Biography:
Dr. Andrew Mattioda was born and raised in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. He attended Hartshorne High School, received his associate degree in Science from Eastern Oklahoma State College, his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma and earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma working in the laboratory of Dr. Roger Frech.
Before starting his career in Space Science, Andrew served as an environmental chemist for the U.S. Army Corps of engineers performing on-site analysis for contamination at hazardous waste sites. He also taught undergraduate chemistry courses at the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College and Rogers State University.
Andrew currently serves as the Deputy Branch Chief for the Ames' Astrophysics Branch and is a member of Ames' Astrochemistry Laboratory. He research work involves the study of dust and ice. That is, interstellar dust and cosmic ice. This research is in the areas of laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistry where he measures the the physical, chemical, and spectroscopic properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as PAHs in astrophysical ice analogs. This work is focused on the formation and evolution of organic compounds in the universe. As Andrew sees it, the distribution of biologically interesting organic compounds is directly linked to the possible distribution of life in the universe.
Andrew also serves on the science team for the O/OREOS (Organisms/Organics Responses to Orbital Stresses) nano-satellite mission as well as several proposed missions for nano-satellites and the International Space Station (ISS). All of these missions are focused on helping us to understand the formation and processing of organic compounds in space and their role in the origins of life.
Education and Public Outreach (EPO) are important to Andrew and he enthusiastically volunteers his time to these efforts. Part of these efforts involve reaching out to students from social and economically disadvantage areas and are accomplished through the NASA Ames Astrobiology team.
An image of Andrew demonstrating how infrared light can be used to study and observe objects.
Andrew's major publications can be found on the Astrochemistry Laboratory's Publications Pages.
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