Dr. Samantha Waters

Assistant Professor of Biology
Department of Science

Samantha Waters

Dr. Waters earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida and the B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida.  As a Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Waters conducted research on microbial adaptation to low-pressure environments. Dr. Waters conducted postdoctoral work as a research Fellow at NASA Ames Research Center and at the Georgia Institute of Technology. These projects were in the field of aeromicrobiology and extreme environments analogous to the Martian surface. Dr. Waters’ recent projects at NASA ARC and the Savannah River National Laboratory where she served as Principal Scientist focused on bacterial adaptation to increased ionizing radiation exposure.  She has published in the International Journal of Astrobiology, Aerobiologia, Applied Environmental Microbiology, Scientific Reports, among other journals and has presented at the Astrobiology Science Conference and the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research, among other professional meetings. She has served as reviewer for Gravitational and Space Biology, Environmental Microbiology, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  Dr. Waters has mentored students participating in the NASA Internship and Fellowship and the NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Programs.

Contact Dr. Waters


waters_sm@mercer.edu