Planetary Protection

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Scientist

Wayne.w.schubert@jpl.nasa.gov
Office: 818-354-2999

Biography

Wayne received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from the California State University, Northridge in 1974 and 1979 respectively. He joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1974 and is currently a research scientist in the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group. He has been actively involved with the implementation of Planetary Protection for current and previous space missions, including Mars Science Laboratory, Phoenix, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Exploration Rovers and Mars Pathfinder. He actively participates in research involving sterilization, cleaning, and validation of spacecraft hardware and is doing applied research on evaluating microbes embedded in solid materials. Recent research activities include investigations into dry heat microbial reduction, a task that evaluates bacterial spore inactivation at elevated temperatures. Wayne also manages an archive task that preserves and characterizes microbes isolated from spacecraft as they are assembled.

Research Interests

Sterilization and microbial reduction, by dry heat, and other mechanisms
Microbial asssment of microbes embedded in solid materials
Implementation of mass spectrometry techinques for the identification of microbes

Professional Experience

1979-present, Research Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Education

1974, B.S., Biology, California State Universtiy, Northridge

1979, M.S., Biology, California State Universtiy, Northridge

Selected Publications

Coohill, Thomas, et al. "Ultraviolet mutagenesis of radiation-sensitive (rad) mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans." Mutation Research Letters 209.3-4 (1988): 99-106.

Hartman, Phil S., et al. "A comparison of mutations induced by accelerated iron particles versus those induced by low earth orbit space radiation in the FEM-3 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans." Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 474.1 (2001): 47-55.

Kempf, M. J., W. W. Schubert, and R. A. Beaudet. "Determination of lethality rate constants and D-values for Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372) spores exposed to dry heat from 115 C to 170 C." Astrobiology 8.6 (2008): 1169-1182.

Nelson, G. A., et al. "Development and chromosome mechanics in nematodes: results from IML-1." Advances in Space Research 14.8 (1994): 209-214.

Nelson, G. A., et al. "Radiation effects in nematodes: results from IML-1 experiments." Advances in Space Research 14.10 (1994): 87-91.

Nelson, G., et al. "Genetic and Molecular Dosimetry of HZE Radiation (US-1 RADIAT)." Biorack on Spacelab IML-1. Vol. 1162. 1995.

Nelson, Gregory A., et al. "Namatode radiobiology and development in space. Results from IML-1." Life Sciences Research in Space. Vol. 366. 1994.

Nelson, Gregory A., et al. "Radiation effects in Caenorhabditis elegans, mutagenesis by high and low LET ionizing radiation." Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 212.2 (1989): 181-192.

Nelson, Gregory A., Wayne W. Schubert, and Tamara M. Marshall. "Radiobiological studies with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetic and developmental effects of high LET radiation." International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements 20.1 (1992): 227-232.

Petersen, G. R., et al. "Yeasts producing exopolysaccharides with drag-reducing activity." Enzyme and microbial technology 12.4 (1990): 255-259.

Petersen, Gene R., et al. "Enhancement of carbohydrates in a methylotrophic yeast." Enzyme and Microbial Technology 5.5 (1983): 337-341.

Petersen, Gene R., et al. "Unconventional food regeneration in space-Opportunities for microbial food production." (1987).

Rohatgi, Naresh, et al. Development of vapor phase hydrogen peroxide sterilization process for spacecraft applications. No. 2001-01-2411. SAE Technical Paper, 2001.

Schubert, Wayne, and Robert A. Beaudet. "ATCC 29669 Spores Show Substantial Dry Heat Survivability." SAE International Journal of Aerospace1.2008-01-1982 (2008): 40-46.

Schubert, Wayne W., and Robert A. Beaudet. "Determination of lethality rate constants and D-values for heat-resistant Bacillus spores ATCC 29669 exposed to dry heat from 125° C to 200° C." Astrobiology 11.3 (2011): 213-223.

Schubert, Wayne W., Diane L. Engler, and Robert A. Beaudet. "Hydrazine vapor inactivates Bacillus spores." Advances in Space Research 57.9 (2016): 2022-2026.

Schubert, W., et al. "Viability of bacterial spores exposed to hydrazine."Advances in Space Research 42.6 (2008): 1144-1149.

Schubert, Wayne W., et al. "Assessment of bioburden encapsulated in bulk materials." Advances in Space Research 57.9 (2016): 2027-2036.

Schubert, Wayne, Gayane Kazarians, and Naresh Rohatgi. Evaluation of sample preservation methods for space missions. No. 2003-01-2671. SAE Technical Paper, 2003.

Schubert, Wayne Walter. Nitrogenase repression in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Diss. California State University, Northridge, 1979.