Meet AstroMyco

AstroMyco LLC was founded by Dr. Robert P. Volpe, a molecular biologist and astromycologist who earned his PhD from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His doctoral research investigated the mechanisms underlying extreme radiation resistance in fungi and bacteria and developed novel approaches for identifying microbial radioprotective compounds.

His current research explores the use of fungi and other beneficial microorganisms to advance biological solutions for sustainable space exploration and habitation. Through AstroMyco, Dr. Volpe seeks to translate discoveries from mycology, radiation biology, and astrobiology into practical technologies that support life beyond Earth.

Select publications:

Volpe, R. P., Hwang, H. J., & Cox, R. T. (2025). Feeding Drosophila highly radioresistant fungi improves survival and gut morphology following acute gamma radiation exposure. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 1855. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31545-6

Mitra, N., McQueen, T. M., Volpe, R., Daly, M., Desai, V., & Armitage, N. P. (2025). Chemical changes in terrestrial lunar simulants exposed to gamma radiation simulating lunar ionizing radiation environment. Planetary and Space Science, 255, 106031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2024.106031

Horne, W. H., Volpe, R. P., Korza, G., DePratti, S., Conze, I. H., Shuryak, I., Grebenc, T., Matrosova, V. Y., Gaidamakova, E. K., Tkavc, R., Sharma, A., Gostinčar, C., Gunde-Cimerman, N., Hoffman, B. M., Setlow, P., & Daly, M. J. (2022). Effects of Desiccation and Freezing on Microbial Ionizing Radiation Survivability: Considerations for Mars Sample Return. Astrobiology, 22(11), 1337–1350. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2022.0065

Shuryak, I., Tkavc, R., Matrosova, V. Y., Volpe, R. P., Grichenko, O., Klimenkova, P., Conze, I. H., Balygina, I. A., Gaidamakova, E. K., & Daly, M. J. (2019). Chronic gamma radiation resistance in fungi correlates with resistance to chromium and elevated temperatures, but not with resistance to acute irradiation. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 11361. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47007-9

Sharma, A., Gaidamakova, E. K., Grichenko, O., Matrosova, V. Y., Hoeke, V., Klimenkova, P., Conze, I. H., Volpe, R. P., Tkavc, R., Gostinčar, C., Gunde-Cimerman, N., DiRuggiero, J., Shuryak, I., Ozarowski, A., Hoffman, B. M., & Daly, M. J. (2017). Across the tree of life, radiation resistance is governed by antioxidant Mn2+, gauged by paramagnetic resonance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(44), E9253–E9260. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1713608114

Tkavc, R., Matrosova, V. Y., Grichenko, O. E., Gostinčar, C., Volpe, R. P., Klimenkova, P., Gaidamakova, E. K., Zhou, C. E., Stewart, B. J., Lyman, M. G., Malfatti, S. A., Rubinfeld, B., Courtot, M., Singh, J., Dalgard, C. L., Hamilton, T., Frey, K. G., Gunde-Cimerman, N., Dugan, L., & Daly, M. J. (2017). Prospects for Fungal Bioremediation of Acidic Radioactive Waste Sites: Characterization and Genome Sequence of Rhodotorula taiwanensis MD1149. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 2528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02528