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Woodward Fischer is the Jean-Lou Chameau Professor of Geobiology at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on historical geobiology, particularly the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis and the rise of atmospheric oxygen. Fischer also investigates the origin of Archean and Proterozoic iron formations, the distribution and evolution of lipid biomarker synthesis, and the coupled behavior of redox and acid-based processes during critical transitions in Earth's history. He earned his B.A. from Colorado College in 2000 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2007. Fischer has held several positions at Caltech, including Assistant Professor from 2009 to 2014 and Professor from 2014 to 2025 before becoming the Chameau Professor in 2025. Additionally, he served as Associate Director from 2018 to 2021 and will assume the role of Divisional Academic Officer in 2025.
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