Scientific career

DLR, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology, Köln, Germany

2005 –             Deputy Head of the Radiation Biology Department
1996 –             Head of the Research Group ‘Astrobiology’
1993 – 1995    Junior research scientist

Max-Planck-Institute for Radiation Chemistry, Mülheim, Germany

1988 – 1992    Head of the research group ‘Radiation Biology’
1988                Scholar of the Max Planck-Society

Education and training

1983 – 1988   Dissertation (Dr. rer. nat.), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
1977 – 1983   Study of chemistry, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
1968 – 1977   Secondary school (Gymnasium), Witten, Germany
1965 – 1968   Primary school, Witten, Germany

Professional experience

Acquisition, management and scientific realisation of interdisciplinary international research projects

Supervision of PhD, diploma, master and bachelor students in the disciplines biology, medicine, mechanical, chemical and medical engineering

Research interests

Microbiology, life in extreme environments, astrobiology, habitability, radiation biology, photobiology, planetary protection

Space experiments - Principal Investigator / team coordinator

• MEXEM (formerly known as MASE-in-Space, EXPO, ISS, in preparation)
• LUX-in-Space (BIOLAB, ISS, in preparation)
• TRIPLELUX C (accepted for the ISS in 1997, deselected in 2014)
• BOSS (EXPOSE-R-2, ISS)
• ADAPT (EXPOSE-E, ISS)
• MARSTOX II (BIOPAN, FOTON)
• MARSTOX I (BIOPAN, FOTON, launch failure)

Space experiments - Co-Investigator

• HABIT (ExoMars 2022, in preparation)
• IceCold (formerly known as ICE-cube, EXPO, ISS, in preparation)
• BioRock (KUBIK, ISS)
• EXTREMOPHILES (formerly known as ARBEX, ISS)
• BIOMEX (EXPOSE R-2, ISS)
• SPORES (EXPOSE-R, ISS)
• Phobos LIVE (Phobos Grunt, launch failure)
• PROTECT (EXPOSE-E, ISS)
• Lithopanspermia (BIOPAN, FOTON)
• HighRad (BIOPAN, FOTON)
• EXOBIOLOGIE (PERSEUS, MIR space station)
• UVE (Mir'97, MIR space station)
• REPAIR (IML-2, Space shuttle)
• KINETICS (IML-2, Space shuttle)
• UVRAD (D-2, Space shuttle)
• SURVIVAL II (BIOPAN III, FOTON)
• SURVIVAL I (BIOPAN I and II, FOTON)

ESA projects

• 2011 – 2020  PP-VERI - Bioburden and Biodiversity Agency-Level Verification Assays (contractor)
• 2006 – 2011  BioDiv - Bioburden and Biodiversity Evaluation in Spacecraft Facilities and Lifetime Test of a Rapid Spore Assay (contractor)
• 2003 – 2005  MiDiv - Determination of the Microbial Diversity of Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facilities (contractor)

• 2021 –           ESA Topical Team Biosciences mission for EL3 (team member)
• 2014 – 2016  BIOMODEXO (team member)
• 2011 – 2016  ESA Topical Team EANA (coordinator)
• 2010 –           ESA Topical Team Astrobiology (team member)
• 2011 – 2014  CAVES (team member)
• 2012 – 2015  BIOSIS (team member)
• 2010 – 2011  MICHAm in the MARS 500 project (Principal Investigator)

EC projects

• 2016 – 2018  PPOSS (team member)
• 2015 – 2019  EDEN-ISS (team member)
• 2015 – 2017  EURO-CARES (partner)
• 2014 – 2017  MASE (team member)
• 2012 – 2015  Astromap (team member)
• 2008 – 2010  CAREX (team member)

Other projects

• 2016 – 2019  Kalte Plasmatechnologie für Raumfahrt, Bayrisches Wirtschaftsministerium
• 2016 – 2018  MOMEDOS, Universität Wien (contractor)
• 2015 – 2018  BAL S - Bioinspired Antimicrobial Laquer in Space, OHB (contractor)
• 2011 – 2015  Federal Ministry of Education and Reserch, Verbundforschungsvorhaben ToxBox – Teilprojekt 4: SWITCH
• 2011 – 2014  Dekontamination von Raumfahrt-Bauteilen: Einsatz kalter Plasmen, MPI für extraterrestrische Physik (contractor)

Further professional skills and activities

COSPAR: 
2018 –          Member of the COSPAR Panel on Planetary Protection on behalf of DLR
2021 –          Head of the German National COSPAR Committee (COSPAR-Landesausschuss der DFG)
2017 –          Member of the German National COSPAR Committee (COSPAR-Landesausschuss der DFG)
2018 –          Chair of Sub-Commission F3 on Astrobiology

ESA: Member of the ESA Planetary Protection Working Group (ESA PPWG)
IAA: International Academy of Astronautics, Member of Commission 2: Space Life Sciences (since 2011), Chair of Commission 2: Space Life Sciences (2015 - 2017)
IAF: International Astronautical Federation, Member of the Technical Committee: Space Life Sciences (since 2012), Technical Committee Chair since 2018
EANA: Councillor of the European Astrobioloy Network Association (EANA)
ESSC: Member of the European Space Science Committee of the European Science Foundation – Solar System and Exploration Panel (2013 – 2019)
ECSS: Member of the different former Working Groups of the European Cooperation for Space Standardisation

Senior Editor of the journal Astrobiology, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Organiser of COSPAR Symposia for the COSPAR Assemblies since 2006
Organiser of sessions for the IAC (International Astronautical Congres) since 2011
Organiser of EANA'11

2003 Chief biologist at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, USA
2000 Visiting scientist at NASA Ames in California, USA
1996 and 1997 Visiting scientist in Okazaki, Japan

Biosafety officer (BBS) at DLR
Project leader of a research project with genetically modified organisms (1994 – 2018)
Radiation protection supervisor (SSB, 1993 – 2012)
4 patents

Awards

2021        International Astronautical Federation Distinguished Service Award
2016        Award and title: DLR Senior Scientist
2014/15   DLR-Competition of Visions, 2nd Place, Biopolymer-Aerogel-Filter in Environmental Control Systems
2014        Life Sciences Book Award of the International Academy of Astronautics for the book
                'Complete Course in Astrobiology', Gerda Horneck and Petra Rettberg,
                Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.KgaA, Germany 2007
2001        DLR-Competition of Visions, 2nd Place, Wegbereitung zur Erschließung des Mars
2000        DLR-Forschungssemester (sabbatical leave at NASA Ames)
 

Membership in Scientific Societies

IAA: International Academy of Astronautics
EANA: European Astrobioloy Network Association
VAAM: Vereinigung für allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie

Publications

More than 240 peer reviewed publications in addition to conference papers and book chapters

See Publications of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and
elib - Publications of the DLR -> Petra Rettberg

ORCID -> Petra Rettberg

ResearchGate -> Petra Rettberg

Google Scholar -> Petra Rettberg