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SPACE LIFE SCIENCES TRAINING PROGRAM
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Summer 2020
2
06 Introduction
08 Student Eligibility & Contact Information
Research Associates
10 Benjamin Alva
11 Avram Bar-Meir
12 Ada Kanapskyte
13 Marshall Ledford
14 Phillip Lee
15 Amalia Luthens
16 Simon Ng
17 Finsam Samson
18 Amanda Wacker
19 Kelly Wong
Table of Contents
3
21 Jerika Christman
22 Elizabeth Hawkins
23 Desireemoi Bridges
24 Diana Ly
25 Hami Ray
26 Sigrid Reinsch
27 Rob Vik
Staff and Management
4
Mentors 29 Grace Belancik
30 Jonathan Galazka
31 Yuri Griko
32 John Hogan
33 Sergio Santa Maria
34 Amber Paul
35 Linda Rubinstein
36 Amanda Saravia-Butler
37 Samantha Waters
5
IntroductionThe NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Program is a unique summer institute of higher learning. The objective is to produce technically skilledscientists and engineers with the potential to become leaders in the U.S. space program by providing a glimpse into the many disciplines that arerequired to conduct biological research in space. The success of the Space Life Sciences Training Program is a result of the interaction of government,academia, and the private sector with each sector playing an essential and different role in the program.
NASA’s charter, written in the 1958 Space Act, gives NASA the main role of using and exploring space for the betterment of humankind. Congress andthe President have supported and directed NASA as its programs have evolved. President John F. Kennedy’s challenged the country and the agency toput a man on the Moon by the end of the 60’s. Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon proved that the US and NASA were up to the challenge. SinceApollo, the Skylab missions, the Space Shuttle, and now the International Space Station have shown that humans can continually live in space andtravel to and from space on a frequent basis. Unmanned satellites such as Kepler, Hubble, and Galileo have expanded our understanding of theuniverse. Aeronautics research is a continuing endeavor, producing technologies that allow aircraft to fly faster, farther, more efficiently, and morequietly.
As part of the human exploration mission, NASA conducts biological research. NASA studies how traveling into space affects humans and other livingorganisms. Astronauts experience bone and muscle loss, as well as a range of other physiological changes. Mice and rats exhibit similar changes, whilebacteria become more virulent. Plants grow differently because of the absence of gravity. Researchers throughout NASA are studying life in space,defining ways to make space travel safer for astronauts, and the fundamental mechanisms that trigger the changes in living organisms. Biotechnologyresearch is also important to NASA. The agency looks at bioengineering organisms to perform critical functions on a space mission, such as life supportand food production. Recent advances in biotechnology are giving researchers insight into how genomic data is different for life in space.
Ames SLSTP Program Structure NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) is located at Moffett Field, CA in the heart of Silicon Valley. It offers new insights about the universe, planetary systems, and the life sciences. Technologies developed at NASA Ames enable exciting new ventures in aeronautics and space exploration and have impacted quotidian life on Earth. The results from research at Ames have significantly influenced national and international policy, enabled most of the major space missions of the past thirty years, and contributed science discoveries and engineering insights that have revolutionized fields. In the process of these endeavors, Ames has made numerous contributions to environmental protection, public health, and the nation’s economic well-being.
Ames is a pioneer in the application of the multidisciplinary approach in science, technology, and projects. Multidisciplinary approaches are flexibleand tend to stimulate innovative concepts. Successful application of this technique requires a deep appreciation for the talents, skills, and insights ofindividuals. Today, more and more scientists and advanced technology industries are using this approach with remarkable results.
It is in the spirit of shared discovery and the synthesis of diverse talents that Ames offers the NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program. Studentscontribute to all aspects of successful multidisciplinary research on Earth, be it: in the air or in space. They experience the entire project processincluding the formulation of an idea, the procurement of goods and services necessary to develop it, the management, marketing, and manufacturingnecessary to turn their concepts into reality.
6
The SLSTP at NASA Ames is based on an extremely successful program begun at NASA Kennedy Space Center called the NASA Spaceflight and LifeScience Training Program in 1985. The Kennedy SLSTP begun under the leadership of the late Dr. Gerald Soffen, former Director of the Office ofUniversity Programs at Goddard Space Flight Center. The Ames SLSTP is unique in that it focuses on integrating the expertise of multiple disciplinesinto the space life sciences to gain a better and more comprehensive understanding of what is taking place today in the Space Program and thus,mold its future
SLSTP at NASA Ames provides opportunities usually unavailable to those outside and within the Agency. The objective of the program is to exposeresearch associates to various aspects of NASA and the Space Program. Topics include, but are not limited to: current research projects, developingthe unique tools necessary for discoveries in space, tracing the progress of an idea from concept through completion, technology developmentthrough flight operations, data analysis to publication, the acquisition and communication of knowledge and its impact on science and society.
In 1993, the first SLSTP was formed at Kennedy Space Center. Twenty students, undergraduate and graduate, took part. Due to its success it wasduplicated the following year, adding four more students and a staff member to the program. In 2013, NASA Ames restarted the Space Life SciencesTraining Program to support biosciences research at the center. As Director, Jon Rask heads the SLSTP at NASA Ames.. Kristina Gibbs, Brad Bailey,Hami Ray, and Desireemoi Bridges are also a part of the SLSTP Management Team.
Ames SLSTP Program Structure
SLSTP is designed to operate as a joint effort with equal input, ideas, and energy coming from both the SLSTP Management Team and the researchassociates. The group meetings and discussions form part of the experience, which will help to shape SLSTP to your specific goals and interests.
The program runs from the second week of June to the third week of August. These dates were selected to give most students a respite beforereturning to the complexities of school life. This is a compromise as no two schools have identical schedules. It is important that the studentscommence and complete the program together. The success of the SLSTP ultimately depends on the students. The program does not accept peoplewho are not able to attend this entire period. All students must be U.S. citizens or residents.
One goal of SLSTP is to ensure that the students interact as a “team.” Activities spark the development of each student’s leadership qualities. Allstudents are housed in apartments at the NASA Ames Exchange Lodge. Transportation is provided each day and for weekend activities.
The students go on several trips on the weekends. These include trips to the other NASA Centers, such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratories and the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Shorter trips to Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and other areas of interest in the West are also made. The students plan additional weekend trips when they arrive. Each of the ten weeks are a unique group experience, but at the same time the student are working on a research project withinvestigators in the Ames’ laboratories or on the group projects.
7
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for the Space Life Sciences Training Program, students must:
• demonstrate an interest in space biosciences
• enroll as a junior, senior, or graduate student as of June 1 of the program year
• maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA
• concentrate in science (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.), math, engineering, computer science, or other areas of interest to the space biosciences
• be a US citizen or permanent resident as of June 1 of the program year
Contact Information
NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program information can be obtained through: www.nasa.gov/ames/slstp/
POC: Sigrid Reinsch, Project Director
Telephone: (650) 604-3093
E-mail: [email protected]
8
2020 Research Associates
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Benjamin Alva
Passion for building and creating has been a predominating characteristic since my early childhood. Constructing elaboratestructures with a multitude of building toys, particularly with LEGOS, was undoubtedly my favorite activity. This love ofcreation evolved throughout my schooling, where it escalated dramatically in high school as I began to watch an extensivearray of engineering, science, and DYI project videos on YouTube. They became an unparalleled source of inspiration thatled me to design my own projects and turn a spare room in my house into a multidisciplinary laboratory. From my homeworkspace I built conducted electrical devices, fireworks, rockets, wind powered chargers, genetically modified E. coli, andmuch more. Nonetheless, Terraforming: The Creating of Habitable Worlds, a technical book that detailed the grandengineering that will be necessary to make several planetary bodies in our solar system habitable for human colonization,was seminal to the formation of my aspirations, to develop biological-based technology for space colonization via geneticengineering.
Being born and raised in the land of 10,000 lakes, it was instinctive to attend the University of Minnesota Twin Cities(UMN), where I pursued my space biotechnology passion as an honors biomedical engineering major, with an emphasis inCellular and Molecular Bioengineering. In my first year, I began academic research studying the genomic impact of abioticstresses on agriculturally relevant plants to understand the adaptive impact of the harsh conditions on Mars. The followingsummer I was able to participate as a researcher for the UMN International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM)competition team and obtain a summer internship with the NASA Astrobiology Institute to study Yellowstone National Parkas a Noachian Mars analog to identify how ancient biosignatures are preserved in hot spring environments. This firstexperience with NASA opened my eyes to vast opportunities available to undergrads of biology orientated majors, wheremy next objective was to acquire a synthetic biology-based research experience with NASA Ames Research Center.
The following year my drive to create space colonization technology led me to launch Engineer Mars, a student researchteam of biologists and engineers that advance and integrate the fields of crop freeze tolerance, nitrogen fixation, andautomated system operations to synthesize robust infrastructure for soil-based agriculture on Mars. Concurrently, myhunger to lead innovative initiatives expanded into commercial enterprise, where I have worked to found various startupsthat include peer-to-peer tool renting, online tutoring, and cannabinoid processing.
The various space related research endeavors I have pursued coalesced into a spring 2020 internship at NASA Ames in theBioengineering Branch that had me initiate the development of the space bioreactor platform for in situ resource utilization(ISRU) CO2-based commercial manufacturing. During this project I established methodology for characterizing yeast onISRU carbon substrates, designed a multitude of genetic enhancements for substrate utilization, and created the firstautotrophic strain of S. cerevisiae for direct CO2 assimilation into biomass. Additionally, I generated genome-scalemetabolic models of candidate yeast for flux balance analysis to characterize my metabolic engineering in silico. Now withinSLSTP, I am excited to continue to buildout this initiative and pave the way for the development of a technology that will beemployed by the first colonists on Mars.
The experiences I have gained at my university and with NASA will be exceptional preparation for my future venture intograduate school where I will pursue cellular bioengineering. Subsequently, I will relentlessly aim to apply my rapidlyexpanding research and leadership capabilities for my preeminent objective of launching a biotechnology company thatutilizes the space infrastructure NASA is currently establishing to pioneer commercial bioengineering for the sustainablecolonization of the solar system.
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: John Hogan
University of Minnesota-Twin
Cities
Project: Microbial Factories for Solar System Exploration
Email Address: [email protected]
10
Avram Bar-Meir
I have been interested in science and understanding the way the world worked for as long as I can remember.
When I was young, my father, an engineer, would ask me scientific questions like why salting a road made the ice
melt and why honey was thicker than water to instill in me a sense of curiosity. As time went on, I began to ask my
own questions. My questioning nature eventually led me to want to study engineering in college, which I believed
would give me the chance to learn the most about science at a fundamental level.
I have always been pulled towards biology and biomedical engineering. These disciplines require a strong
understanding of so many different scientific principles in the fields of physics, biology, and chemistry, all of which
I loved. It seemed like a natural choice for me to go into biomedical engineering, where I would learn to
quantitatively study these different topics.
My first exposure to space sciences was completely by chance. My university has a small observatory that lets
students use their telescopes every Friday night. My friends and I, looking for something to do one Friday night,
decided to go. I remember being captivated by the vast beauty of the night sky. In the observatory, I learned
about the physics and engineering involved in the study of space. I really wanted to find some way to combine so
many of my passions, space, biology, engineering, and asking questions and SLSTP seemed like the perfect way to
do so.
In addition to studying biomedical engineering, over the last two years I have worked in a biophotonics laboratory
at my university where I studied a method for early detection of cancer using a novel optical microscopy
technique. One of the things I loved about performing research in that field was that I felt I was integrating many
of my interests at the same time. In the same vein, I know that working as part of the SLSTP will provide me the
same opportunity.
Outside academics, I have been incredibly fortunate to have had great mentors, who have taught me a lot about
the scientific process and performing research. As someone who has greatly benefited from the guidance of
others, I understand the value it can provide, and I have made mentorship a priority. I mentor underclassmen at
my university about handling academics while maintaining healthy habits, and it has become a real passion of
mine to see the people I help thrive. I also really love fitness and plan at some point (a long, long while from now)
to run a marathon.
I am so happy to be a part of the SLSTP this summer. Working with such brilliant scientists and researchers is an
incredible honor from whom I hope to learn a lot about the research process. It is such a pleasure to have the
chance to contribute to a project as part of the program. I wish to both learn a lot from the experience and make
progress towards advancing science.
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Yuri Griko
Northwestern University (IL)
Project: Testing novel approach for in situ analysis in the search for extraterrestrial life
Email Address: [email protected]
11
Ada Kanapskyte“I know this career sounds nerdy to a lot of kids, but to me it’s my dream. At about age 37 I would want to be
working for NASA as a scientist, more specifically an astronomer because I really enjoy studying space and I would
love to go deeper into space and just maybe one day discover something wonderful that’s out there, maybe even a
planet with life.”
