Sharmila BHATTACHARYA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • Program Scientist for Space Biology in the Biological and Physical Science Division

Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya is the Program Scientist for Space Biology in the Biological and Physical Science Division at NASA Headquarters. She is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of research for the Space Biology program. Previously, Dr. Bhattacharya served a one-year term as the Space Policy Advisor to the US Senate Committee for Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sharmila has been a Principal Investigator and senior scientist at NASA conducting scientific research on the space shuttle, the International Space Station, and small satellites journeying beyond low Earth orbit. She has managed science projects for spaceflight missions, and developed and tested biological habitats on multiple platforms, including the shuttle, Progress, commercial rockets, and autonomous satellites. Dr. Bhattacharya has received numerous awards, such as the Top-Flight and Nova awards from Lockheed Martin, and awards for Superior Accomplishment, Honor Award, Technology Transfer, and the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal from NASA.

Before joining NASA, Sharmila Bhattacharya conducted her post-doctoral research work in Neurobiology at Stanford University and earned her Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology at Princeton University. Her research interests at NASA have focused on the effects of altered gravity and radiation on biological systems.

Events

International Astronautical Congress 2023

2-6 October 2023

Baku, Azerbaijan

Participation: