SPACE LIFE SCIENCES 

TRAINING PROGRAM

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, California

Summer 2023

1
2
06 Executive Summary

SLSTP Research Associates

08 Dillon Nishigaya

09 Payne Turney

10 Faisal Ahmad

11 Brian Evarts

12 Katarina Evarts

13 Nathan Moreno

14 Anisha Prabu

15 Kristen Saban

16 Abdullah Shahid

17 Sophia Tsekov

18 Dylan Walsh

19 Tommy Wynimeko

Table of Contents

3
Mentors 

21 Josh Alwood

22 April Ronca

23 Mark Settles

24 Diana Gentry

25 Jessica Lee

26 Lauren Sanders

27 Sergio Santa Maria

28 Stephanie Puukila

29 Piyumi Wijesekara

30 Janani Iyer

31 Siddhita Mhatre

4
SLSTP Staffers

33 Dillon Nishigaya

33 Payne Turney

SLSTP Management

34 Kimberly Cadmes

35 Stephanie Perreau Rainey

36 Elizabeth Keller

Space Biology Management

37 Jonathan Galazka

38 Matthew Lera

39 Amy Gresser

Staff and Management

5
Executive Summary 

The NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) is a unique summer institute of higher 

learning. The objective is to produce technically skilled scientists and engineers with the potential to 

become leaders in the US space program by providing a glimpse into the many disciplines that are required 

to conduct biological research in space. The success of the program is a result of the interaction of 

government, academia, and the private sector with each sector playing an essential and key role. 

The program was established in 1985 and held at NASA Kennedy Space Center for twenty years, providing

an opportunity for undergraduates to learn and experience how life sciences flight experiments are

developed, prepared, and conducted. The intensive six-week summer training program exposed students

to lecture series and hands-on research in active NASA research and flight support labs.

Over the years, similar education programs were established at other NASA centers to increase student

education and interest in the field, and in 2013, SLSTP was piloted at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC).

SLSTP at NASA Ames provides opportunities usually unavailable to those outside and within the Agency.

The Ames SLSTP is unique in that it focuses on integrating the expertise of multiple disciplines into 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 continues the tradition of providing

undergraduate students entering their junior or senior years with professional experience in space life

science disciplines, with the objective of the program being to expose the research associates (RAs) to

various aspects of NASA in topics including current research projects, development of unique tools for

discoveries in space, tracing the progress of an idea from concept through completion, data analysis to

publication, and impacts on science and society. The ten-week intensive summer program includes an

important training opportunity where the students collaborate on a group project, which could have the

potential of becoming a flight/launch opportunity, a ground study, or a publication, to name a few.

Science Talks, group meetings, network events and Facility tours are also part of the SLSTP internship

experience and will help shape the goals and interests of the SLSTP RAs. The success of the SLSTP

ultimately depends on the students. One major output of SLSTP is to ensure that the students engage and

interact as a “team.” Activities spark the development of each student’s leadership qualities. Historically the

SLSTP program has been held in-person at NASA Ames in Mountain View, California. However, due to the

pandemic, the 2020-2022 programs were restructured to be conducted virtually, enabling the program to

continue despite the challenging times. This year has been our first return to on-campus activity with a 2023

Program fully held on site!

6
2023 Research 

Associates 

7
Dillon Nishigaya

Major: Biological 

Science

PI: Lauren Sanders

Northeastern 

University

Project: Histological and spatial transcriptomic sample preparation from

spaceflight stressor exposed rat ovary samples & SLSTP Staffer 2023

Email Address:

Nishigaya.d@northeastern.edu

Since childhood, I began to create a curious fervor for finding tomorrow's cures

and transformative research. Through Northeastern University, I traveled to the

American College of Thessaloniki, Greece determined to pursue my passions and

get involved in research. I became the only undergraduate research assistant, and

researched breast cancer and its relation to food additives and preservatives.

Arriving at Northeastern in Boston, I became an undergraduate research assistant

at the Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research. I created and conducted my

own award-winning cancer research project entitled "RNA Sequencing Analysis

Reveals Distinct Molecular Targets in Chemotherapy Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Cells” and a two-time award-winning research project entitled “Bioengineered

Mitochondria as Potential Effectors of Cancer Cell Death.” In addition to this, I was

a member of a full-time summer research pilot program titled REALTIME (Research

Experience And Learning Through Integrated Mentorship and Engagement) where

I investigated the impact of chemotherapeutics on germline stem cell

differentiation and function.

I most recently spent a semester working full-time at Sana Biotechnology in South

San Francisco. At Sana, I developed and optimized novel allogeneic chimeric

antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell manufacturing processes working side-by-side with

a large team of scientists and engineers. I also conducted my own independent

research projects.

I am also the co-founder and president of The Undergraduate Research Club at

Northeastern and I am part of a research team at the Whited Laboratory at

Harvard University’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology.

I am beyond excited to be an SLSTP staffer and conduct my own research at

NASA Ames Research Center this summer!

8
Payne Turney

Major: Biochemistry

PI: Sergio Santa 

Maria

Purdue University

Project: Development and testing of yeast-based biosensors for a lunar

surface mission & SLSTP Staffer 2023

Email Address:

payneturney@gmail.com

It would be easy to say that from the day I was born, I wanted to work at NASA. Frankly,

that would be too simple of a path to take. From a young age, I pursued a variety of

interests. Whether it was competitive swimming or art class, I loved putting forth effort

into anything that made me happy. In fifth grade, I joined the cross-country team. What I

loved most about distance running was the freedom it offered to explore the world

around me. My friends and I would eagerly search for trails in the woods, trying to find

secret paths to new places. However, it was not until I got to Purdue that I realized that

the next greatest exploration was up toward the stars.

I came to Purdue to study biochemistry. From taking a high school biology class, I was

interested in learning more about anything health-related and knew that biochemistry

could open doors to any career I wanted to pursue. After my freshman year, I started

working in a research laboratory that studied fungal pathogen drug resistance. I spent

two years growing yeast, optimizing drug concentrations, and overall, applying the

scientific methods I had learned in my classes. In 2022, I participated in a fellowship

program on campus where I culminated my studies in a presentation at the Purdue

Summer Research Symposium. During the time of my fellowship, I spent a lot of time at

the lab bench, where I started listening to “Houston, We Have a Podcast”, the official

podcast of the Johnson Space Center. This was when I was first introduced to deep

space biology and the notion that experiments similar to what I was doing on Earth

could reach the moon and beyond. I listened to any podcast episode that covered

health, life in space, and biology. The dedication of NASA scientists to enable

sustainable life in space fascinated me, igniting a strong desire to be a part of their

work.

All of these experiences have taught me how to use my curiosity and passions to forge a

future, whether it be reaching for the stars or making a difference on Earth. Alongside

my academic pursuits, I’ve had the immense pleasure of continuing my love for running

by competing at the Division I level on the cross country and track team, fostering

leadership skills and forming lifelong friendships. With this in mind, I am both honored

and excited to work with the NASA SLSTP team this summer and contribute to the next

steps in building a sustainable life in space. 9
Faisal Ahmad

When I initially began my college journey at the University of Illinois, I was amazed by

the world of biology. The intricacies of living organisms and their underlying genetic

mechanisms that allowed them to function fascinated me, and I was certain that this

would be the path I pursue. However, when I enrolled for my first neuroscience

course, I discovered a new and profound passion for understanding the complexities

of the human brain and how cognitive abilities are impacted by various diseases. As I

delved deeper into the subject matter, I found myself drawn to the cutting-edge

research being conducted at the intersection of neuroscience and engineering. My

college experience has provided me with unparalleled opportunities to explore these

fields, and I made the decision to pivot my academic focus from biology to the realm

of neuroscience and bioengineering. An aspect that particularly attracted me to

research in this area was the study of disease progression. I was captivated by the

profound impact that neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, have on

individuals. Consequently, I became determined to contribute to the field by actively

participating in research aimed at unraveling the mysteries surrounding various

neurodegenerative diseases and developing innovative approaches to treatment.

I am thrilled to work at NASA, where I will have the opportunity to put my research

capabilities to the test. Being a part of this organization is everything because it not

only allows me to explore my interests further, but also provides a platform to

collaborate with brilliant researchers in the field of biological sciences. It is an

exhilarating prospect, and I am eager to make meaningful contributions in the quest

for a better understanding of neurological disorders. I hope to learn many new skills

through my time here and dive deeper within the research field that I am so

passionate about.

Major: Psychology, 

Bioengineering

PI: Stephanie Puukila

University of 

Illinois at UrbanaChampaign

Project: Efficacy of Dried Plum vs. Multi-Targeted Dietary Supplement to 

Countermeasure Radiation Exposure

Email Address: 

ftahmad2@illinois.edu

10
Brian Evarts

Major: Biomedical 

Engineering, 

Computer Science

PI: Lauren Sanders

Johns Hopkins 

University

Project: AI/ML modeling platform for space biology open science data 

repositories

Email Address: 

evartsb@hotmail.com

Like most children, it all started with Star Wars, Space LEGO and a love of exploring the woods,

especially muddy, aquatic environments. My childhood consisted of catching snakes, salamanders and

crayfish, building model airplanes and model rockets, designing makeshift parachutes and rappelling

devices, then testing them by jumping from a tree or the roof of my house. I forgot to mention, I loved

taking things apart, there was not a clock, doorknob, or electronic device that was safe from sudden,

unplanned disassembly by my hand.

As the son of a math teacher, it became apparent that I had no choice but to work hard in math and

sciences. Luckily, I enjoyed it. During grade school I gained an interest in programming computer games, 

which later lead to a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. Having a love for education and science, I

was soon back in school to study for a degree in computational biology, however this turned into an

Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Complexity Science, which focuses on computational modeling of

complex systems using networks, agent-based models, machine learning and non-linear system

dynamics models. It was during this time that I became very interested in biological complexity and

joined a startup company that focuses on algae biotech solutions to research biofuels and waste

remediation before pivoting to biopharmaceuticals. I realized that I had a passion for algorithms, 

complex systems and bigdata, especially biological and genomics data, as that is about as complex and

multidimensional as it gets.

Since childhood, I always had this fascination with space and wanted to get involved. In the Spring of

2021, I had come across a social media announcement for the analog astronaut mission SIRIUS-21 and I

applied. This was a joint analog mission between NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, and the UAE Space Agency.

To my surprise I was selected as a backup crew member and traveled to Moscow, Russia for 2 and a half

months to train for the SIRIUS-21 mission. The mission’s purpose was to investigate the physiological and

psychological effects of long-term isolation for long duration space travel. I participated in over 70

experiments and realized that from that point forward, I wanted to be involved in human space flight.

