Matthew Bobrowsky, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Faculty Member, Delaware State University
Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Global Campus
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Astronomical observations with many telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. His specialty is the study of planetary nebulae – clouds of gas expanding outward from aging stars. One planetary nebula that he discovered using Hubble is the Stingray Nebula. His research and expertise in Astronomy Education includes the process of science, misconceptions in science, effective science teaching and science vs. pseudoscience. (Planetary Nebulae; Astronomy Education)
Research Links: DSU Staff Profile; Google Scholar Profile; Research Gate Profile; Stingray Nebula 

Jeff Goldstein, Ph.D.
Center Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Institute Director, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Development of techniques for measuring global winds on other planets using large telescopes on Earth – .10-micron infrared heterodyne remote sensing of global circulation in planetary atmospheres. His research produced the first direct measurement of the global winds above the clouds on Venus, and the first measurement of the global winds on Mars. (Planetary Atmospheres)
Research Links: LinkedIn

Timothy Livengood, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Using optical and nuclear remote-sensing methods to measure the composition, temperature, and wind velocity in planetary atmospheres from Earth- and space-based platforms; as well as Auroras and Impacts. (Planetary Atmospheres, Auroras and Impacts)
Research Links: NASA GSFC Staff Profile; UMD Staff Profile; Research Gate Profile; Google Scholar Profile

Harri Vanhala, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Subject Matter Expert, Arctic Slope Technical Services
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: The use of computer simulations to investigate the origins of the Solar System and development of computer models to investigate the properties of present-day planets. (origin of the Solar System, Star and Planetary System Formation, Interstellar Medium)
Research Links: Research Gate Profile

Michelle M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Manager, ACS Approval Program, American Chemical Society
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Guidelines that define excellence in chemistry education. Previous research included the study of the molecular orbital structure of radicals involved in photosynthetic processes using electron magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and chemically induced dynamic polarization using solid state NMR. (Chemical Education)

Daniel Crooks, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Staff Scientist, Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Translational research on familial renal cancer syndromes. Current research is primarily focused on hereditary cancers caused by mutations in the Krebs cycle enzymes fumarate hydratase and succinate dehydrogenase. Long term research interests include development and utilization of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry platforms for metabolic analyses in human tissues and cells. (Cancer Metabolism, Mitochondrial Metabolism, Iron Sulfur Clusters, Cellular Respiration, Hereditary Diseases)
Research Links: Research Gate Profile

Ann S. Hobbs, Ph.D., J.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Biochemist and Patent Attorney (retired)
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Biochemical and physiological research on cation transport across cell membranes, in particular the sodium-potassium pump; subsequently as a patent attorney, her legal practice focused on medical, biotechnological and pharmaceutical inventions.

David Livengood, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Retired, Former Chairman of Physiology and Cellular Radiobiology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Cellular neurobiology and biophysics of membrane function, particularly synaptic transmission and the function of the sodium/potassium exchange pump in neuronal tissue. (Synaptic Transmission, Cellular Control of Ion Distribution)

Jeff Leips, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Understanding genetic basis of natural variation in aging. In particular, identifying the genes that influence the age-related declines in the ability to fight infection, reproduction, and physical performance traits such as strength speed and endurance. (Life History, Aging, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Genetic Mapping)
Research Links: UMBC Faculty Profile; Google Scholar Profile; Research Gate Profile; The Leips Lab

Jeff Leips, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Understanding genetic basis of natural variation in aging. In particular, identifying the genes that influence the age-related declines in the ability to fight infection, reproduction, and physical performance traits such as strength speed and endurance. (Life History, Aging, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Genetic Mapping)
Research Links: UMBC Faculty Profile; Google Scholar Profile; Research Gate Profile; The Leips Lab

Todd Miller, Ph.D., CSCS*D, TSAC-F FNSCA
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor, The George Washington University Miliken Institute School of Public Health
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research:  Causes of and contributing factors to obesity and other metabolic disturbances.  Previously studied human adaptations to space travel and specifically what types of exercise countermeasures could be employed to help prevent losses in muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function with long term exposure to microgravity. (Exercise Countermeasures, Musculoskeletal Wasting, Cardiac Function and Nutritional Interventions)
Research Links: GWU Faculty Profile; Research Gate Profile; VSTC Lab; The Miller Method

Jeff Leips, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Understanding genetic basis of natural variation in aging. In particular, identifying the genes that influence the age-related declines in the ability to fight infection, reproduction, and physical performance traits such as strength speed and endurance. (Life History, Aging, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Genetic Mapping)
Research Links: UMBC Faculty Profile; Google Scholar Profile; Research Gate Profile; The Leips Lab

Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: The genetic control of animal development, particularly understanding how cells adopt different identities and move through complex environments. (Genetic Regulation of Organ Development and Cell Migration, Janus Kinase and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) Molecular Signaling Pathway; Development and Immune Function in Humans)
Research Links: UMBC Faculty Profile; Research Gate Profile; The Starz-Gaiano Group

