Dr. Rafael Loureiro is the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and an Associate Professor of Botany and Plant Physiology at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). He designs and implements advanced coursework and research experiences in plant physiology, astrobotany, and controlled environment agriculture to prepare cadets and students to apply biological principles in real-world and space-based operations.

Dr. Loureiro earned his Master’s and Ph.D. in Botany from Brazil’s National School of Tropical Botany, specializing in plant ecophysiology and plant stress responses. He has received multiple NASA research grants to investigate plant growth in extreme environments, focusing on microbial–plant interactions, phytohormonal signaling, and the use of in situ resources to cultivate crops in simulated lunar and Martian regolith.

In 2018, Dr. Loureiro established the first Space Act Agreement between WSSU and NASA’s crop production team at Kennedy Space Center. Through this agreement, students participate directly in NASA-supported research on space agriculture, contributing to the development of sustainable food production systems for future lunar and Martian missions. His work bridges academic research, NASA partnerships, and applied training, advancing both the science of off-world agriculture and the development of future scientific leaders.

Ph.D., Botany, National School of Tropical Botany [ENBT-Brazil) (2013)

Master of Science, Botany, National School of Tropical Botany [ENBT-Brazil) (2009)

Bachelor of Science, Biology Education, Veiga de Almeida University, Brazil (2005)

Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology/Botany, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2002)

Visiting Distinguished Professor, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO. (2025-Present)

Collaborative Research Coordinator, NASA – Winston-Salem State University Space Act Agreement [crop production team] (2019-current)

Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Winston-Salem State University, NC. (2018-Present)

Senior Research Investigator, Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, WA [remote] (2017-current)

Adjunct Professor, Department of Natural Sciences, Lakeland, FL (2016-2018)

Adjunct Professor of Botany, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2011-2014)

Wells-Fargo Teaching Excellence Award, WSSU (2023)

WSSU Student’s Choice Award, Best Professor (2022)

NASA North Carolina Space Grant Early Investigator Award (2018)

American Geophysical Union, Voices for Science (2017)

NASA Exploration Research bd Technology Recognition Award (2016)

NASA Astrobiology Early Career Award (2015)

Astrobotany

Plant Physiology

Plant-Microbiome Interactions