Michael P. Callahan, Ph.D.

2008-2010: Postdoctoral Fellow | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2008: Ph.D. – Physical/Analytical Chemistry | University of California, Santa Barbara

2001: B.S. – Chemistry | University of Rhode Island

We are an analytical chemistry group with research interests in planetary science, astrobiology, and chemical education. We are the premier research group investigating the chemistry of cyanide in extraterrestrial materials. We are conducting pioneering research on the formation of iron cyanocarbonyl complexes and how these organometallic complexes could have transitioned to the catalytic active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase under plausible early Earth conditions. Finally, we are developing new laboratory activities with a focus on forensic science. Our research is typically funded by NASA.

Students in the Callahan Lab receive direct mentorship and training. We also focus on career building and work with you every step of the way. Our lab members have won numerous prestigious fellowships and awards and successfully transitioned to different graduate programs or professional careers in chemistry, pharmacy, nuclear energy, environmental science, cosmetics, drug development, business, and more.

Starting in Fall 2026, we will have multiple research opportunities for Boise State University undergraduate students that involve [1] atomic and/or molecular spectroscopy and [2] mass spectrometry with a forensic emphasis. The time per week is 3 hours (minimum) and students must register for at least 1 credit of undergraduate research. If you are interested, please email Prof. Callahan to set up a meeting for further discussion.

[Last update: May 7, 2026]

R. A. Reichow* , P. K. Schwartz*, K. E. Smith, and M. P. Callahan. “Cyanide Abundance and Soluble Organic Composition in Highly Aqueously Altered CM Chondrites.” ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2023, 7, 11, 2176–2181.

M. P. Callahan and H. J. Cleaves II. “Addressing the Miller Paradox and the Prebiotic Synthesis of Nucleobases.” ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2023, 7, 11, 2321−2326.

Y. Mai, A. K. Balzen, R. K. Torres*, M. P. Callahan, and A. C. Colson. “A Modular Strategy for Expanding Electron Sink Capacity in Non-Canonical Cluster Assemblies.” Inorganic Chemistry 2021, 60, 23, 17733-17743.

K. E. Smith, C. H. House, R. D. Arevelo Jr, J. P. Dworkin, and M. P. Callahan. “Organometallic compounds as carriers of extraterrestrial cyanide in primitive meteorites” Nature Communications 2019, 10, 2777 (7 pages). Open access article.

L. E. Rodriguez*, C. H. House, K. E. Smith, M. R. Roberts*, and M. P. Callahan. “Nitrogen heterocycles form peptide nucleic acid precursors in complex prebiotic mixtures.” Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 9281 (12 pages). Open access article. Top 100 most downloaded chemistry papers for Scientific Reports in 2019.

P. G. Hammer*, Y. Ruiqin, I. Yoda, H. J. Cleaves II, and M. P. Callahan.  “Radiolysis of Solid-State Nitrogen Heterocycles Provides Clues to their Abundance in the Early Solar System.” International Journal of Astrobiology, First published online: 12 July 2018, p. 1-7.

P. McGovern, M. Jalabadze, S. Batiuk, M. P. Callahan, K. E. Smith, G. R. Hall, E. Kvavadze, D. Maghradze, N. Rusishvili, L. Bouby, O. Failla, G. Cola, L. Mariani, E. Boaretto, R. Bacilieri, P. This, N. Wales, and D. Lordkipanidze. “Early Neolithic wine of Georgia in the South Caucasus.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2017, 114(48), E10309 – E10318.

M. P. Callahan, M. G. Martin, A. S. Burton, D. P. Glavin, and J. P. Dworkin. “Amino acid analysis in micrograms of meteorite sample by nanoliquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry.” Journal of Chromatography A 2014, 1132, 30-34.

P. E. McGovern, B. P. Luley, N. Rovira, A. Mirzoian, M. P. Callahan, K. E. Smith, G. R. Hall, T. Davidson, and J. M. Henkin. “Beginning of viniculture in France.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2013, 110 (25), 10147-10152.

M. P. Callahan, K. E. Smith, H. J. Cleaves II, J. Ruzicka, J. C. Stern, D. P. Glavin, C. H. House, and J. P. Dworkin. “Carbonaceous meteorites contain a wide range of extraterrestrial nucleobases.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2011, 108 (34), 13995-13998.

11/1/2024 – 10/31/2027

• “Cyanide Abundance and Speciation in Carbonaceous Chondrites” funded by the NASA Emerging Worlds program (PI is Callahan; Co-I is Smith).

1/13/2020 – 1/12/2025

• “Investigating Soluble Organic Compounds and Their Evolution with Aqueous Alteration in CM Carbonaceous Chondrites” funded by the NASA Emerging Worlds program (PI is Callahan; Co-I is Smith).

9/1/2020 – 12/31/2021

• “A PriSM for Origin of Life Chemistry” funded by the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (PI is Callahan; Co-I is Brown; Collaborator is Smith).

3/1/2017 – 2/28/2020

• “Developing Next Generation Techniques for the Comprehensive Analysis of Organics in Returned Samples” funded by the NASA Laboratory Analysis of Returned Samples program (PI is Callahan; Co-I is Smith).