Shaun Brinsmade, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Staphylococcus aureus, a human commensal bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen, that is a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, bone infections, infectious heart disease, and bacteremia. Uses the the power of S. aureus genetics in combination with biochemistry and genomics to unravel biological questions at the intersection between bacterial physiology and pathogenesis in Gram-positive bacteria. (Staphylococcus aureus; Nutritional Regulation of Pathogenesis)
Research Links: GU Faculty Profile; The Brinsmade Lab

Margaret Scull, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Influenza virus and rhinoviruses – aiming to identify and dissect novel virus-host interactions in the airway epithelium–the primary target for infection by respiratory viruses and also our first line of defense at the interface between the external environment and underlying tissues. (Airway Biology; Mucus Barrier; Respiratory Virus-host Interactions; Antiviral Response; Species Restriction of Viruses; Tissue Engineering and Primary Cell Systems)
Research Links: UMD Faculty Profile

Kol Zarember, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Scientific Operations Manager, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Recognition of microbes by the human immune system and how the innate immune system counters invasion by pathogens. Through studying patients with various rare genetic alterations in immunity, he works to better understand how neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cell in the circulation, prevent infections and contribute to other aspects of inflammation and human biology including atherosclerosis.
Research Links: NIH Bibliography page

Shaun Brinsmade, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Staphylococcus aureus, a human commensal bacterium and opportunistic human pathogen, that is a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, bone infections, infectious heart disease, and bacteremia. Uses the the power of S. aureus genetics in combination with biochemistry and genomics to unravel biological questions at the intersection between bacterial physiology and pathogenesis in Gram-positive bacteria. (Staphylococcus aureus; Nutritional Regulation of Pathogenesis)
Research Links: GU Faculty Profile; The Brinsmade Lab

Kol Zarember, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Scientific Operations Manager, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Recognition of microbes by the human immune system and how the innate immune system counters invasion by pathogens. Through studying patients with various rare genetic alterations in immunity, he works to better understand how neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cell in the circulation, prevent infections and contribute to other aspects of inflammation and human biology including atherosclerosis.
Research Links:  NIH Bibliography page

Daniel Serrano, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: How cells and other objects in the bloodstream move to specific parts of the body and cross the blood-tissue barrier. Through a cellular and molecular understanding of these processes, he then explored different ways in which pharmaceutical delivery can be optimized using vehicles that mimic the way our body works.
Research Links: Google Scholar Profile

Daniel Crooks, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Staff Scientist, Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Translational research on familial renal cancer syndromes. Current research is primarily focused on hereditary cancers caused by mutations in the Krebs cycle enzymes fumarate hydratase and succinate dehydrogenase. Long term research interests include development and utilization of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry platforms for metabolic analyses in human tissues and cells. (Cancer Metabolism, Mitochondrial Metabolism, Iron Sulfur Clusters, Cellular Respiration, Hereditary Diseases)
Research Links: Research Gate Profile

David M. Loeb, M.D., Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Associate Professor, Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Chief, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis, and used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. Investigating the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in metastasis of both osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Also, the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA. (Sarcoma, Cancer, Metastasis, Helicase, DNA Damage Repair)
Research Links:  Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Faculty Research Profile; Research Gate Profile

Jose A. Feijo, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, University of Maryland
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Reproduction and using the male gametophyte of plants as a model system to understand the fundamental properties of cellular growth, morphogenesis, and cell to cell communication. (Plant Biology, Plant Reproduction, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cellular Biophysics, Biological Imaging, and Plant Electrophysiology.)
Research Links: UMD Faculty Profile; Google Scholar Profile

David Livengood, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Retired, Former Chairman of Physiology and Cellular Radiobiology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Cellular neurobiology and biophysics of membrane function, particularly synaptic transmission and the function of the sodium/potassium exchange pump in neuronal tissue. (Synaptic Transmission, Cellular Control of Ion Distribution)

Daniel J. Dwyer, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Combines systems and synthetic biology approaches with traditional microbiology methods to develop a predictive understanding of bacterial metabolism under stress. Most interested in applying these approaches to address questions associated with antibiotic resistance and antibiotic mode-of-action. (Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic Mode-of-action, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology)
Research Links: UMD Faculty Profile; The Dwyer Lab

Margaret Scull, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park
Bio: NCESSE Staff Page
Research: Influenza virus and rhinoviruses – aiming to identify and dissect novel virus-host interactions in the airway epithelium–the primary target for infection by respiratory viruses and also our first line of defense at the interface between the external environment and underlying tissues. (Airway Biology; Mucus Barrier; Respiratory Virus-host Interactions; Antiviral Response; Species Restriction of Viruses; Tissue Engineering and Primary Cell Systems)
Research Links: UMD Faculty Profile