Alexander Gerst (born May 3, 1976 in Künzelsau, Baden-Württemberg) is a European Space Agency astronaut having been selected in 2009 to undergo training. He studied at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, where he received a university degree in physics. He also studied Earth Science at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, where he was awarded a Master of Science. He has been working as a researcher since 2005 and received his Doctorate about volcanic eruption in 2010. In his spare time, he enjoys mountaineering, diving, climbing and skydiving.