Andrew C. Schuerger

Dr. Andrew C. Schuerger received his BS (1979) and MS (1981) degrees from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. (1991) from the University of Florida studying microbiology and plant pathology. His dissertation studied the effects of temperature and pH on spore attachment of the fungal pathogen, Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli, to roots of mung bean plants grown in hydroponic systems. Dr. Schuerger 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 diseases of vegetable and agronomic crops. His research interests have closely paralleled NASA’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Astrobiology programs in which he has published articles on plant-pathogen interactions in semi-closed plant growing systems, survival of terrestrial microorganisms under Martian conditions, and microbial ecology of human explorations of Mars. In 1997 Dr. Schuerger joined the Dynamac Corporation (a NASA contractor at the Kennedy Space Center, FL specializing in environmental and life sciences) to pursue research on the remote sensing of plant stress, Mars astrobiology, and ALS plant pathology issues. In 2003 Dr. Schuerger joined the Dept. of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida as a Research Assistant Professor to continue his Mars astrobiology and ALS research activities. His office and lab are located in the newly constructed Space Life Sciences Lab at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.