That run-on sentence is something I wrote in an “All About Me” booklet I made in 6th grade. As I look back now, I
chuckle at the very precise career plan 10-year old me had created, but I also realize not much has changed. At age
seven, I had just moved to the United States and learned of NASA’s existence. It didn’t take long for my curiosity to
grow exponentially: I was intrigued by space and the idea of life outside of Earth. Even though I didn’t really
understand what a scientist was, I knew that I loved learning; in my mind, “being a scientist” and “loving to learn”
were synonymous. And to this day, that definition of “scientist” still holds true to me.
Fast forward nearly a decade, I am now a third-year biomedical engineering student at The Ohio State University.
Throughout my college career, my love for space has not faltered. Beginning freshman year, I became part of a
project team called the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative, whose main focus is to build high-powered rockets. In just
a short 10 months, I found myself competing at the Spaceport America Cup Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering
Competition where my team and I placed first in a student researched and designed rocket category. I was amazed
and inspired by the outcomes made possible simply through great teamwork, collaboration, and most importantly,
passion. In my subsequent years on the team, I knew that I couldn’t hold all this excitement to myself, so I started
an outreach program. Whether it was challenging high schoolers to design a payload, building mock rovers at the
local community center, or launching small-scale rockets with elementary kids, there was one common
observation. In all these instances, I saw the curiosity come alive in kids, just like it had come alive in my life early
on. And to me, these have been the most affirming and cherished moments throughout my college career,
reminding me every day why I keep pursuing science and engineering.
Outside of the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative, I have continued to seek the bridge between life sciences,
engineering, and space. I’ve conducted research using Atomic Force Microscopy and this past summer, I had the
very fortunate opportunity to work at Dynetics. There, I worked on the Laser Air Monitor System for NASA’s Orion
Spacecraft, which will be a critical component in maintaining the crew’s safety aboard the spacecraft. It was a
tremendous experience to not only see, but also partake in building the science collaboration between NASA and
its industry partners.
Looking back at all of these experiences, I am very thankful and excited to be participating in the 2020 NASA SLSTP
program. Although the world has truly been faced with the most unprecedented circumstances, each challenge is
an opportunity to learn, grow, and come to a solution together. I’m very grateful to say that I didn’t have to wait
until age 37 to contribute to NASA’s missions. And looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing as a scientist,
engineer, and person with this year’s SLSTP cohort.
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Sergio Santa Maria
Ohio State University
Project: BioSentinel – Preparing for Manned Missions to Deep Space
Email Address: [email protected]
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Marshall Ledford
If asked to envision a stimulating environment for a budding future scientist, I imagine rural Appalachia likely
wouldn’t come to mind. Northeast Georgia isn’t particularly known for its museums or universities, and my small
town with a population under 1,000 didn’t offer much unless you were in dire need of a church or Dollar General.
Nonetheless, the low population density and complete lack of night activity provided the perfect catalyst to my
obsession with space: stars. The number of nights I spent bundled up in my parents’ truck bed or sprawled out on
my dad’s driveway trying to catch a glimpse of the sky are too numerous to recall. I would just stare for hours, in
awe of the cosmos, wondering what amazing things must be going on past this small portion of reality we know on
Earth. I even took off the window screen in my bedroom so I could stick my head out and stargaze when I couldn’t
sleep. The sky provided a comfort like no other, an ultimate new perspective on whatever was going on at the time.
It is through these long nights that I began to foster my curiosity, especially with the idea of life beyond earth. I
became enamored with documentaries on Europa or Titan and their life sustaining prospects. My favorite movies
became 2001: A Space Odyssey and Interstellar. I even put the launch dates of SpaceX's Mars missions in my phone
calendar. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to enter the field of astrobiology.
In following this interest I decided to pursue a degree in biology at Vassar College. My sophomore year I was
fortunate enough to join two research labs on campus. The first, with Dr. Myra Hughey, explored amphibian
microbiome population dynamics and their impact on disease resistance. This amazing experience not only
provided some memorable moments (notably sample gathering at a frog mass spawning event), but some strong
exposure to computational biology and data analysis. The second, with Dr. Robert Augustine, involved performing
mutagenesis screens for identification of genes involved in actin dynamics, as well as a new characterization of the
SUMOylation system within the moss Physcomitrella patens. Over the summer that year, I was also fortunate
enough to be part of Dr. Chad Niedhuth’s lab at the Michigan State University Plant Genomics REU. Through this, I
was exposed to a variety of computational methods in the exploration of methylation patterns on gene duplicates
in a variety of plant species. This year, I plan on continuing my research with professor Augustine, generating a
thesis examining SUMOylation in response to environmental stress.
All of this has been foundational in my ability to explore my interests in biology and how they might inform my
future career decisions involving space life sciences. Outside of this, I am an advocate for mental health, leading the
first suicide prevention/awareness walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at Vassar, and an avid
plant lover. Just in my dorm room I, at any given point, have at least 30 different individual plants, and I can’t wait
to see the diverse species in CA! I am truly honored to be a member of this year’s SLSTP cohort. Words can't begin
to express how excited I am for the amazing experience, growth, and opportunity it will certainly provide to
everyone participating!
Major: Biology
Mentor: Samantha Waters
Vassar College (NY)
Project: Omic and Phenotypic Investigations of Microorganisms Exposed to Extreme Stratospheric Conditions
Email Address: [email protected]
13
Philip Lee
I grew up in Albany, California, a small one-square-mile city located just north of Berkeley. As far back as
I can remember, I have always enjoyed math and science. When I was young, I would constantly ask my
parents to take me to science museums around the Bay Area (I remember being particularly fond of the
dinosaur exhibits at the Lawrence Hall of Science), and I did all sorts of kitchen experiments, such as
supercooling water, messing around with dry ice, and looking at samples with a small microscope.
My fascination with human spaceflight started when I watched my first episode of the original Star Trek
series when I was just five years old. I loved seeing the crew of the Enterprise go on adventures across
the galaxy. Since then, I would visit space science museums whenever I had the opportunity. I spent
many hours at the Chabot Space and Science Center, and I eventually became a volunteer for the center
when I was in high school. A few years ago, I visited the Johnson Space Center, which had the restored
Galileo shuttlecraft from Star Trek. Last summer, I went to the Kennedy Space Center to see their 50th
anniversary Apollo exhibits, the incredible Saturn V rocket, and the Atlantis space shuttle. The sheer
sizes of the rocket and space shuttle blew my mind!
