Careers in Astrobotany
Are you looking for a career in the field of astrobotany or astrobiology? Now is a great time to get involved with a rapidly expanding discipline that has big implications for the future of space travel. Read about careers in astrobotany and learn about the research institutions that work in astrobotany-related fields below.
Where do I start?
If you love botany and you love space, the thought of pursuing a career in astrobotany may have crossed your mind. Your first question is probably, “Where do I even start?”. Well, we’re a bit biased, but Astrobotany.com is a pretty good place to begin. Let’s talk shop.
How do I want to be involved in the field of astrobotany?
There are a lot of different ways to be involved in astrobotany work. Take a scroll through the table below if you’re interested in learning a path that might be interesting to you.
If you want to be part of a team that designs and performs experiments that send plants to space, here’s how to get started.
Astrobotany research is usually performed at universities- typically in a botany laboratory or a genetics laboratory, but other types of labs can perform astrobotany research as well. The foundation of all astrobotany is botany. That may be obvious, but it’s where to start. Consider pursuing at least a 4-year botany (or related discipline (plant pathology, horticulture, etc.)) degree at a research university. Bonus points if you can go to a university that has laboratories actively involved in astrobotany research (see list below). You can get valuable hands-on experience as an undergraduate researcher and you can start to form connections in the (currently) small world of plants in space.
Longer term, you will need a Ph.D. in botany or a related field to be involved in astrobotany research at a higher level. Postdoctoral researchers and professors (PIs) of the laboratory drive the direction of an academic laboratory’s research. A Ph.D. is a requirement for both of those positions- and it will give you the technical research skills that a new discipline like astrobotany demands. If you love science and the process, working in an academic laboratory that actively seeks funding for spaceflight research is your best bet.
Maybe you’re more interested in building the hardware that allows astrobotanists to grow plants in space. If you are, pursuing a 4-year related engineering degree, or a degree related to controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) may be the best option for you.
For example, in the Gilroy Laboratory at UW-Madison, there are undergraduate researchers involved in computer science and engineering who help build new tools to facilitate astrobotany research. Alternatively, there are many schools with strong controlled environmental agriculture programs that could be a good fit. Pursuing an indirect degree in engineering, CEA, or computer science can give you the skills needed to work for private space companies or government space agencies.
Astronauts (or cosmonauts) are the people who tend to plants in space. It should be noted that the astronauts themselves typically are not the ones who design astrobotany experiments. However, it is an extremely important task that usually requires the astronaut to train with the primary investigators of the astrobotany experiment.
Check out NASA’s page on astronaut requirements if you’re interested in being the one who gets to work with the plants in space.
Astrobotany Organizations
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is one of the oldest and most respected space organizations in the world. Spaceflight is synonymous with NASA. From the first moon landing to deep space Voyager missions, NASA is involved with all things space. They have a strong vested interest in astrobotany and have numerous ways to begin a career relating to astrobotany.
NASA supports astrobotany research in a variety of ways. Their interest in spaceflight plant biology dates back to the inception of the agency. As early as 1954, NASA was studying using algae for bioregenerative life support systems.
Their legacy continues today. NASA’s Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications (SLPSRA) division is responsible for astrobotany research. The International Space Station has its own VEGGIE unit where plants are grown. NASA’s BRIC (Biological Research In Canisters) program allows for plant research in space. NASA astronauts are among the first to grow plants in space. In 2014, Don Pettit grew zucchini on the ISS. In 2016, a zinnia bloomed under Scott Kelly’s care. In addition to this, NASA supports astrobotany research by awarding research grants, contracts, and much more to various universities, labs, and organizations.
NASA Kennedy Space Center
Dr. Raymond Wheeler and Dr. Gioia Massa are seasoned research botanists who are focused on astrobotany in their roles at NASA Kennedy Space Center. Check out the NASA KSC Pathways Home page for more information about opportunities with NASA KSC.
Sierra Space (fka ORBITEC)
Sierra Space (fka ORBITEC) is a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada that has a strong emphasis on astrobotany research. Sierra has built several plant habitats and supplementary systems that are currently on the International Space Station. Sierra Space has several locations, including Denver, CO, and Madison, WI.
Gilroy Lab - University of Wisconsin Madison
The Gilroy Lab is a research lab in the botany department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is funded by NASA. The Gilroy Lab is run by Dr. Simon Gilroy and the research focus is on plant gravitropism and signaling.
Space Plants - University of Florida
University of Florida Space Plants is a NASA funded research lab headed by Dr. Robert Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul.
Kiss Lab - Florida Tech
Dr. John Z. Kiss researches the molecular mechanism of gravitropism and phototropism, and regularly sends astrobotany experiments to the International Space Station.
Wyatt Lab - Ohio University
One of Dr. Sarah Wyatt‘s research objectives is studying plant signaling, especially as it relates to gravity stimulus. The Wyatt Lab has sent plant to the International Space Station. They have also collaborated with Dr. Wolverton, below.
Wolverton Lab - Ohio Wesleyan University
Dr. Wolverton is a botany professor at Ohio Wesleyan University who has sent plant samples to the International Space Station. His research focus is plant signaling.