Jamie Foster is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida. Dr. Foster’s research lab is located at the Space Life Sciences Lab at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Education: Ph.D., 2000, Zoology, Mechanisms of developmental remodeling in the symbiosis between the Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, University of Hawai'i; M.S., 1996, Biological Sciences University of Southern California; B.S., 1992, Zoology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Research Interests: Dr. Foster is dedicated to understanding the complex interactions of symbiotic microbes with their surrounding environment.

Educational Outreach: Dr. Foster believes that in addition to doing great science, researchers must be able to communicate their findings to general audiences. Through academic courses and outreach activities, the gap between scientific discovery and public awareness of this knowledge can be closed. Teaching should not be looked at as a chore but an opportunity to engage the public in the scientific process; thereby fostering an understanding and support for future scientific research endeavors.

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Jennifer Mobberley is a graduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science of the University of Florida and was a 2008 Space Florida - Florida Space Grant Consortium summer research student at the Space Life Science Lab at the Kennedy Space Center.

Education: M.S., 2007, Marine Science, University of South Florida; B.S. 2004, Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida.

Research Interests: Jennifer's research interests include examining microbial response and adaptation to environmental stresses, and studying functional metagenomic and metatranscriptomics in microbial mat communities.


Artemis (Dyanna) Louyakis is a graduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science of the University of Florida.

Education: B.S. 2009, Biological Science, Murdoch University

Research Interests: Dyanna’s research interests include examining the biota of extreme environments to facilitate the understanding of microbial origins, the search for evidence of life outside of Earth, and microbial genomics.


Nicholas LoCastro is a post-baccalaureate intern in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science of the University of Florida. He currently works in Dr. Foster's research lab, located at the Space Life Sciences Lab at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Education: B.S. 2011, Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida.

Research Interests: Nick's research interests include examining the effects of microgravity on animal-bacterial symbiosis through use of the model system between the squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri.



Lexi Duscher is undertaking a research and training internship at the University of Florida Space Life Science Lab.

Education: B.S. 2013, Marine Science and Environmental Studies, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL.

Research Interests: Lexi's research is currently based on characterizing and studying functional metagenomic in microbial mat communities.



Former Lab Members:

Christina Khodadad was a Post-Doctoral research fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida from 2008 – 2012

Education:  Ph.D., 2008, Biological Sciences, “Genetic variation, population substructure, and sex ratio of the Florida Scrub-jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens,” Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL; M.S., 1978, Natural Sciences, State University of New York, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, NY; B.S., 1976, Biological Sciences, Marine Option, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL.

Research Interests: Tina’s research interests include population genetics as influenced by life history traits, and gene expression in response to environmental variables.


Kyle C Grant completed an undergraduate internship at the University of Florida Space Life Science Lab

Education: An international undergraduate student studying for B.S.c Microbiology and B.S.c Astrophysics degrees at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.

Research Interests: Kyle’s research examined the interaction between the bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes under microgravity conditions.


Maya Ortega was a NASA summer intern sponsored by the Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology (MUST) Program. Maya worked with Dr. Foster at the Space Life Science Lab examining the diel changes in gene expression in modern lithifying microbialitic mats.

Education: Currently, Maya is currently undergraduate student at the University of Colorado in the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department working towards a B.S. degree.


Mirina Parrish was a 2011 Space Florida summer intern at the Space Life Science Lab at the Kennedy Space Center. Mirina was working on the “Squid in Space” project and helped to understand the effects that microgravity have on gene expression on the symbiotic bacterium Vibrio fischeri.

Education: Currently, Mirina is an undergraduate at the University of South Florida and working towards a B.S. in environmental policy.


Krystal Kerney graduated in 2010 with a B. S. degree from the Microbiology and Cell Science Department at the University of Florida. She worked with Dr. Foster at the Space Life Sciences Lab to examine the effects of microgravity on the symbiotic interaction between the bacteria Vibrio fischeri and the squid Eupryma scolopes. She is also worked on editing podcasts for Dr. Foster's Astrobiology class at UF, and helped to develop a Reusable Learning Object also for use in the Astrobiology class and to be published for other classes to use.


Steven Ahrendt began at the Space Life Sciences lab in 2007 as a summer intern, then returned each subsequent summer to continue his work on microbial and functional gene diversity in modern microbialites. He also worked with Dr. Foster to study the effects of microgravity on the colonization of Euprymna scolopes by Vibrio fischeri. Currently, Steven is a graduate student at the University of California, Riverside.

Education: B.S., 2009, Biology/Computer Science, Purdue University




Stephanie Havemann is a former Post-Doctoral research fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida from 2007 - 2008. She worked in Dr. Foster's research lab, located at the Space Life Sciences Lab at the Kennedy Space Center, FL. Currently, Dr. Havemann is a member of the faculty of Bayside High School, Palm Bay, FL.

Education: Ph.D., 2006, Chemistry, Directed Evolution of DNA Polymerases, University of Florida; B.S., 2000, Biology, Mercer University, Macon, GA; B.S., 2000, Environmental Science, Mercer University, Macon, GA.



Matoya Robinson, 2007, M.S., 2007, Microbiology and Cell
Science, University of Florida.



Joseph Gredder worked with Dr. Foster as a 2009 NSF REU summer intern on the effects of elevated carbon dioxide and salinity on microbial diversity in marine microbialites. Currently, Joseph is working on obtaining his B.S. degree in Biotechnology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.


Varun Paul is a summer NASA Planetary Biology Intern working with Dr. Foster on examining the effects of rising CO2 on the microbial and functional gene complexity of modern marine stromatolites. Currently, Varun is working toward a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Education: M.S., 2009, Applied and Environmental Biology, Missouri University of Science and Technology; B.S., 2007, Industrial Biotechnology, St. Peter’s Engineering College, Chennai India.



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