SEABROOK, TX, March 03, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Deborah L. Harm, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Harm is a distinguished research physiologist and is proud to have contributed significantly to her field. During her illustrious career at NASA, which spanned from 1986 to 2011, she served in the neuroscience laboratory with a focus on sensorimotor control, posture, gait, visual-vestibular interactions and cardiovascular-vestibular interactions. During this time, Dr. Harm addressed space motion sickness, a critical issue for astronauts, and cites the development of the Preflight Adaptation Training program, a multimillion-dollar project designed to help astronauts adapt to microgravity's sensory challenges, as a notable achievement.

Before taking retirement, Dr. Harm held a series of key appointments at NASA. As the manager of the neuroscience laboratory and the behavior and performance laboratory, she led efforts to design and install advanced training systems for astronauts. She served as the increment scientist for the International Space Station Medical Project. In this capacity Dr. Harm coordinated the implementation of all human life sciences research conducted by NASA, ESA, CSA and JAXA onboard ISS and chaired the International Life Sciences Working Group.

In addition to her scientific research, Dr. Harm has collaborated in educational outreach initiatives, helping coordinate programs for students and teachers who were developing science curricula for their upcoming academic sessions. She organized lab and NASA tours for summer students while mentoring many students in her laboratory. Additionally, she served on thesis and dissertation committees as an outside reader and participated in distance learning initiatives, which, though predating Zoom, involved a television studio. In these sessions, Dr. Harm discussed the ongoing research in her laboratory, engaging with five or six different schools at a time, allowing students to ask questions while she seamlessly moved between them.

Dr. Harm initiated her professional journey in the healthcare sector as a registered nurse from 1970 to 1978. She later transitioned to a part-time critical care nursing role while pursuing higher education at Wright State University. Dr. Harm counts these early clinical experiences in patient care and the insights gained about medical procedures as vital influences on her applied research pursuits at NASA.

Exceptional academic accomplishments further shaped Dr. Harm's profile. She completed a Bachelor of Science in experimental psychology from Wright State University in 1980, from which she graduated magna cum laude. She continued her studies at Ohio University, where she obtained a Master of Science in psychophysiology in 1983. Dr. Harm is proud to also hold a terminal degree in her field after earning a Doctor of Philosophy in 1985.

Throughout her career, Dr. Harm has been duly recognized with numerous accolades for her contributions to science and education. These include the NASA Tech Brief Award for developing an ambulatory physiological data recorder, the NASA Space Act Award for the Preflight Adaptation Training program, and the Equal Opportunity Award for her contributions to the Federal Women's Program Council at NASA. Dr. Harm also accepted several group achievement the 60 and 90 Days in Mars Life Support Testing Project.

Dr. Harm attributes her success to hard work, dedicated studying and the guidance of exceptional mentors, including George Crampton, her undergraduate adviser. She humbly pursued civic engagement as well and remains actively involved in civic-minded organizations as a donor to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity and Star of Hope Mission. Additionally, she teaches exercise classes for senior citizens at a community center, demonstrating her commitment to community service and wellness. In her personal life, Dr. Harm enjoys activities that reflect her diverse interests including exercise and crocheting as well as restoring old photographs—a hobby that allows her to preserve memories and history through artful restoration techniques.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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