Background
Dartnell was born in the United Kingdom, but spent much of his childhood years abroad, as his father was posted overseas while working as an engineer for British Airways.
Dartnell was born in the United Kingdom, but spent much of his childhood years abroad, as his father was posted overseas while working as an engineer for British Airways.
He attended Charterhouse School in Surrey from 1994-1999. Dartnell was awarded a first class Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Oxford. Dartnell completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Astrobiology at University College London.
His thesis, Computer modeling and experimental work on the astrobiological implications of the Martian subsurface ionising radiation environment, was subsequently reprinted under the title of Martian Death Rays. Research Dartnell is a United Kingdom Space Agency research fellow at the University of Leicester, where his research focuses on the study of extremophile microbes and their signs of past or present life, including the use of Raman spectroscopy to detect micro-organisms even after they have been damaged by exposure to very high levels of radiation. Broadcasting Dartnell has appeared in several science programmes for British Broadcasting Corporation radio and television, including guest appearances on The Sky at Night and StarGazing Live.
Fellow: Royal Astronomical Society. Member: Astrobiology Society Britain (committee secretary since 2006).