Hi, my name is Maria Kalambokidis and I'm the teaching assistant for the Origin of Life course at Santa Fe Institute. My background is in biology with an emphasis on astrobiology and I'm broadly interested in the processes that led to the diversity and complexity of life on Earth. As well as the possibility of life emerging elsewhere. My past research includes studying the habitability of exoplanets, looking at meltwater ponds from Antarctica, and I'm currently working at the National Autonomous University in Mexico City studying microbial mats from the Chihuahuan Desert. I've really enjoyed helping to develop this course and I'm really excited for all of the discussions and questions that will arise as the summer progresses. I hope you enjoy the course!