I am currently a practicing data scientist in addition to being enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in the

Applied Biomedical Engineering Master’s Program. I have a strong interest in studying human

performance and the effects of long duration space travel on biological systems. In my free time I enjoy

reading, the outdoors, rock climbing, playing my guitar and mentoring cadets as an Assistant Aerospace

Education Officer in Civil Air Patrol.

I am very excited to continue my journey at NASA in the SLSTP Program. I feel incredibly fortunate,

humbled and excited to help make my contribution to the science of human space flight and to NASA’s

very important mission to explore the cosmos and everything in it, and to also apply those discoveries to

improve life in our little corner of the cosmos. Ad Astra!

11
Katarina Lile

Space has always been a subject of fascination for me ever since first visiting the National Air and Space

Museum. Growing up near Washington D.C. allowed for me to continue to visit throughout my

childhood, which only increased my interest in this field. However, I have also become extremely

passionate about genetics.

My passion for genetics – and in particular, genetic diseases – truly started in high school, where my

combined interest of math and science led me to the biotechnology program at a magnet high school in

my county. This program gave me the opportunity to be introduced to the science behind genetic

diseases as well as learn wet lab skills. By taking a variety of classes, it also allowed me to explore how a

scientist can make a difference in the world. Genetics stands out to me because of its limitless

possibilities that can lead to breakthrough innovations of disease prevention and treatment strategies

that can save lives and improve the quality of life for many people, reinforcing my aspiration of making

an impact in the medical field. This led to my decision to pursue an undergraduate degree in Molecular

Genetics at the University of Vermont (UVM).

As a second-year Honors College student at UVM, I have further developed my passion for science

through several research opportunities. Since my first year, I have been an Undergraduate Research

Assistant in the Krementsov Laboratory at the University of Vermont. The Krementsov Laboratory is an

immunology lab with a focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of immunemediated and infectious diseases, specifically that of multiple sclerosis (MS), with much of the research

conducted using different mouse models. My role has primarily been investigating the role of the

microbiome on MS susceptibility. I was extremely excited to even be a part of a publication in 2022. My

participation in this laboratory is giving me an exceptional experience and I will look forward going back

when I return to UVM.

I balance my studies with many extra-curricular activities including playing ice hockey, hiking, swimming,

and skiing. I also love to read, draw, crochet, bake, travel, and spend time with my dog and the cows on

campus. In the fall after the SLSTP internship, I will be studying aboard at the University College Dublin

in Ireland. I am excited to study with students from around the world, be immersed in a different culture,

learn about my heritage, and be able to see the sights of a country I have never visited. Upon my return,

I will use my experiences to start my senior honors research project and prepare for graduate school.

Though I have chosen to pursue genetics in college, it has always been an ambition of mine to find a

career where I can study both biological and space science. Revisiting the Udvar-Hazy Center and seeing

Kate Rubins’ exhibit has inspired me to continue pursuing this dream and has led me to NASA’s SLSTP

program.

I look forward to this internship as it will expose me to new areas of research and innovative concepts,

allow me to develop and learn new skills, and provide experience that will help prepare me for any future

career endeavors. I am so excited to be a part of NASA’s SLSTP this summer and am extremely grateful

for this opportunity!

Major: Molecular 

Genetics

PI: Piyumi Wijesekara

University of 

Vermont

Project: Human Airway Responses to Simulated Spaceflight Stressors

Email Address: 

klile@uvm.edu

12
Nathan Moreno

Major: Biological 

Science, Computer 

Science

PI: Jessica Lee

Tufts University

Project: Microbial Communities in Microgravity

Email Address: 

nathan.moreno@tufts.edu

Growing up, I was constantly immersed in nature. My town's forest reservation

was my playground and it was there that I first investigated the complexity of life,

wondering how the creatures I saw lived and sustained themselves. During

summer breaks, I would visit my mother's rural village in Portugal, where I came to

realize the interdependence of all living things– including us. Exploring the

mountains that sustained my family and seeing how the health of the farms and

natural world depended on one another reinforced the notion that humans are

part of a fragile and complex ecosystem.

My interest in biology grew and so did my interest in space and science fiction.

My imagination was captured by possible futures and images of a universe full of

life. When I learned about synthetic biology in high school, my mind was opened

to the possibilities of life as a means of engineering and science fiction guided my

curiosity to its applications in space exploration and the possibility of using

biotechnology to mimic the ecosystems that support us on earth, making selfsustaining environments for space.

In college, I have further developed an interest in computation and how it can be

used to assist biological research, and I am now pursuing a degree in Biology and

Computer Science at Tufts University. I have had the privilege to participate in a

mentorship program that focused on artificial intelligence and its applications for

biology research where I learned about research practices and developed a

presentation on what deep learning algorithms could be used for bioimage

segmentation and predicting pattern formation in living organisms using maps of

non-neural voltage. Additionally, I participate in a lab that focuses on computation

in biology and its emergent properties, where I am supporting a project in

machine learning.

