Mailing Address:
Fifield Hall
2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Office: 2109 Fifield Hall
Phone: (352) 273-4835
E-mail: robferl@ufl.edu
Lab: UF Space Plants

• Areas of Research
  • Space biology
    • Transcriptomics
    • Epigenomics
    • Proteomics
  • Plant Imaging
  • Examination of 14-3-3 proteins
  • Examination of chromatin structure
• Educational Background
  • Ph.D., M.A., Genetics and Biochemistry, Indiana University (1980)
  • B.A., Hiram College (1976)
• Work Experience
  • Assistant Vice President for Research (2019-present)
  • Distinguished Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department (1990-present)
  • Director Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (2006-2019)
  • Director Center for Exploration Life Sciences KSC (2001-present)
  • Director of UF ICBR DNA Sequencing Laboratory (1988-2005)
  • Assistant Director, UF Biotechnology Program (1994-2006)
  • Director of UF ICBR BEECS Genetics Laboratory (1992-1995)
  • Chairman, Institutional Biosafety Committee (1998-1995)
  • Administrative Council, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research at UF (1990-1991)
  • Biological Sciences Teaching Program, University of Florida (1985-1987)
  • Acting Chairman, Department of Botany, University of Florida (1986-1987)
  • Associate Professor, Department of Vegetable Crops (1987-1990)
  • Associate Professor, Department of Botany, University of Florida (1986-1987)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Florida (1980-1986)
• Honors and Awards
  • NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal, 2022
  • The AIAA Jeffries Award, 2016
  • NASA Exception Scientific Achievement Medal, 2016
  • Co-recipient of NASA Award for Most Compelling Science on the ISS, awarded jointly with Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul, 2015
  • Member- National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council NASA Decadal Study, 2010
  • Chair- Science Council –Division of Space Life Sciences for USRA 2010-2013
  • UFRF Professorship 1999, 2005
  • CREES Recognition Award 1997
  • US Secretary of Agriculture Honor Award for Excellence 1997
  • Award of Excellence for Graduate Research, IFAS, University of Florida, 1994
  • Board of Examiners for GRE Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1989 – 1996
  • Harper Collins Biology Texts
  • Faculty Research Achievement Award 1987, 1989, 1992
  • Distinguished Teaching Award, 1984 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida
  • Teacher of the Year, Lambda Gamma Phi Honorary Society, University of Florida, 1984
  • Visiting Research Scientist: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Division of Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia 3/81 to 8/81