When I was in high school, I also discovered that I had a passion for molecular and cell biology. A couple
of years ago, I worked in a lab at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) where I
investigated a protein that was thought to be involved in Chlamydia trachomatis infections. I gained a lot
of technical skills during my time at CHORI, but my favorite part about the internship was experiencing
the environment of a research facility. There was a sense of openness and collaboration, and it was
amazing to see so many people working together towards common goals. It was around this time when I
realized that science not only is something that is fun, but also has the amazing ability to bring people
together to solve some of the biggest problems our world faces today. I want to be a part of this
community of thinkers and problem solvers, which is why I am currently pursuing a career as a research
scientist.
Right now, I am studying computational and systems biology at UCLA. My favorite part about my major
is learning about how to bring together ideas from many different disciplines, such as chemistry,
mathematics, and computer science, to answer questions in biology. I am very excited to be a part of
SLSTP this year, and I hope that I will be able to contribute to the research at NASA Ames.
Major: Computational and Systems Biology
Mentor: Jonathan Galazka
University of California Los Angeles
Project: Space Systems Biology
Email Address: [email protected]
14
Amalia Luthens
When I was 15 years old, my dad came home one night with a brand new telescope. “I am setting this up in
the backyard, do not ask questions”, he said to my mom, brothers, and I who all looked a little confused.
Ever since that night, my fascination and love of space grew. The telescope we have may not be the highest
quality, but the memories I have from looking at Jupiter on warm June nights, observing craters on the
moon, and trying to see the stars of as many constellations as possible, are ones I will cherish forever.
I decided to become a neuroscience major my freshman year of college. Throughout my first two years at
CU Boulder, I have learned just how much science excites me. I constantly find myself explaining the
concepts I have learned in my neuroscience, cell biology, and chemistry courses to anyone who will listen.
Frequently, I read research papers in order to stay up to date on the wondrous scientific discoveries
researchers around the globe make every day. They inspire me and foster my love of learning about the
world from a scientific point of view. While the brain has never ceased to pique my curiosity, I have my
passion for space is as strong as ever. In the spring and summer of 2019, I had the privilege of working for
the Colorado Space Grant Consortium on a space biology project. My team (composed solely of
undergraduate students) was interested in better understanding antibiotic resistance in space. We
conducted an experiment measuring ammonia and indole production from E.coli K-12 and its potential
relationship to this phenomenon. My experience at Colorado Space Grant taught me how I can combine my
two passions, space and neuroscience, to make a real difference in the scientific community.
Outside of academics and research, I enjoy working out, painting, hanging out with my sorority sisters, and
spending time outdoors in the mountains. In addition to my career goals, I aspire to reach new maxes in the
gym on my favorite lifts and I want to be able to ski all blacks by the end of the 2021 ski season. One of my
favorite ways to express my love of space is through art. I painted all of the artwork in my bedroom at my
apartment, so don’t be surprised to find my walls at Ames covered in canvases full of planets,
constellations, and galaxies!
Currently, I work in a behavioral neuroendocrinology lab. The focus of my research is the effects
of Mycobacterium vaccae on the fear-potentiated startle paradigm in female rats. I plan on using the skills I
have learned from all of the research I have done to make the most of the NASA SLSTP this summer. I am
beyond excited to study space biology and work with other talented, curious, and brilliant students. This is
going to be an adventure I will never forget!
Major: Neuroscience
Mentor: Linda Rubinstein
University of Colorado Boulder
Project: Behavioral Data Analysis
Email Address: [email protected]
15
Simon Ng
I spent my childhood camping and backpacking with Boy Scouts and learning to canoe and rock climb with
my family. On these excursions, I often felt grubby, itchy, and sore. What I didn’t yet appreciate was my
growing deep-rooted love for nature - for the scent of pine on a hot, dry day, the rustle of leaves in the
evening breeze, and an endless expanse of dark, starry sky. My mosquito bites faded away, but my awe of
the world around me remained.
When I wasn’t outside, I was designing and building spaceships.... Well, they were made from Lego building
blocks and only flew as high as my short arms could stretch, but they were the beginnings of my inner
engineer.
In high school, my friends and I joined our school’s research club, where we spent Wednesdays after school
studying the effects of lead on learning and memory in zebrafish, a model organism for humans. I relished
applying what I had learned in biology and chemistry class to our research, and it was exciting to think that
we could make novel discoveries. I also joined my school’s Engineering Club, where we spent Wednesday
nights sawing, drilling, and hammering a bed-sized Rube Goldberg contraption into existence for a state-
wide competition. Our Rube Goldberg was jerry-rigged to the max and never fully worked, but I was
nevertheless thrilled to steadily work towards our goal. Suffice to say, Wednesday was my favorite day of
the week in high school.
I came to the University of California, Los Angeles for Bioengineering, a major which I saw as the perfect
locus of goal-oriented design and applied science. As a freshman, I joined Dr. Ali Khademhosseini’s tissue
engineering lab developing bioprinting techniques and characterizing bio-inks for tissue scaffolds. Since
then, my toys have only gotten cooler - from Legos to power tools to bioprinters and fluorescence
microscopes. Currently, I work in Dr. Dino Di Carlo’s microfluidics lab applying hydrogel microdroplet
technology to tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and directed cellular evolution. I am drawn to
biotechnology and the potential of using biological tools as building blocks, my new Legos, to address
pressing issues in medicine and sustainability. Meanwhile, I have continued nurturing my love for nature
through sustainability efforts at UCLA and by exploring California’s amazing natural parks.
My passion for space exploration stems from those same roots I planted as a child. Apollo 17’s Blue Marble
photograph gave humanity a new perspective of the beauty and fragility of our shared planet. As we
explore farther and farther from Earth, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our home, and I
am ready and excited to advance that goal this summer with NASA’s Space Life Sciences Training Program.
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Grace Belancik
University of California Los Angeles
Project: Evaluating Evolved Carbonic Anhydrase for ExtremeEnvironment Effectiveness
Email Address: [email protected]
16
Finsam SamsonMy earliest exposures to the world of science came from my involvement in extracurriculars such
as Science Olympiad and Quiz Bowl in middle school. In high school, my interest in astrobiology
was sparked through an opportunity called Genes in Space. Through this program, students are
invited to submit molecular biology research proposals, present them at the ISS Research and
Development Conference, and have their proposals considered for launch to the ISS. In my senior
year of high school, I submitted a neuroscience proposal to Genes in Space, which sought to
determine the impacts of long-term spaceflight on neural function by generating transcriptomic
data from neural tissue aboard the ISS. It was selected to be conducted aboard the ISS!