In the future, I hope to work on synthetic biology research and apply that research

to space travel and exploration. I am extremely grateful and excited for the

opportunity to develop myself as a researcher and take a step towards realizing

my goals with the help of NASA’s SLSTP this summer! 13
Anisha Prabu

Major: Biological 

Science

PI: Janani Lyer

Pennsylvania State 

University

Project: Sex-specific physiological and transcriptomic CNS responses 

to combined effects of spaceflight stressors in Drosophila

Email Address: 

anishakprabhu@gmail.com

I was first introduced to science through my father spending my snow days and summers

in his lab. I let my imagination run wild, pretending I was finding the cure to cancer, when

in reality I was looking at water under my toy microscope. Watching NOVA

documentaries on PBS and reading countless books only fueled my love for biology and

understanding the human body.

In 6th grade, I attended a pre-med summer camp where I thoroughly enjoyed my time

dissecting organs and putting together pieces of medical mysteries with my peers. My

mind was made up: I wanted to be a doctor. For the rest of my high school career, I

focused on the path to becoming a doctor, which led me to take anatomy in my junior

year. Through my anatomy class I learned about a program at my high school which

paired high school students with Penn State faculty to expose them to research. I

decided to apply and was ecstatic when I was accepted.

I began working with Dr. Santhosh Girirajan studying the phenotypic variability in the

16p12.2 genetic deletion. I got to assist on projects understanding the sex-bias in autism

using a Drosophila model and expanding and culturing induced pluripotent stem cells to

understand morphological differences in children with the deletion. Most impactful

however, is the translational aspect of my research. I have had the opportunity to work

with families around the world educating them on genetic disorders and helping them

get access to critical resources for their children. Being exposed to research has

motivated me to pursue an MD/Ph.D.in my future.

As a rising junior at Penn State pursuing a Bachelor in Science in Biochemistry and

Molecular Biology, I decided to apply to The SLSTP to diversify my research skills and

apply my unique experiences to my project. I am excited to strengthen my fly husbandry

skills working more with Drosophila this summer and expose myself to a myriad of new

opportunities. When I’m not in school, you can find me giving tours of Penn State’s

campus, teaching chemistry recitations, running rehearsals for Fanaa, Penn State’s South

Asian acapella team, or reading with a cup of coffee.

14
Kristen Saban

Major: Biological 

Science

PI: Mark Settles

University of 

Arizona

Project: Space Algae II Pre-flight Testing

Email Address: 

kristensaban2@gmail.com

The stars were never a large part of my life growing up. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, the light

pollution often made it hard to see them at all. I instead turned my interest towards the natural world around me. I

spent my time outdoors – digging in the dirt, collecting leaves from the trees and algae from the beach, and

intently watching how the critters in my backyard behaved and interacted. I was relentless in bombarding

everybody around me with questions about these things – what is dirt really made of? why are the leaves different

shapes? how could the birds fly? I am indebted to my parents who fully embraced these questions, and I soon had

a beginner microscope and a large stack of biology and chemistry textbooks. With access to these new tools and

resources, however, my curiosity only grew. My days were dedicated to biology, but my nights were dedicated to

science fiction and the space sciences. Star Wars movie marathons with my family and inhaling Ray Bradbury stories

under the covers past my bedtime got me thinking about what it would actually be like to live in space, to colonize

new planets. For much of my life, I saw no connection between my interests in space and biology.

It was not until I started my studies at the University of Arizona that I learned how I could reconcile the two.

Following my love for biology, I am currently a student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), with minors in

Sustainable Built Environments (SBE) and French. Through my time in the EEB department, I’ve had the incredible

opportunity to conduct research as part of the Wiens Lab. There, I research macroevolution of tetrapods and niche

conservatism using a phylogenetic approach. This research, along with the many wonderful courses I’ve had the

opportunity to take, has deepened my interest in biological research and ecosystem balances. Further, my studies

in SBE have informed my understanding of how people interact with and utilize the space around them. My

interests in both the biological science and the built environment have melded into a passion for how people can

live and thrive within ecosystems, whether naturally occurring or artificially constructed.

I was gratefully able to explore these interests further through my time as an intern with the NASA Arizona Space

Grant Consortium, where I was exposed to the more direct intersections of life sciences and space. I had the

privilege to spend a week at the Biosphere 2 facility in Oracle, Arizona. Though now mainly used for climate

change research, Biosphere 2 was originally constructed as a closed and self-sustaining ecosystem designed to

support human life, similar to what one might expect for future off-world habitation. My time at Biosphere 2

introduced me to the field of environmental control and life support systems. I soon grew a specific interest in how

we may transition from mechanical life support systems to bioregenerative or closed-ecosystem ones, especially

pertaining to longer duration spaceflight and habitation beyond low earth orbit. I was then fortunate enough to

gain first-hand research experience in life support systems in space through my time as an intern at the NASA

Marshall Space Flight Center. There, my research focused on microbe and biofilm growth in water recovery systems

for use on the ISS.

I am beyond excited to explore the intersections of biology and space science further as a research associate in

the Space Life Sciences Training Program at the Ames Research Center! I greatly look forward to the opportunity to

cast my taxonomic net wider through research on Space Algae Pre-Flight Testing and to collaborate with incredible

mentors and peers this summer. Following this summer, I hope to finish my undergraduate studies and pursue a

graduate degree and research position in the field of bioregenerative and closed-ecosystem life support systems.

