SPACE LIFE SCIENCES TRAINING PROGRAM · 2020. 7. 21. · Introduction The NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Program is a unique summer institute of higher learning. The objective

SPACE LIFE SCIENCES TRAINING PROGRAM

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, California

Summer 2020

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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

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21 Jerika Christman

22 Elizabeth Hawkins

23 Desireemoi Bridges

24 Diana Ly

25 Hami Ray

26 Sigrid Reinsch

27 Rob Vik

Staff and Management

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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

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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.

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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


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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.


Mentor: Sergio Santa Maria

Ohio State University

Project: BioSentinel – Preparing for Manned Missions to Deep Space


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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


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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


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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


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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.


Mentor: Grace Belancik

University of California Los Angeles

Project: Evaluating Evolved Carbonic Anhydrase for ExtremeEnvironment Effectiveness


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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!


Mentor: Amanda Saravia-Butler

University of Michigan

Project: Genelab – Data Processing and Analysis


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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


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


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


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


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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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




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




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



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



[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



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



Documents

SPACE LIFE SCIENCES TRAINING PROGRAM · 2020. 7. 21. · Introduction The NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Program is a unique summer institute of higher learning. The objective