my B.S. in Astrophysics and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Michigan State University in 2019 in pursuit of a career in Astrobiology and the NASA astronaut program.

I've tried on many different "hats" throughout my research career. From my humble beginnings as a telescope operator at the Michigan State campus observatory to now studying microorganisms in the strangest corners of the world at Boston University, these experiences have provided an interdisciplinary perspective that I channel into my research. Currently, I'm trying to understand the metabolic, geochemical, and mineralogical parameters that enable microorganisms to live in extreme environments. These places and the life they host can tell us a lot about the origin of life here on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere.

Outside of academia, I enjoying hiking, scuba diving, and sailing!

Publications

1. Hoehler, T., Mankel, D., Girguis, P., McCollom, T., Kiang, N., Jørgensen, B. B. (2023) The metabolic rate of the biosphere and its components. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 120(25): e2303764120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2303764120 .
2. Murphy-Glaysher, F. J., ... , Mankel, D., et al. (2022). V392Persei: A γ-ray bright nova eruption from a known dwarf nova, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 514 (4), 6183–6202. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac1577.*
3. Patterson, J., de Miguel, E., ... , Mankel, D., et al. (2017). OV Bootis: Forty Nights Of World-Wide Photometry. Society for Astronomical Sciences, 1-6.*

*Contributed Data

Presentations

1. Mankel, D. (2024, May 24) Using Microbes from Extreme Environment Analogs to Grow Bioplastics on Mars [Oral presentation]. Hariri FRP Symposium - First Trip to Mars: How to Pack Light, Boston, MA, United States.
2. Mankel, D., Marlow, J. (2024, May 5-10) Linking microbial identity, activity, and microgeography within the hydrothermal chimneys of the Mid-Cayman Rise [Poster presentation]. AbSciCon 2024, Providence, RI, United States.
3. Mankel, D. (2023, Nov 8). Linking Microbial Identity, Activity, and Microgeography within Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Chimneys. [Oral presentation] EBE-MB Department Chalk Talk Seminar series. Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
4. Mankel, D., Pryde, M., Alian, O., Schrenk, M. (2019, July 22-26) A Laboratory Analysis of Chemical Gradients at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field: An Analog for Icy Moons [Poster presentation]. AbGradCon 2019, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
5. Mankel, D. , Pryde, M., Alian, O., Schrenk, M. (2019) A Laboratory Analysis of Chemical Gradients at the Lost City Hydrothermal Field: An Analog for Icy Moons [Poster presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, East Lansing, MI, United States.

Posters

Contact

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Canyons, Vents, and Seeps of the Chilean Triple Junction

Ultrabasic Springs of The Cedars

The Hypersaline Basque Lakes

The Fagradalsfjall Eruption in Iceland

Elements

i = 0;





										
while (!deck.isInOrder()) {
    print 'Iteration ' + i;
    deck.shuffle();
    i++;
}

print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';