Outside of research and academics, I am an avid language learner, crocheter, hiker, gardener, and consumer of

science fiction. So in the meantime, you can still find me outside – digging in the dirt, collecting interesting leaves,

and enjoying Ray Bradbury without a bedtime to worry about. 15
Abdullah Shahid

My passion for engineering was ignited during my early fascination with Formula 1 racing and automotive competition.

Unlike many enthusiasts who focus solely on the drivers, I found myself captivated by the engineering prowess of the

winning constructor and the team behind the fastest car. This enthusiasm led me to immerse myself in engineering

fundamentals, and I vividly recall spending countless afternoons in middle school experimenting with mini wind tunnels

and testing various plane models. As my curiosity grew, I delved into resources such as the Glenn Research Center's

page on aerodynamics and physics for kids, constantly seeking to understand the mechanics of flight and rocket

propulsion.

Throughout middle and high school, my interest in engineering remained unwavering. I dedicated my afternoons and

summers to constructing battle bots and underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for state competitions. As I

completed the required coursework for high school, I seized the opportunity to explore new subjects during my two

years of dual enrollment at a local college. Coursework in introductory biology and scientific computing/machine

learning developed my interest in combining traditional scientific research and computer science.

When I entered college, biomedical engineering seemed like a no-brainer. I would be able to learn in-depth topics in

medicine and biology and draw upon my experience in engineering and programming. Along with taking courses in

computational modeling, signal processing, and biomaterials, I also studied biochemistry and advanced microbiology.

As I continue into my junior year, I strive to learn as much as possible within the fields of engineering, computer

science, and biology.

In addition to my coursework, I have had transformative opportunities to gain immense research experience in

bioinformatics and computational science. During my freshman year, I researched computational discovery methods of

RiPP natural product biosynthetic pathways in the Chekan Lab. There, I experimented with different programs to

implement a bioinformatics-first approach to identify gene clusters that encode RiPP natural products. Finding natural

products for therapeutic uses is a time-intensive process, but an informatics approach allows for much faster detection.

Fueled by this concept, I sought further opportunities to use data science and programming skills to solve traditional

scientific problems. In my most recent research endeavor, I am working alongside Dr. Diana Gentry's lab at NASA

Ames Research Center, investigating biosignature information to help create a binary classifier for life detection

missions. The project uses terrestrial data available from various systems to train machine learning algorithms to classify

biosignature information of other samples as biogenic or abiogenic based on features such as Raman spectra, isotopic

fractionation, and elemental abundance. Additionally, the algorithms help determine which features are most

important for life-detection missions. The overall concept of using an objective algorithmic method to understand the

distinguishing properties of life was not only scientifically fascinating but also incredibly inspiring to me as it holds the

potential to answer many questions we have about the universe.

My experiences as a student researcher, aspiring engineer, and programmer allow me to delve into many different

topics. As a current biomedical engineering student, I see my coursework and experiences as extremely versatile and

applicable to many fields. NASA, as an agency, mirrors this in my opinion, where research interests are

multidimensional, ranging from space biology to astrophysics. Therefore, I am excited to learn and grow from the

SLSTP experience, where I will be analyzing model organism studies during spaceflight using bioinformatics and data

science techniques.

My plan for the future is to leverage my skills to solve important problems in medicine and biology using informatics

and engineering. I look forward to conducting research in the field of biomedical engineering and bioinformatics and

pursuing further education in those sectors after graduation

Major: 

Bioengineering

PI: Josh Alwood

North Carolina 

State University at 

Raleigh

Project: Data Science and Bioinformatic analyses of model organism 

studies simulating spaceflight

Email Address: 

amshahid@ncsu.edu

16
Sophia Tsekov

Major: Biomedical 

Engineering

PI: April Ronca

University of 

MassachusettsAmherst

Project: Sex-specific Response to Ionizing Radiation on Rodent CNS

Email Address: 

stsekov@umass.edu

I'm a rising senior studying biomedical engineering at the University of

Massachusetts Amherst. As an undergraduate, I’ve had the opportunity to work in

an on-campus lab specializing in neurobiological interfaces. My focus has been on

developing multifunctional neural probes that utilized optogenetics to aid in spinal

cord injury recovery. Additionally, I've been involved in various projects related to

neural modulation, magnetic field-controlled drug delivery, and glaucoma

research.

Outside of university, I worked in a neuroscience lab at Boston Children's Hospital,

specifically in the critical care unit. There, I conducted research on the impact of

analgesics on the developing infant brain. This year, I'm excited to delve deeper

into clinical research by collaborating with UMass engineering and nursing faculty

on an interdisciplinary study. Our aim is to implement an individualized blood

pressure management system in local community health centers.

Looking ahead, I'm eager to explore the intersection of neuroscience, healthcare,

and space life sciences. The SLSTP program offers an exciting opportunity for me

to immerse myself in this new field of research and potentially shape it into a

future career. By combining neuroscience and space exploration, I hope to

contribute to our understanding of the human body in space, pushing the

boundaries of scientific exploration and its applications both on Earth and beyond.

17
Dylan Walsh

Major: Biomedical 

Engineering

PI: Diana Gentry and 

Jessica Lee

University 

at Buffalo

Project(s): Automated microbial culture instrumentation testing and

characterization (50%), Microbial Life, Death, and Stress in Space (50%)

Email Address: 

walshd3333@gmail.com

My journey through the world of science and engineering can only be described as

erratic. I first became interested in biomedical engineering topics at a young age. It was

in 2011 when I first read a paper on CRISPR-Cas9. I read about it in a children’s science

journal, and the potential of the technology blew my 12-year-old mind. I became

interested in science from that point onward until my focus shifted again in high school.

