Goddard Space Flight Cente r
Astrochemistry Laboratory

Astrochemistry Laboratory


Picture of Friedemann Freund

Friedemann Freund

Astrochemistry Laboratory
NASA/GSFC, Code 691
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Phone: (301) 286-8025

Email: Friedemann Freund

Current Position


    Visiting Scientist, Astrochemistry Laboratory

Professional Experience


  • 2005-present Visiting Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrochemistry Branch, Code 691
  • 2004-2005 GEST Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Planetary Geodynamics Laboratory
  • NASA Associate at the NASA Ames Research Center Biospherics Branch, Code SGE, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
  • Since 1985 at NASA Ames Research Center, from 1985 to 1987 as NRC Senior Associate
  • Since 1989 Adjunct Prof., Physics Dept., San Jose State University, San Jose, CA.
  • Since 1989 Principal Investigator at the Carl-Sagan-Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, CA.
  • Professor of Geosciences at the University of Cologne, Germany (1970.1987)
  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Göttingen, Germany (1962-1969)
  • Post-Doc at Pennsylvania State University (1960.1962).
  • Ph.D. 1959 at Marburg University in Germany in Mineralogy/Crystallography
  • Visiting Scientist at Stanford (1973, 1974)
  • Visiting Professor University of Namur, Belgium (1974-1976)
  • Visiting Professor University of Dijon, France (1977)
  • Visiting Professor Cornell University (1981)
  • Visiting Scientist Arizona State University (1982-1984)
  • Visiting Scientist University of Paris VI (1986)


    • Research Interests


      Defects in crystals, proton conductivity, defects in minerals caused by the incorporation of H2O, CO2 and other gas/fluid components. Prebiotic chemistry in the solid state and origin of Life. Valence fluctuations in the oxygen anion sublattice in oxide/silicate minerals. Rock physics in relation to earthquake and pre-earthquake phenomena.

    Selected Publications


    2007  Freund, R.T. et al., Stimulated IR emission from rocks: assessing a stress indicator, eEarth 2, 1-10.

    2006  Freund, M.M. and F.T. Freund, "Solid Solution Model for Nanometer-Sized Interstellar Dust Grains and their Organics", Astrophys. J, 639, 210-226.

    2006  Freund, F., A. Takeuchi, and B.W.S. Lau, Electric Currents Streaming out of Stressed Igneous Rocks . A Step Towards Understanding Pre-Earthquake Low Frequency EM Emissions. Phys. Chem. Earth, 31, 389-396.

    2006  St-Laurent, F., J.S. Derr, and F. Freund, Earthquake Lights and the Stress -Activation of Positive Hole Charge Carriers in Rocks, Phys. Chem. Earth, 31, 305-312.

    2004  Freund, F. T., et al., Stress-Induced Changes in the Electrical Conductivity of Igneous Rocks and the Generation of Ground Currents, Terrestrial, Atmospheric Oceanic Sciences, 15, 437-467.

    2004  Ouzounov, D., and F. T. Freund, Mid-infrared emission prior to strong earthquakes analyzed by remote sensing data, Adv. Space Res., 33, 268-273.

    2003  Freund, F., On the electrical conductivity structure of the stable continental crust, J. Geodynamics, 35, 353-388.

    2002  Freund, F., Charge generation and propagation in rocks, J. Geodynamics, 33, 545-572.

    First Gov . gov NASA Logo - nasa.gov