Since then, I have had the chance to meet with several astronauts, present my research proposal
to interdisciplinary audiences, and practice molecular biology techniques relevant to my
proposed work. It was an amazing experience to see the study that I proposed being made into a
reality, and it has energized me to contribute to biomedical research in space!
While researching methods for my transcriptomics proposal, I read about the various
computational techniques utilized in gathering and analyzing biomedical data, which inspired me
to start learning these methods as well. I hope to utilize computational techniques to make
advancements in the biomedical sciences, especially in the space life sciences context.
I am currently at the University of Michigan, pursuing majors in Biomedical Engineering and
Computer Science. I created a student organization, the Astrobiology Club at the University of
Michigan, to conduct student-led astrobiology research and provide a space for those interested
in the field to learn more. We generate research proposals, acquire grant funding, and partner
with laboratories to launch our research payloads into space and collect data. I have gained
molecular biology experience and gained hands-on experience in transcriptomics data collection
and analysis through my university research program. I have conducted RNA sequencing
research, aiming to detect m6A modifications from nanopore sequencing data. Additionally, I am
an Instructional Aide for a Programming and Introduction to Data Structures class at Michigan. In
my free time, I do acrylic painting (mostly landscapes for now – space related art is tough!) and
long-distance running as hobbies. I look forward to what the future brings!
Major: Bioengineering
Mentor: Amanda Saravia-Butler
University of Michigan
Project: Genelab – Data Processing and Analysis
Email Address: [email protected]
17
Amanda Wacker
As a child, I found my answers in library books and TV shows like Mythbusters. As I got older, my
questions grew more complex, and the answers weren't always easy to find.
During my freshman year of college, I learned that I could help find the answers to these questions.
When I wasn't studying, I was in a laboratory. I explored the intricacies of the cell that allowed for
communication and adaptation to new stressors. Previously, I worked to understand signaling
pathways in the heart that contributed to stress remodeling. More recently, I followed the involvement
of a specific protein that may be involved in switching the stress response signal in the heart.
Four years of studying and research at Florida State University, as well as internships at the University
of Colorado at Boulder, and Harvard Medical School, prepared me to further my career in research. I
loved to be seated at the edge of knowledge and wanted to continue down this path. I will be starting a
Ph.D. program in Biology this fall at the University of California, San Diego.
Curiosity led me to an interest in research, and the Curiosity rover led me to an interest in space travel.
The research done at the Ames Research Center provides the perfect environment to integrate my
passions and to conduct meaningful research that can further NASA's mission.
Outside of research, I am involved in coordinating activities for STEMbassy: Where STEM Ambassadors
Meet. STEMbassy is an organization working to cultivate STEM enthusiasm through education
initiatives and resources to inspire the next generation. We hope to support students of all ages, from
grade school to graduate school and beyond. In my free time I enjoy reading novels, social dancing, and
collecting Junior Ranger badges from National Parks.
I am absolutely excited and immensely grateful to be able to participate in the program this summer,
work with the top scientists, and further develop my skills to continue to contribute to this field. In the
long-term, I hope to improve the safety of space travel for humans as we continue to explore the
galaxy, and I believe that starts with understanding the mechanisms occurring in biological systems
during space flight.
Major: Biology
Mentor: Samantha Waters
Florida State University
Project: Omic and Phenotypic Investigations of Microorganisms Exposed to Extreme Stratospheric Conditions
Email Address: [email protected]
18
Kelly Wong
I grew up in New York City, where the brightest lights in the night sky come from the Empire
State Building and the Chrysler Building. As a kid I didn’t get many star gazing opportunities,
so when I did, it was a real treat. On clear nights, my dad would sometimes take out an old
telescope and we would try and look at the moon, up close. Fortunately this came at a time
where I discovered a passion for science and was exploring everything about the world around
us – space naturally became another endeavor.
At Cornell University, I have continued to develop my love for science, pursuing majors in both
Biology and Chemistry. As someone with varied interests, the flexibility of the College of Arts
and Sciences has also allowed me to study Mathematics and Business. Through these
opportunities I have been able to take amazing classes such as Chemical Biology, Abstract
Algebra, and Cancer Genetics. However, for the past two and a half years I have spent most of
my time working in a laboratory setting, culminating in an Honors Thesis which was just
submitted. Under the mentorship of a graduate student and PI, I have conducted research on
the mechanisms of DNA repair and how the scaffold protein, TOPBP1, plays a key role in how
cells determine repair pathway choice. Outside of lab, I have volunteered at the Cancer
Resource Center of the Finger Lakes and Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, and a local hospital
in East Harlem. This past summer, I was an organic chemistry TA for the Cornell HHMI
Accelerating Medical Progress Through Scholarship program, which seeks to provide
opportunities for groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical careers.
In my free time, I volunteer with my campus’ service fraternity, enjoy playing basketball,
badminton, cooking, and socializing with friends. I also love playing the guitar and learning
some of my favorite classic rock songs.
I am incredibly honored and excited to be a part of the SLSTP team this summer and hope to
fulfill a childhood dream of being able to investigate and explore what lies beyond. I look
forward to learning as much as I can from this experience as I continue to pursue a career in
aerospace medicine!
Major: Cellular Biology
Mentor: Amber Paul
Cornell University (NY)
Project: Longitudinal Immunoprofiles of Mice Exposed to Spaceflight Stressors
Email Address: [email protected]
19
2020 SLSTP Staff & Management
20
I’m not sure where it came from. I’m convinced it’s been there since the day I was born—or maybe it
was all of the alien documentaries I binged as a child, but my fascination with the sky above me, the
stars, and the ever-expanding universe seems to drive every ounce of my being. To balance this passion,
education has become an integral aspect of my career, encouraging me to spark a sense of wonder or
awe in others. I love answering questions, striking up stellar-based conversations, or simply pondering
the depths of our universe over a cup of coffee. Education & my love for astronomy have become
drivers for my career path and motivate me to pursue a life-long adventure in the sciences.
