Kathryn Clark

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Kathryn Clark is NASA’s Chief Scientist for the Human Exploration & Development of Space Enterprise. Having completed a 2-year term as NASA’s Chief Scientist for the International Space Station Program, Dr. Clark became the HEDS Chief Scientist in August, 2000. She is on leave from the University of Michigan Medical School. As Chief Scientist, Dr. Clark works with scientists from all other areas of NASA to communicate research needs and look for possible collaboration among the science programs at NASA. In addition, she assists with education and outreach activities related to any human space flight endeavors, including the International Space Station, the shuttle, any expendable launch vehicles intended to further human endeavors in space, and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Dr. Clark’s particular interest is in "Human Factors"; all the elements necessary for the health, safety, and efficiency of crews involved in long duration space flight. These include training, interfacing with machines and robotics, biological countermeasures for the undesirable physical changes associated with space flight, and the psychological issues that may occur in response to the closed, dangerous environments while traveling in space or living on other planets.

Dr. Clark received both her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan and then joined the faculty in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in 1993. She also served as the Deputy Director of the NASA Commercial Space Center, The Center for Microgravity Automation Technology from 1996-1998. CMAT provides imaging technology for use on the Space Station. The primary commercial focus of that Center is on education.While involved with CMAT, Dr. Clark assisted with a student-designed ladybug experiment that flew on STS-93. This experiment served as the pathfinder mission for a larger education program aimed at inspiring students to study math and science. Four high schools (one from Santiago, Chile) and two junior high schools from around the US participated in the ladybug experiments. This program, now called LEO (Launching Education into Orbit) is working to get student experiments to the ISS.

Dr. Clark’s scientific interests are focused on neuromuscular development and adaptation to altered environments. Experiments are performed at the tissue level and include immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization of skeletal muscle and spinal cord grown both in vivo and in vitro. Dr. Clark’s experience with NASA began with a neuromuscular development study (NIH.R1) that flew on STS-66 in November of 1994. These experiments were repeated and augmented (NIH.R2) on STS-70 in July of 1995. She was also involved in the Neurolab project flown on STS-90 in May of 1998 and the aforementioned ladybug experiment that flew on STS-93 with Commander Eileen Collins.

Dr. Clark has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Aging, the American Federation for Aging Research, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. She is currently a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the Society for Neuroscience, the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, and the International Society for Gravitational and Space Biology. She recently received the "Outstanding International Award" from the Women in Aerospace. The award was presented by Congressman Vernon Ehlers of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition, last year Dr. Clark was inducted into the National Women’s Museum in Dallas, Texas.

Since arriving at NASA Headquarters in August, 1998, Dr. Clark has logged over 600,000 miles flying to 10 countries as well as the North Pole, worked at 16 shuttle launches, watched the space station become a reality, given over 100 speeches and briefings, helped design the new payload facility at Kennedy Space Center, and brought together scientists in 10 fields from 16 countries to begin the process of getting science into the space station.

Dr. Clark served on the Board of Directors of Women in Aerospace, is an airplane pilot and member of the 99’s (the International Society of Women Pilots), and an avid cyclist, swimmer, and cross-country skier. She is married to Dr. Robert Ike, a rheumatologist at the University of Michigan Medical School.

• April 25, 2002
• May 9, 2000