Dr. Schmidt is the founder of Sovaris Aerospace, LLC and Co-Chair of the Advanced Pattern Analysis & Countermeasures Group, based at the Research Innovation Center, Colorado State University. His work involves complex molecular network analysis to address the challenges of human space flight, such as brain and cognition, radiation, artificial gravity, team cohesion, isolation, cardiovascular fitness, and muscle performance. His molecular profiling work in elite athletes from NFL, NBA, Olympic, and military Special Forces teams has provided unique insight into how we can develop personalized medicine for humans in space. He is also co-developer of the personalized medicine program for the Corvette Racing Driver Science program and the 24 Hours of Le Mans racing series. Dr. Schmidt is Course Director of the Clinical Genomics, Proteomics, and Metabolomics Program, within the Integrative Metabolic Medicine Program at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

His clinical and research work is focused on applying integrated omics (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, microbiome) to complex problems of enhancing human performance in extreme conditions. He is co-author of the paper, “Personalized Medicine in Human Space Flight: Using Omics Based Analyses to Develop Individualized Countermeasures that Enhance Astronaut Safety and Performance,” published in the journal Metabolomics in 2013. The paper was recently featured by Springer Science Media, highlighting the most influential papers of 2013 and 2014. In January 2016 (Metabolomics), he co-authored, “Incorporation of Omics Analyses into Artificial Gravity Research for Space Exploration Countermeasure Development,” along with Thomas J. Goodwin, Ph.D., and Ralph Pelligra, M.D. In January 2015, he presented an invited lecture at the NASA Human Research Program Integrated Pathway to Mars Symposium, entitled “Protecting Neural Structures and Cognitive Function during Prolonged Space Flight by Targeting the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Molecular Network.”

Dr. Schmidt completed his doctoral research in molecular medicine and biochemistry within the Life Sciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center, under NASA Ames Chief Medical Officer Ralph Pelligra, M.D. His research was focused on human performance and molecular network changes in extreme conditions, such as prolonged hypergravity.