In June of 2019, I graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Sciences: Enviro. Education. I worked as a Geographic Information Systems intern with the Department
of Energy while also operating as an overnight tour guide at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. I took as many
opportunities as I could to expose myself to different fields of science and later became an Oregon
Space Grant scholar! In Fall of 2019, I was offered an internship with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC) where I worked in the Safety and Mission Assurance department as a Scientific
Instrument Heritage intern. I worked to develop analytical and risk assessment processes for spacecraft
and standard payload components by examining heritage (i.e. performance, anomaly history, etc.) of
the payload components for mission assurance and lessons-learned reduction. The moment I walked
onto those NASA grounds I knew it was where I wanted to be. Working at GSFC, and now Ames
Research Center, has been the greatest privilege of my life! I am constantly challenged, supported by
teams of hard-working individuals, and surrounded by some of the world’s leading scientists and
engineers; who wouldn’t love that?
This summer I’ll be working as a Staffer with the Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) while
interning under Sigrid Reinsch. The research I will be conducting works toward developing Program
Success Metrics for SLSTP and the GeneLab For High Schools Program through Ames for future program
continuation and standardization. It’s exciting to know I’ll be working alongside students with various
backgrounds and passions for astronomy, biology, and life sciences. Whether alien documentaries are
watched or not, I’m thrilled to be working with NASA Ames and the SLSTP 2020 team this summer. To
quote Plato, “Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.”
Jerika Christman
SLSTP Staffer
Oregon State University
Major: Environmental Sciences: Environmental
Education
PI: Sigrid Reinsch
Email Address: [email protected]
Project: Scientific Program Success Metrics for NASA Ames SLSTP and GL4HS Integration
21
Elizabeth Hawkins
Inspiration can come from anywhere. For me, it came from an existential and scientific epiphany I had atthe beginning of college. The new perspective I have makes me want to push the boundaries of humancapabilities and knowledge. I want to perform foundational research for manned deep spaceexploration because I believe that our existence is outstandingly special; we should explore the limits ofthe cosmos, if we can. We are the only part of our known universe that can recognize itself, try to figureout how it all works and to appreciate it. As said by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, “we are truly free in auniverse-sized playground, so we might as well aim to be happy and to build some kind of utopia in thestars.”
I started at university as an Interdisciplinary Studies major with a concentration in neuroscience and didtwo and a half years of research in a psychology lab that studies the effects of cosmic radiation on thecognitive functions of rats. I was initially interested in the lab for the neuroscience aspect, but I wassoon enraptured by the overlap of astroparticle physics, biology, and chemistry, and the applications forlong-duration spaceflight and deep space missions. I had my philosophical revelation and decided Iwanted to do bioastronautic research so that future astronauts, perhaps myself included, may safelyand efficiently explore beyond low Earth orbit, taking the next huge step in mankind’s progression as aspecies.
I participated in the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP) two years in a row, which allowedme to survey space biology research currently being performed and what questions still need to beaddressed. The SSEP exposed me to the challenges of experiment design, writing experiment proposals,and navigating the difficulties and limitations associated with attempting biological experiments beyondEarth. I honed these skills further as an undergraduate researcher at the Institute of Fluorescence inBaltimore, working with carbon nanodot structures and their potential for antibacterial applications.
Last summer, I had the experience of a lifetime with SLSTP. The program permanently shaped me into aspace biologist and has solidified my career goals; I will pursue a position as a research assistant at NASAAmes for a few years before I attempt a Ph. D. in bioastronautics or a related field. Every interaction,experiment, excursion, seminar, and meeting last summer inspired me further down this path. It is anhonor to have been selected and to work as a staffer this summer. I hope to give each of the researchassociates this summer just as rewarding and formative an experience as I had.
I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Santa Maria and his team again, myfellow staffer, the management team, the research associates, and other NASA collaborators. I amlooking forward to the experiences and knowledge we will gain and the lasting impacts we will makethis summer.
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
PI: Sergio Santa Maria
SLSTP Staffer
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Project: BioSentinel – Preparing for Manned Missions to Deep Space
Email Address:[email protected]
22
Diana Ly is the Deputy Portfolio Manager of the Space Biology
Project at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon
Valley. She is responsible for managing the cost, technical,
schedule and risk of a portfolio that consists of over 60 active
grants and payload development and operations for space
biology experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) and
on other free-flyer platforms. She is also the Project Manager for
the BIon-M2 project, an international collaboration with the
Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia.
Before joining NASA as a civil servant in 2017, she spent twelve
years as a contractor performing a variety of science roles for the
Nanosatellite Program and Shuttle payloads and operations roles
for ISS payloads. She started at NASA as an intern on the Space
Science Biological Research Project supporting testing of the
incubator. Her passion and dedication to teamwork, innovation,
and problem solving have earned her numerous awards,
including the Space Flight Awareness Silver Snoopy award. In her
free time, she enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures
and foods, and spending time with family.
Diana Ly
23
Space Biology Deputy Portfolio Manager
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Desireemoi Bridges
Desireemoi Bridges is the Deputy Director for the NASA AmesAcademy for Space Exploration, Space Life Sciences TrainingProgram. Desi has had a hand in coordinating all theoperational needs of the 2009-2020 Academies. She gets thingsdone efficiently and with minimal collateral. Desi is available tohelp you and the staff with any logistical issues.
Desi joined NASA Ames as a contractor ten years ago as anadministrative assistant. In addition to working with the NASAAmes Academies, Desi also works with the NASA AstrobiologyInstitute, GeneLab, Kepler/K2, the NSTRG fellows and is tasklead for the Code D Administration and Operations Supportoffice under the FILMSS contract. Desi looks forward to workingwith all of you.
Deputy Director for the NASA Ames Academies
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
24
Hami received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of North
Texas. While at UNT, Hami was selected as a Scholar into the Ronald E.
McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Research Program, where she
worked on a joint research project between the Biochemistry and
Physics Departments. Taking the knowledge she gained while at UNT
and in the McNair Program, Hami pursued a Ph.D. from the
Pennsylvania State University. Upon receiving her Ph.D. in
Pathobiology, Hami began her career as a Project Scientist at the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research
Center in Mountain View, California, where she served as the Project
Scientist on the SPEGIS spaceflight payload flown on STS-118, among
her other roles. Her career path then led her to the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, where she initially worked as a Research
Coordinator in the Transplant Center/Leukemia and Lymphoma
Program, and ultimately as a Research Program Manager for the Center
for Clinical Research. After taking a brief break to be a stay-at-home
mom to her newborn child, Hami re-entered the NASA Ames family
first as an Independent Contractor, then as a Senior Staff Scientist with
ASRC Federal Space and Defense. Though she works remotely, Hami is
excited to be a part of the SLSTP team and looks forward to continuing
her work with the incoming students and staff. She’s always just a
phone call or email away and happy to assist where she can.