By the time I was declaring my college major in Junior year, I was keen on developing

neuroprosthetics. Brain-computer interfaces seemed like the future, and I wanted to be

a part of that research. I took courses during my sophomore and junior years of

undergrad on interfacing deep learning and the brain. There is a lot of great research in

the field neuroprostheses but as I learned about deep learning and computer vision, I

shifted interest to Medical Imaging. I took more courses on medical imaging modalities

and machine learning for biomedical data during my senior year of undergrad. My

senior design project was to develop and object detection model for creating regions of

interest in neuro-interventional X-Ray images. The model could locate and identify

interventional devices such as catheters, stents and wires with upwards of 90% accuracy.

These regions of interest would allow for collimation during a procedure to become

automated and would decrease patient dosage.

After I graduated, I interned at NASA Ames Research Center in Fall 2022. I worked on a

ground support instrument for BioSentinel. My project was to optimize an optical probe

design that could create optical data comparable to that of the flight unit’s optical data.

This would allow for the additional sensors of the ground unit to be mapped onto the

flight unitculture. Mapping of the additional sensor data enhances the overall science

return. Working in the Space Biosciences building at Ames exposed me to many great

scientists and engineering and has piqued my interest in the field of Space Biology. I

enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere in the Biosciences building at Ames and I am

excited to return to Ames as part of the Space Life Sciences Training Program.

18
Tommy Wyniemko

Major: Biological 

Science

PI: Siddhita Mhatre

University of 

Michigan-Ann Arbor

Project: Sex-specific CNS responses to gravity as a continuum in Drosophila

Email Address: 

tommyjw@umich.edu

For as long as I can remember, I have been enthralled with all things related to space science and

exploration – I would track every rocket launch, meteor shower, and new Neil deGrasse Tyson book like

an obsession. The idea of ‘space’ was a window into something so vast and enigmatic, so knowingly

unknowable – the unwritten and unanswered questions beckoned me to learn. Even now, when I look

into the night sky, I find that this expanse is saturated in ontological insight and inspiration. Given how

humans have been wanderers since our beginning, space commands our evolutionary imperative to be

discovered and known – and I wish to be as much a part of it as I can!

Whilst growing up in China, I had the chance to volunteer regularly at an orphanage for the lesser-abled.

I absolutely loved to work with these children, and saw, throughout my years, the incredible help that

occurs through medicine and research. I was enthralled with the treatments and studies performed by

the visiting doctors, and grew even more invested when I saw the amelioration of the children I cared for.

Seeing so personally the power of careful research and clever application, I knew I had found a calling.

As I enter my junior year at the University of Michigan as a biology major, I’ve been lucky enough to work

these passions into reality through both my academic research and other endeavors.

I currently work in establishing Michigan Space Medicine, which is a new collaborative research vehicle of

the medical and engineering schools targeted towards advancing interplanetary exploration. Via interdepartmental research, innovative application, and collaborative engagement, we hope to work towards

our future in space!

I also conduct research at Michigan Medicine under the Dr. Dawen Cai lab and Dr. Ye Li, where I am

probing new questions through the development of BitBow, a neuronal lineage tracing tool that utilizes

multi-color transgenics and a combinatorial binary design as a labeling method in the Drosophila

nervous system. I’ve since worked in establishing serotonergic hemi-lineage independence, and have

recently begun a project utilizing single-cell RNA-sequencing combined with past data to track the

underlying cell-specific products of serotonergic neuronal lineage development.

I am honored to be a part of SLSTP at NASA – working at the intersection of space exploration and

biology is a dream, and I cannot wait to get started!

Outside of academia, I absolutely love the outdoors, sunshine, trying new foods, reading, and most

especially travel – Some notable trips include traveling on motorbike from the south to the north of

Vietnam, trekking in the Indian Himalayas, and seeing rural Romania!

19
2023 Mentors

20
Josh Alwood

Email Address:

joshua.s.alwood@nasa.gov

Research and Project Scientist in the Space BioSciences

Research SCR Branch, focusing on bone biology and

biomechanics, reproductive biology, and the nervous system.

He has served in the past as a Project Scientist for Space

Biology and currently serves as a Project Scientist for the

Human Research Program, focusing on translational and

interdisciplinary science. He’s also an Ames Center Rep for the

Transition to Open Science (TOPS) Program.

Research & Project 

Scientist, Space 

Biosciences Research 

Branch

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

21
April Ronca

Email Address:

joshua.s.alwood@nasa.gov

April E. Ronca, Ph.D. is a scientist in the Space Biosciences Research Branch and

Adjunct Professor Obstetrics & Gynecology, and jointly, Neurobiology &

Anatomy, Molecular Medicine & Translational Science, and the Center for

Biomolecular Imaging at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Dr. Ronca has

published over 80 peer-reviewed publications, has been awarded grant funding

from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA, and served on the NIH

Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section from 2009 to

2013. Dr. Ronca was an investigator on two spaceflight experiments jointly

sponsored by the NIH and NASA (NIH.R1 and NIH.R2), the first in which

pregnant mammals were flown on the space shuttle. Her work has been featured

on the Science Discovery Channel, and she was interviewed for the History

Channel Universe segment on ‘Sex in Space’. In 2004, she was honored with

the Thora W. Halstead Young Investigator Award and the NASA Exceptional

Achievement Medal. Dr. Ronca has served on numerous federal review panels

and working groups, including the National Academy of Sciences Animal and

Human Biology Panel for the Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences

in Space. She serves on the Editorial Boards for Gravitational & Space Research,

Life in Space Research, and Developmental Psychobiology. From 2009-2013, she

was Director of the Women's Health Center of Excellence Research Program at

Wake Forest School of Medicine, a position through which she established new

translational research initiatives in sex/gender biomedicine. In 2013, she CoChaired the NASA Headquarters Review of The Role of Sex/Gender in

Adaptation to Spaceflight: Reproduction, coincident with the first NASA

Astronaut Class comprised of 50% women (2013).

Research Scientist, Space 

Biosciences Research 

Branch

NASA Ames Research 

Center, Moffett Field, 

California

22
Mark Settles

Email Address: 

andrew.m.settles@nasa.gov 

Research Scientist, Space 

Biosciences Research 

Branch

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

23

Dr. Settles is a Research Scientist in the Bioengineering Branch of the Space 

Bioscience Division. He received a B.S in Biological Sciences from the University of 

Delaware, and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Stony Brook University. He completed his 

dissertation research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with Rob Martienssen and a 

post-doc at the University of Florida with Don McCarty. From 2000-2021, Dr. 

Settles was the Vasil-Monsanto Professor of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology at the 

University of Florida. His UF program focused on mechanisms of maize seed 

development, NIR spectroscopy, computer vision, and testing biotechnology 

applications from his basic research program. While at Florida, Mark served as the 

Graduate Coordinator and Director of the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology 

graduate program. He also was a visiting professor at the Federal University of 

Viçosa in Brazil and Shandong University in Jinan, China where he taught short 

courses in plant genetics and developmental biology. In 2020, Dr. Settles became a 

Program Director for the Plant Genome Research Program at the National Science 

Foundation.

Dr. Settles first got involved in space biology research in 2017 as the principal 

investigator of the Space Algae flight experiment on the International Space 

Station. He was also a test subject for the NASA Human Exploration Research 

Analog where he completed a 45-day study on deep space exploration risks with 

three other crew members.

Dr. Settles joined NASA Ames in 2021 to become a Space Synthetic Biology 

investigator. He is currently the principal investigator of the Space Algae-2 ISS 

flight project as well as the Lunar Explorer Instrument for space biology 

Applications (LEIA) project. LEIA is scheduled to be the first Commercial Lunar 

Payloads Services (CLPS) biology experiment conducted on the surface of the 

Moon. Dr. Settles recently initiated a project with NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics 

Solutions program to investigate biological and bioinspired adhesives.
Diana Gentry

Email Address: 

diana.m.gentry@nasa.gov

Dr. Diana Gentry, originally from Yonkers, New York, came out to the

SF Bay Area for college, studying mechanical engineering at Stanford

University. She was introduced to NASA Ames Research Center

through an internship with the GeneSat project, a miniature satellite

program designed to study microbiology in space. The arrangement

proved mutually agreeable, and she stayed to receive a Ph.D. while

working as part of the Ames Graduate Cooperative Program,

demonstrating a manufacturing method for structural biomaterials

using 3D-printed arrays of genetically engineered cells. She has been

a full-time researcher at NASA since 2015 and is now a co-director of

the Bioengineering & Instrumentation Group (BeING) Lab and the

director of Ames's Aerobiology Laboratory. Her current projects at

NASA Ames focus on 'top down' approaches to studying complex,

emergent biological systems, including developing an

optical/biofluidics system to detect small changes in microbial cultures

for small satellite, ISS, and lundar lander missions; machine-learningdirected experimental evolution of microbial cultures; modeling the

distribution and variation of Mars analogue biosignatures; and

studying the spatial and temporal distributions of microbes in cloud

and fog water as a potential analogue for Venus. Dr. Gentry describes

herself as a “professional wearer of many hats”, bridging science and

engineering to discover new ways of addressing questions in

astrobiology, space biology, and bioengineering. She has hosted

interns from a number of NASA student programs, as well as coadvising master’s and Ph.D. students at nearby universities, and is

excited to host this summer’s SLSTP cohort.

Research Scientist, 

Biospheric Science 

Branch

NASA Ames Research

Center

Moffett Field, California

24
Jessica Lee

Email Address: 

jessica.a.lee@nasa.gov

Dr. Lee's research interests span the breadth of Space Microbiology,

and she uses both wet-lab experimentation and computational

modeling to understand what microbes really experience when they

come to space with us. How do they feel space stresses like

microgravity and radiation, and how is that different from what

multicellular organisms experience? What is the fate of the microbes

that hitchhike on space hardware? How can we use our knowledge of

microbial ecology to ensure healthy built environments for human

explorers? How can we use microbes to produce food and medicines

to support deep-space exploration, while ensuring those products are

safe to consume? At NASA she is a project scientist supporting

biological research beyond Low Earth Orbit, contributes to an effort to

catalogue and archive all of NASA's microbial isolates, and is keen to

further microbial bioinformatics education through NASA GeneLab.

