Steve Desch is an astrophysicist studying formation and cycles of molecular activities in novel biomes. By creating computational models, his lab is developing insights on historic events and climate change.

Desch’s lab has secured funding by NASA to study geochemical cycles on exoplanets in search for signs of life. He has created models for water on moons, asteroids, and other planetary bodies.

Desch is a professor for the School of Earth and Space Exploration.

Asteroid 9926 Desch is named after him.