ABOut the Instructor

Instructor: Dr. Chris Brown

Research Professor in Plant BiologyDirector of the North Carolina Space Initiative
Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science
North Carolina State University
cbrown@ncsu.edu
www.ncsu.edu/kenan/ncsi
www.cals.ncsu.edu/nscort

Education:

• B.S. (Plant Biology), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1981
• M.S. (Horticulture), NC State University, 1984
• Ph.D. (Plant Biology), NC State University, 1987
• Food for the 21st Century postdoctoral fellow in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• PI or Co-I on six spaceflight experiments with plants
• Published over 60 papers/chapters and over 60 abstracts on topics in gravitational and space biology, development of technology for spaceflight, and plant physiology
• Director of the NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training (NSCORT) in Gravitational Biology at NC State University
• Visiting Associate Professor of Plant Biologyat NC State University
• President of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology (2004-2005)

Guest Lecturers:

Dr. Arthur A. Arnold, Jr. (Subject: Medical Operations)

Manager of Medical Operations
The Bionetics Corporation
Kennedy Space Center, FL

Education:

• B.S., University of Arizona, 1977
• Degree in medicine, Autonomous University of Guadalajara, 1984
• Completed two years of surgical training at the University of Hawaii
• Completed a fellowship program in Diving Medicine and Hyperbarics
• Enrolled in the Aerospace Medicine Residency Program of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1995 (recognized as that year's "Outstanding Resident in Aerospace Medicine")

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Worked in the field of Diving Medicine for 4 years
• Employed with the Life Sciences Support Contractor at the Kennedy Space Center since 1995
• BOard certified in Aerospace Medicine

Dr. Amy Grunden (Subject: Extreme Biology)

Assistant Professor of Microbiology
North Carolina State University
www.mbio.ncsu.edu/AG/AG.html

Education:

• B.S. (Microbiology and Cell Sciences), University of Florida, 1993
• Ph.D. (Microbiology and Cell Sciences), University of Florida, 1996
• Post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Georgia

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at North Carolina State University since 2000
• Currently developing a research program to further investigate the physiology of hyperthermophilic microorganisms using a thermal-vent archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus as the primary research organism
• Principle investigator on a project to bioengineer thermostable enzymes from hyperthermophilic sources
• Authored or coauthored 7 articles and 14 abstracts on topics relating to physiology and biochemistry of hyperthermophiles
• Authored 2 BOok chapters on hyperthermophilic enzymes

Dr. C. Ross Hinkle (Subject: Remote Sensing)

Project Director Life Science Services Contract
Vice President and Chief Scientist
Dynamac Corporation
Kennedy Space Center, FL
http://www.dynamac.com/science.html

Education:

• B.A. (Biology), Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC, 1970
• M.S. (Ecology), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1975
• Ph.D. (Ecology), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1978
• Conducted graduate research in plant community ecology in the Cumberland Mountains and on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Directs research programs in ecology, bioregenerative life support systems, and fundamental biology
• Co-investigator on multi-year Global Change research project to evaluate the effects of double atmospheric CO2 on Florida ecosystems.
• Holds courtesy appointment at the University of Central Florida in Orlando since 1985. Held adjunct position at the University of Florida 1984-1988.
• Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, Florida Academy of Sciences, The Nature Conservancy, Society of Wetland Scientists, Southern Appalachian BOtanical Society, and the Ecological Society of America
• In 1999, he was awarded the NASA, Public Service Medal for his continuing efforts in establishing ecological research at Kennedy Space Center
• Authored or co-authored over 60 papers
• Certified as a Senior Ecologist with ESA since 1984
• Served as Chair of the BOard of Professional Certification 2000-2002

Dr. John Love (Subject: Origins of Life)

Lecturer in Developmental Biology
University of Exeter, UK

Education:

• B.S., University of St. Andrews, Scotland, 1990
• Ph.D., University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 1995

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Independent Broodbank Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, 2001-2003
• Research Associate, NCSU-NSCORT Department of Plant Biology, N.C. State University, 1996-2001
• Published 11 articles and more than 20 abstracts on topics plant signaling and molecular biology techniques.
• GMO (genetically modified organism) consultant for Shell, UK.

Dr. Andrew Schuerger (Subject: Mars and Life)

Senior Scientist
Dynamac Corporation
Kennedy Space Center, FL

Education:

• B.S. (Plant Pathology), University of Arizona, 1979
• M.S. (Plant Pathology), University of Arizona, 1981
• Ph.D. (Plant Pathology), University of Florida, 1991

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Worked for 16 years at The Land (a hydroponic research and education facility) at Epcot Center, FL developing disease management programs for viral, bacterial, fungal, and nematode disease of vegetable and agronomic crops
• Published numerous articles on plant-pathogen interactions in semi-closed plant growing systems
• Joined the Dynamac Corporation in 1997 as a NASA contractor at KSC specializing in environmental and life sciences to pursue research on the remote sensing of plant stress using spectral reflectance and fluorescence imaging technologies
• Received two NASA research (NRA) grants for FY2001 to FY2004 to study the survival of terrestrial microorganisms and the growth of plants under simulated Martian conditions

Ms. DeBOrah Wells (Subject: Developing Space Experiments)

Manager of Flight Experiments
The Bionetics Corporation
Kennedy Space Center, FL
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/space/wells.html

Education:

• B.S. (Biomedical Engineering), Louisiana Tech University

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Since 1988 has managed dozens of space biology experiments

Dr. Raymond Wheeler (Subject: Life Support)

NASA Plant Physiologist
Kennedy Space Center, FL
http://advlifesupport.jsc.nasa.gov/newals/Crops/index.html

Education:

• B.S., Penn State University, 1975
• M.S., Utah State University, 1978
• Ph.D., Utah State University, 1981
• Post-doctoral associate at the University of Wisconsin conducting controlled environment studies with crops (e.g., potatoes) for providing food, oxygen, and water purification for long-duration space missions

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Has conducted research at Kennedy Space Center for the past 16 years
• Serves as the lead for the Crop Systems Research Element of NASA's Advanced Life Support Program
• Authored/co-authored over 150 papers/chapters in plant physiological ecology and life support
• Adjunct/Courtesy appointments: Univ. of Florida, Cornell Univ., Utah State Univ. Univ. Central Florida, Florida Tech., Texas A&M University, Univ. of Guelph.
• Recipient of NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, April 1995

Dr. Sarah Wyatt (Subject: Plant Gravitropism)

Assistant Professor
Environmental and Plant Biology
Ohio University, Athens, OH
www.plantbio.ohiou.edu/eBO/faculty/sew.htm

Education:

• B.A. Human Development, University of Kentucky, 1980
• B.S. Biology, University of Kentucky, 1984
• M.S. Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, 1991
• Ph.D., Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Purdue University, 1995
• Research Associate with the NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training (NSCORT) in Gravitational Biology (at NC State University) 1996-2000.

Professional Experience/Accomplishments:

• Published more than 20 papers/chapters and over 50 abstracts on topics in plant gravitational biology, physiology and molecular biology.
• Written/participated in the development of several educational materials and presented numerous outreach and education talks/workshops for all ages on topics relating to plant physiology, gravitational and space biology.

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email: Dr. Chris Brown