Hami Ray
25
Senior Staff ScientistNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Sigrid Reinsch is the Director of Education and Outreach for
the NASA Ames Space Biology Program. Dr. Reinsch received a
BA in biology from UC Santa Cruz, worked several years as a
research associate in virology at Brown University before
performing her Ph.D. research in Cell Biology at UC San
Francisco. Dr. Reinsch did post-doctoral training at the European
Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany
before joining NASA Ames in 1988. Reinsch has worked as a
Senior Scientist with the GeneLab project since 2014, serves on
the Ames Instrumentation and NASA ISS microscopy groups. She
has expertise in cytoskeletal polymers and motor proteins, light
microscopy, and focuses her research on developmental and cell
biology using invertebrates (tardigrades) and previously with
vertebrates (Xenopus/Zebrafish).
Sigrid Reinsch
26
Research Scientist, Space Biosciences Division
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Robert Vik is currently a Portfolio Manager within the Ames Research Center Biosciences Division. He
manages both the Space Biology Portfolio and the International Space Station Biological Payload
Development and Sustaining Engineering portfolios for NASA Ames.
Prior to this he was Division Chief for Space Superiority within the Army Space and Missile Defense
Command’s Technical Center; an assignment he accepted in September of 2019 after completing Senior
Service College.
From February of 2013 to July of 2017, Mr. Vik was the Army’s program manager for Cryptographic
Systems under the Program Executive Office Command, Control, and Computers Tactical (PEO C3T). Mr.
Vik started his career with the Army in November of 2009 as the Chief Engineer for the Ground Mobile
Radio program.
Before accepting a position with the Army, Mr. Vik spent 20 years working at SPAWAR Systems Center -
Pacific (SSC - PAC). In his last position, (2005 – 2008), he was a Branch Chief leading a branch that served
as the nexus for a cross departmental rapid response “skunk works” developing capability for the
National Intelligence Community. From February 2004 to March 2005 Mr. Vik was the Project Manager
for Signals Characterization technology. In this role he was responsible for the development of SIGINT
collection systems and processing systems for tactical and space-based sensors. He oversaw
development of processing algorithms and dissemination architectures for spacecraft payload data.
Between 2001 and 2004 Mr. Vik served as a Network Architect and Design Engineer in support of the
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). In this role he performed Systems Engineering and
designed global network architectures for the timely dissemination of intelligence products to forward
deployed users.
Mr. Vik spent one year (1999) at the Pentagon working for Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(DASN) for C4I/EW/Space. As the Special Assistant for Communications he provided planning for and
oversight of communications and Satellite acquisition programs of record and Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstrations (ACTDS) for the Secretary of the Navy.
The early years of Mr. Vik’s Government career, (December 1987 to December 1998), were spent
working at SSC - PAC as a design engineer and project manager for a variety of projects.
Mr. Vik has a Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering with an emphasis in Space Systems from
the Naval Post Graduate School, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from San Diego
State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major of International Relations and
Economics from the University of California at Davis. He has won numerous awards a few of which
include: The Army Superior Civilian Service Award, The Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and the
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Team Achievement Award.
Robert Vik
27
Space Biology Portfolio Manager
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
2020 Mentors
28
Ms. Belancik is a Chemical Engineer in the Bioengineering
Branch at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. She
supports the Human Exploration and Operations Mission
Directorate, specifically Environmental Control and Life Support
Systems. Her focus is on research and development of new
physio-chemical technologies for air revitalization to be used in
future missions on spacecraft, stations, and planetary bases.
Her current projects include use of liquid sorbents to
continuously capture CO2, use of cryogenic coolers to deposit
trace contaminants and CO2, and developing dust separation
methods to perform spacecraft aerosol analysis. Prior to
working at ARC, Ms. Belancik was a Materials Engineer at
Marshall Space Flight Center, where she developed techniques
to produce fuel for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion and provided
materials expertise to restart production of the RS-25 rocket
engine. Ms. Belancik received her B.S. in Chemical and
Bimolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology,
and is completing her M.S. in Chemistry at San Jose State
University.
Grace Belancik
29
Physical Scientist, Space Biosciences Division
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Jonathan Galazka became the NASA GeneLab Project
Scientist in 2017, joining the Space Biosciences Research Branch
in 2015. Before this, he was a NASA Postdoctoral Program
Fellow at NASA Ames Research Center studying the genetic and
epigenetic response of yeast to microgravity exposure and a
Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of Dr. Michael Freitag at Oregon
State University, where he studied the mechanisms of
heterochromatin establishment and the role of
heterochromatin in maintaining genome structure. Jonathan
attained his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley in the
lab of Dr. Jamie Cate, studying biomass degradation and
conversion by filamentous fungi and yeasts at the Energy
Biosciences Institute. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys spending
time with his family in nature.
Jonathan Galazka
30
GeneLab Project ScientistNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Griko’s research interests and research project management activities primarily focus on the
development of biomedical countermeasures against potential medical conditions induced by
the spaceflight environment and related emergency situations that may arise. These include
methodologies, pre-treatments, drugs, and diagnostics that respond to conditions of
weightlessness in the spaceflight environment as well as chemical, biological, and radiological
threats during spaceflight missions.
Dr. Griko’s professional experience combines scientific expertise and research program
management in the following areas: molecular biology, biophysics, protein-based drug design,
stability and pharmaceutical product characterization, radiation countermeasure development,
bioanalytics and bioassay development. Particular emphases are on:
- Characterization of radiation damage and development of optimized, protective formulations
and countermeasures.
- Development and optimization of pathogen inactivation processes for biological products.
- Evaluation of the structural integrity and stability of human tissues and protein-based
biopharmaceuticals.
- Physicochemical characterization of biological macromolecules.
- Structure-based protein modeling and design of protein derivatives with improved functional
and pharmaceutical properties.
- Protein folding and recognition. Analysis and characterization of protein/biological ligand
interactions (DNA, RNA, lipids, proteins, small ligands).
- Multiple preparative and analytical biochemistry methods for purification, characterization,
and comparability of natural, recombinant, and chimerical proteins.
