Skip to main content
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links Click here to open the "Quick Links" submenu Down arrow
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
Caltech Logo
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
People
Professorial Faculty
Emeritus Faculty
Research Faculty
Visiting Faculty and Visitors
Postdoctoral Scholars
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
JPL Scientist
Research Staff
Support Staff
Research
Research Programs Open Research Programs Submenu
Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering
Research Centers Open Research Centers Submenu
The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR)
Research Lab Schedule
Research Facilities - On Campus
Research Facilities - Off Campus
Research Administration
Academics
Undergraduate Program Open Undergraduate Program Submenu
GPS Minor Program Requirements
Graduate Program Open Graduate Program Submenu
Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree
Student Resources
Courses Open Courses Submenu
Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21)
Field Trips Open Field Trips Submenu
Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
DEI in GPS Open DEI in GPS Submenu
DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities
Libraries Open Libraries Submenu
GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection
Meeting Facilities Open Meeting Facilities Submenu
GPS Patio Tables
Safety Resources Open Safety Resources Submenu
GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map
Quick Links
News & Events
GPS Events this Week Open GPS Events this Week Submenu
GPS Group Calendar
Award Announcements
News
Calendar
About
GPS History
GPS at a Glance
Contact Open Contact Submenu
Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership
Visit
Positions Available Open Positions Available Submenu
Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions
Support
In the News
Open search form
Menu Main Menu
Close
People Click here to open the "People" Submenu
Research Click here to open the "Research" Submenu
Academics Click here to open the "Academics" Submenu
Resources Click here to open the "Resources" Submenu
News & Events Click here to open the "News & Events" Submenu
About Click here to open the "About" Submenu
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
People
Back
Professorial Faculty Emeritus Faculty Research Faculty Visiting Faculty and Visitors Postdoctoral Scholars Graduate Students Undergraduate Students JPL Scientist Research Staff Support Staff
Research
Back
Research Programs Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering Research Centers The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR) Research Lab Schedule Research Facilities - On Campus Research Facilities - Off Campus Research Administration
Academics
Back
Undergraduate Program GPS Minor Program Requirements Graduate Program Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree Student Resources Courses Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21) Field Trips Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
Back
DEI in GPS DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities Libraries GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection Meeting Facilities GPS Patio Tables Safety Resources GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map Quick Links
News & Events
Back
GPS Events this Week GPS Group Calendar Award Announcements News Calendar
About
Back
GPS History GPS at a Glance Contact Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership Visit Positions Available Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions Support In the News
Open search form
Woody Fischer
Office: 107 North Mudd (Seeley W. Mudd Lab)
Phone: 626-395-6790
Email: wfischer@caltech.edu
Mail Code: MC 100-23
Administrative Assistant
Kacey Gibson
Email: kaceyk@caltech.edu
Phone: 626-395-6921
Home  /  People  /  Woodward Fischer

Woodward Fischer

Professor of Geobiology; Associate Director, Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies
B.A., Colorado College, 2000; Ph.D., Harvard University, 2007; D.h.c., Colorado College. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2009-14; Professor, 2014-; Associate Director, 2018-.
  • Profile
  • Publications
  • Teaching
Research Summary
Historical geobiology; evolution of the oxygenic photosynthesis and rise of atmospheric oxygen; origin of Archean and Proterozoic iron formation; distribution and evolution of lipid biomarker synthesis; coupled behavior of redox and acid based processes at critical transitions in Earth history.

Research Options

Geobiology;  Geology; 

For more information regarding my research please visit my website.

Please see my website for a complete list of my publications.

Ge 104. Introduction to Geobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2020-21. Prerequisites: instructor's permission. Lectures about the interaction and coevolution of life and Earth surface environments. We will cover essential concepts and major outstanding questions in the field of geobiology, and introduce common approaches to solving these problems. Topics will include biological fractionation of stable isotopes; history and operation of the carbon and sulfur cycles; evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis; biomineralization; mass extinctions; analyzing biodiversity data; constructing simple mathematical models constrained by isotope mass balance; working with public databases of genetic information; phlyogenetic techniques; microbial and molecular evolution.
Instructors: Fischer, Kirschvink
Ge 11 b. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Earth and the Biosphere. 9 units (3-3-3); second term, 2020-21. Prerequisites: Ch 1 a. Systematic introduction to the origin and evolution of life and its impact on the oceans, atmosphere, and climate of Earth. Topics covered include ancient Earth surface environments and the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Microbial and molecular evolution, photosynthesis, genes as fossils. Banded iron stones, microbial mats, stromatolites, and global glaciation. Biological fractionation of stable isotopes. Numerical calibration of the geological timescale, the Cambrian explosion, mass extinctions, and human evolution. The course usually includes one major field trip and laboratory studies of rocks, fossils, and geological processes. Although Ge 11 abcd is designed as a sequence, any one term may be taken as a standalone course. Biologists are particularly welcome.
Instructors: Fischer, Kirschvink
Ge 197. Special Topics in Geobiology. Units to be arranged; Offered by announcement only, 2020-21. Advanced-level discussions of problems of current interest in geobiological sciences. Students may enroll for any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence.
Instructor: Staff
Ge 104. Introduction to Geobiology. 9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2019-20. Prerequisites: instructor's permission. Lectures about the interaction and coevolution of life and Earth surface environments. We will cover essential concepts and major outstanding questions in the field of geobiology, and introduce common approaches to solving these problems. Topics will include biological fractionation of stable isotopes; history and operation of the carbon and sulfur cycles; evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis; biomineralization; mass extinctions; analyzing biodiversity data; constructing simple mathematical models constrained by isotope mass balance; working with public databases of genetic information; phlyogenetic techniques; microbial and molecular evolution.
Instructors: Fischer, Kirschvink
Ge 11 b. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Earth and the Biosphere. 9 units (3-3-3); second term, 2019-20. Prerequisites: Ch 1 a. Systematic introduction to the origin and evolution of life and its impact on the oceans, atmosphere, and climate of Earth. Topics covered include ancient Earth surface environments and the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Microbial and molecular evolution, photosynthesis, genes as fossils. Banded iron stones, microbial mats, stromatolites, and global glaciation. Biological fractionation of stable isotopes. Numerical calibration of the geological timescale, the Cambrian explosion, mass extinctions, and human evolution. The course usually includes one major field trip and laboratory studies of rocks, fossils, and geological processes. Although Ge 11 abcd is designed as a sequence, any one term may be taken as a standalone course. Biologists are particularly welcome.
Instructors: Fischer, Kirschvink
Ge 197. Special Topics in Geobiology. Units to be arranged; , 2019-20. Offered by announcement only. Advanced-level discussions of problems of current interest in geobiological sciences. Students may enroll for any or all terms of this course without regard to sequence.
Instructor: Staff
Caltech Torch
Caltech Logo
California Institute of Technology
map marker
1200 East California Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91125
Contact Us Report a Copyright Infringement Website Feedback Privacy Notice Site Content Copyright © 2021 Log In