Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D.

Dr. Pierson currently serves as the Director of Microbiology at NASA Johnson Space Center. Dr. Pierson earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Oklahoma State University. He continued his studies with postdoctoral training in Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Pierson joined NASA in 1980 and subsequently earned professorship appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. He has also served as Director of Toxicology and Deputy Chief of the Biomedical Operations and Research Branch.

Dr. Pierson has earned several honors and awards for his work with the microbiology and immunology of space flight, including election to fellow of the American Academy of Microbiologists. In his role as senior microbiologist at NASA/JSC, he has directed clinical and environmental microbiology operations for the Space Shuttle, Shuttle-Mir, and International Space Station Programs. He has also administered numerous research and development activities in related areas such as advanced life support, immunology, and viral reactivation. These include a number of peer-reviewed research grants for study of spaceflight effects on function of various immune cells and spaceflight effects on reactivation of latent viruses such as Herpes viruses and the Epstein-Barr virus.

Under the direction of Dr. Pierson, the NASA/JSC Microbiology laboratory has published and presented a large body of work to the scientific community. Development of several pieces of equipment for microbial monitoring during spaceflight has also contributed to an improved understanding of the impacts of microorganisms on crew and environment during spaceflight.

To contact Dr. Pierson, e-mail dpierson@ems.jsc.nasa.gov.