J. William Schopf

My general areas of research are evolutionary biology, organic geochemistry, biochemical evolution, paleobotany and palynology, microbiology and phycology, historical geology, lunar studies, and comparative planetology. Specifically, I am interested in Precambrian paleobiology, which includes geologic aspects of the origin of life; antiquity and Precambrian evolution of living systems; interrelationships of atmospheric, lithospheric, biologic, and biochemical evolution; organic geochemistry of Precambrian sediments; micropaleontology of Precambrian stromatolites, cherts, and shales; and the relevance of stromatolites, phytoplankton, and ancient microbiotas to problems of Precambrian biodiversity and biostratigraphy.