PhD, Stanford University
Biography
Kate Rubins is a world-renowned expert in molecular and cellular biology for use in low-Earth orbit and lowresource environments. At Stanford, she co-developed the first smallpox animal model and genomic tools
for high-consequence viral diseases. At MIT, she mapped the poxvirus transcriptome and led mpox fieldwork
in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since becoming a NASA Astronaut in 2009, she has led the
development of molecular techniques for human health in space and served as Deputy Director for NASA
Health and Human Performance. She is a Major in the Army Reserve and regularly collaborates across
government agencies. Her 300 days on the International Space Station included four spacewalks, the first
DNA sequencing in space, and microgravity research on cardiomyocytes, organoids, and synthetic biology.