Amanda Chan

Major Professor

The focus of my research is Don Juan Pond (DJP), possibly the only known body of water without life, due to environmental extremes. This hypersaline pond is located in Wright Valley, Antarctica. DJP is different from other hypersaline environments because it is saturated with calcium chloride. The pond never freezes, even during winter temperatures as low as -50� C. The research will focus on determining if there is life in the pond and what types of microbes are able to endure these conditions, using culturing and molecular techniques.