- Protein and genetic engineering utilizing recombinant DNA/RNA technology and protein
structural modifications (fusion, dissection, chemical and enzymatic modification).
Dr. Griko has over 160 research articles and conference presentations on biophysics and
molecular biology, and is a co-inventor on 4 US patents involving biotechnology.
Yuri Griko
31
Senior Scientist, Space Biosciences Research
BranchNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Hogan is the Bioengineering Branch Chief at NASA Ames Research
Center, Moffett Field, CA. His research supports NASA’s Life Support and
Habitation Systems, and Synthetic Biology Applications programs which
involves the development of sustainable systems for extended
extraterrestrial human habitation. Major areas of research and
technology development have included integrated biological and
physico-chemical technologies for regenerative air, water and solid
waste treatment systems, bio-manufacturing, systems analysis and
integration, planetary protection, and data systems development. His
interests also include investigating how NASA’s regenerative closed-loop
life support and systems engineering principles may be applied to large-
scale terrestrial operations. Prior to joining NASA, Dr. Hogan was
research faculty at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the
Department of Environmental Sciences. At Rutgers, he participated in a
NASA funded, multidisciplinary program developing biologically-based,
sustainable systems for long-term planetary bases. Dr. Hogan received
his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in the Department of Environmental Sciences at
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
John Hogan
32
Research Scientist, Space Biosciences Division
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Sergio Santa Maria is a Research Scientist in the Space Bioscience
Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. Dr. Santa
Maria serves as research faculty for COSMIAC at the University of New
Mexico. His research interests are in the areas of DNA damage repair,
radiobiology, and space radiation. He is currently a Project Scientist for
NASA’s BioSentinel mission, a 6U nanosatellite that will fly as a
secondary payload on NASA’s ARTEMIS-1, scheduled for launch in 2021.
He is responsible for the development of the space radiation biosensors
that will be used in BioSentinel and for testing and validation of the
biosensors using different ionizing radiation sources, including particle
accelerator experiments at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at
Brookhaven National Laboratory and the proton accelerator facility at
Loma Linda University. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology from The University of Texas Medical Branch in 2008,
and continued his postdoctoral studies at New York University School of
Medicine as an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow from 2009
to 2013. He started working at NASA Ames Research Center in 2014.
Sergio Santa Maria
33
Research Scientist, Space Biosciences Division
NASA Ames Research CenterMoffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Amber M. Paul is a NASA Postdoctoral fellow in the Space
Bioscience Division at NASA Ames Research Center under the
direction of Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya and Dr. April Ronca. Her
research focuses on the immune and nervous systems during
spaceflight, utilizing multiple animal models, from fly to human.
She has contributed to the Techshot, Inc. Multi-use Variable-
gravity Platform (MVP)-FLY-01 validation mission that flew on
SpaceX-14 to the International Space Station in April 2018 and
works in close collaboration with rodent research to utilize the
ground-based microgravity animal model, hindlimb unloading,
to study the mammalian immune system.
She has extensive training in mammalian immunology and
neurology with a BSc in Immunology from the University of
Alberta and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of
Southern Mississippi. Dr. Paul joined NASA Ames August 2017
through the Universities Space Research Association (USRA)
NASA Postdoctoral fellowship program and has previously
mentored SLSTP interns since 2018.
Amber Paul
34
Postdoctoral Fellow, USRA and Space Biosciences
DivisionNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Dr. Rubinstein (nee Guttmann) is interested in the effect
of space environment on the brain and its similarity to
inflammaging and bedrest on Earth. During her PhD at
the Tel-Aviv University, Dr. Rubinstein focused on the
relationship between telomere genetic pathways and
aging. In 2017 she won the competitive NPP fellowship
and joined NASA Ames. Her research focuses on how
isolation and simulated microgravity each regulate
immune responses in the hippocampus and consequently
on behavior. She uses the MCAT mice model to assess
how quenching mitochondrial reactive oxygen species
(ROS) can mitigate the effects of space flight and/or
bedrest in light of aging and sex differences. Dr.
Rubinstein is enjoying the highly collaborative SCR
environment and is Co-Investigator on multiple grants.
Linda Rubinstein
35
NPP Research Fellow, Space Biosciences DivisionNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Amanda is a molecular biologist and bioinformaticist currently working on
the GeneLab project at NASA Ames as part of their data processing team.
Originally from upstate New York, Amanda received her Bachelor’s degrees
in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics from Utica College in Utica, NY. As
an undergraduate student, she performed microbiology research to help
discover a new species of bacteria. Amanda went on to earn her Ph.D. in
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Cancer Biology
from the Mayo Clinic, where she identified and characterized novel
molecular targets to treat pancreatic cancer. After completing graduate
school, Amanda worked as a postdoctoral associate at the University of
Miami studying early germ line development. In September 2017 she
started at NASA Ames as a Mission Scientist on the Rodent Research
project. Amanda began transitioning to GeneLab in May, 2018 and has been
working on the GeneLab project full time for the past year and a half.
Amanda is currently the Data Processing Lead for the NASA GeneLab project
where she develops standard operating procedures and processes for
quality control and analysis of space-relevant ‘omics data in collaboration
with the scientific community. Amanda and the GeneLab data processing
team performs data analysis, tracking, reporting, and quality assessments
for all GeneLab-hosted ‘omics data. During the summer of 2020, SLSTP
intern, Finsam Samson, will be testing different software to develop a
pipeline to compare similar groups across GLDS datasets.
Amanda Saravia-Butler
36
GeneLab Science LeadNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]
Samantha is a USRA NPP Fellow at NASA Ames Research Center.
Her research focuses on microorganisms in extreme
environments. She received her PhD in Microbiology and Cell
Science from the University of Florida in 2014. While pursuing
her PhD, she worked as a Graduate Research Assistant and was
also a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellow 2013-2014. From
2014-2016, she was a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Environmental
Chemistry Fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology. After
working for two years as adjunct faculty at Oglethorpe
University, she won the competitive USRA NPP fellowship and
joined NASA Ames Research Center in 2018.
Samantha is a member of the Aerobiology Lab at Ames. She has
several publications regarding microbiology in stratospheric
conditions. Her SLSTP interns this summer, Marshall Ledford
and Amanda Wacker, are working alongside her on omic and
phenotypic investigations of microorganisms exposed to
extreme atmospheric conditions.
Samantha Waters
37
NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, USRA, Space Biosciences
Research BranchNASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California
Email Address:[email protected]