D. Marshall Porterfield
Professor of Biological Engineering & Space Biophysics
- Role
- Innovation Advisor at Nanoskunkworkx
- Location
- West Lafayette, IN, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About D. Marshall Porterfield
Dr. D. Marshall Porterfield is a Professor of Space Biology and Biophysics at Purdue University. With over 30 years of experience in bioregenerative life support, he has also served as the Division Director for Space Life and Physical Sciences (SLPS) at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC. In this role, he oversaw the Human Research, Physical Sciences, and Space Biology Programs, overseeing research and engineering resources across six NASA centers. During his tenure, he initiated the first open science and advanced integrated omics research programs, including NASA GeneLab and the NASA Twins Study. At Purdue his work is focusing on BioAstronautics as an approach to bioregenerative human eco-habitation. He addresses biological gaps in human exploration technology by merging biophysical and biocomputational AI/ML approaches to integrated systems-level omics (biosystomics) for applications in biology, agriculture, environment, and medicine. His work includes meta-analytic approaches for biosystomics in medicine, scanning probe sensor technology, biocomputational methods for cellular and organismal biophysics, AI/ML approaches in pathway modeling, biosensors, bio-MEMS, bio-nanotechnology, and lab-on-a-chip systems.Dr. Porterfield\'s leadership in gravitational and space biology includes serving on the governing board of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology and later as president during the recovery period following significant NASA program cuts in 2004. He played a crucial role in expanding the society to include physical sciences and establishing the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research. Currently, Dr. Porterfield is the Science PI for the NASA Lunar Effects of Agricultural Flora (LEAF) Experiment as part of the Artemis 3 mission to the lunar surface. His extensive body of work includes hundreds of peer-reviewed manuscripts, papers, technical publications, patents, and book chapters, along with numerous invited presentations. His leadership roles include serving as President of the Institute for Biological Engineering and the ASGSB/ASGSR. In 2025, he was recognized as a Society fellow by the ASGSR and was previously elected to the College of Fellows for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, an honor reserved for the top 2% of medical and biological engineers in the US. According to the Stanford survey, he ranks in the top 2% of researchers in his field for lifetime research impact (DOI:10•••32/btchxktzyw.3), and he is just getting started!
Experience
Innovation Advisor
Oct 2022 — Present
Education
Louisiana State University
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Plant Space Physiology-Advisor: Mary E. Musgrave
University of South Alabama
Bachelor of Science - BS, Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
Skills
- Teaching
- Leadership
- Data Analysis
- Management
- Statistics
- Molecular Biology
- Life Sciences
- University Teaching
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Student Affairs
- Science
- Technical Writing
- Matlab
- Higher Education
- Program Management
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