Dr. Lee completed her S.B. in Biology at MIT, followed by two M.Sc.

degrees at the University of Oxford, one in Biodiversity and one in

Integrated Biosciences. She then completed a Ph.D. in Earth System

Science at Stanford University, focusing on the ecology of nitrogencycling bacteria in San Francisco Bay. She has also studied

methylotrophic bacteria as a postdoctoral researcher at the University

of Idaho, and microbial phenotypic heterogeneity and evolution as a

postdoc at San Francisco State University. She has been working at

Ames since 2020.

Research Scientist, 

Space Biosciences 

Division

NASA Ames Research 

Center Moffett Field, 

California

25
Lauren Sanders

Email Address: 

lauren.m.sanders@nasa.gov

Dr. Lauren Sanders is a staff scientist with Blue Marble Space 

supporting the NASA GeneLab project as the acting project scientist. 

She is also involved in leading the Artificial Intelligence for Life in 

Space (AI4LS) working group. This work focuses on using artificial 

intelligence, machine learning, and space biological data to 

characterize risks to human health from spaceflight travel. Dr. Sanders 

holds a Ph.D. in Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics from UC 

Santa Cruz, where her thesis focused on multi-omic analyses of cancer 

data and 3D organoid research on the developmental origins of 

pediatric brain cancers.. Staff Scientist at Blue 

Marble Space Institute of 

Science

NASA Ames Research 

Center Moffett Field, 

California

26
Sergio Santa Maria

Email Address: 

sergio.r.santamaria@nasa.gov

Dr. Sergio Santa Maria is a Research Scientist in the Space Bioscience

Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. His

research interests are in the areas of DNA damage repair, space

radiation, and biosensor technologies. He is currently the Lead Project

Scientist for NASA’s BioSentinel mission, a 6U nanosatellite that flown

as a secondary payload on NASA’s ARTEMIS-1, launched in November

15th, 2022. 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. Additional projects

involve the development of new biosensor technologies using

dielectric spectroscopy and adaptive evolution studies under

simulated microgravity. 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.

Research Scientist, 

Space Biosciences 

Division

NASA Ames Research 

Center Moffett Field, 

California

27
Stephanie Puukila

Email Address:

Stephanie.a.puukila@nasa.gov

Dr. Stephanie Puukila received her HBSc in Applied Biomolecular

Science, MSc in Biology and PhD in Biotechnology in Medicine from

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario investigating models of

oxidative stress and dietary antioxidant countermeasures. She

followed this with postdoctoral research at Flinders University,

Adelaide, Australia investigating the effects of low dose radiation

exposure on pulmonary and immunology systems. She first joined

NASA Ames as a NASA postdoctoral program fellow investigating the

combined effects of spaceflight-like stressors. She continues this

research as a Research Scholar with Blue Marble Space Institute of

Science at NASA Ames. Specifically, she analyzes spaceflight induced

oxidative stress responses and the resulting behavioral deficits with

the aim to develop and test antioxidant countermeasures. She is also

an investigator on Rodent Research 20, studying the effects of female

fertility on mice that have been experienced spaceflight on the ISS,

and is a member of Dr April Ronca’s research team for Rodent

Research 26.

Research Scientist, 

Space Biosciences 

Division

NASA Ames Research 

Center Moffett Field, 

California

28
Piyumi Wijesekara

Dr. Piyumi Wijesekara is a postdoctoral researcher in the Radiation

Biophysics Laboratory, Space Biosciences Research Branch at NASA

Ames Research Center. She is a multidisciplinary researcher with

experience in tissue and organ engineering and regenerative

medicine. She received her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University

of California San Diego in 2015 and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical

Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2017 and 2022,

respectively. While pursuing her Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University,

she focused on stem cell and organ engineering, with a particular

emphasis on lung engineering, to investigate human respiratory

pathophysiology.

Her main research interest at NASA Ames Research Center includes

developing technologically advanced, high-throughput, and threedimensional human tissue models for investigating the effects of

spaceflight stressors, such as ionizing radiation, lunar regolith,

microgravity, and high CO2, on the human respiratory system with the

eventual goal of applying them to ensure the health and safety of

astronauts during lunar and Mars missions.

Postdoctoral Researcher

NASA Postdoctoral Program

Space Biosciences Division,

NASA Ames Research 

Center, Moffett Field, 

California

Email Address:

Piyumi.wijesekara@nasa.gov

29
Janani lyer

Dr. Janani Iyer is a research scientist at USRA working in the Space

Biosciences Research Branch at NASA Ames Research Center. Her

research focuses on the acute and longitudinal CNS responses to

different spaceflight stressors, including altered gravity, radiation,

isolation, and elevated carbon dioxide using model organisms such as

fruit flies and mouse. She is currently an co-investigator in an

invertebrate spaceflight study focused on integrated physiological

responses of CNS and muscle in Drosophila and C. elegans along a

gravity continuum. She is also a principal investigator in a ground

based Drosophila study to understand the sex-specific physiological

and transcriptomic CNS responses to combined effects of altered

gravity and elevated carbon dioxide.

Dr. Iyer received her B.S. in Biochemistry and M.S. in Genomics

from India. She completed her PhD in genetics from Pennsylvania

State University, followed by postdoctoral work focused on

understanding the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research Scientist

Space Biosciences 

Research

NASA Ames Research 

Center, Moffett Field, 

California

Email Address:

janani.s.iyer@nasa.gov

30
Siddhita Mhatre

Siddhita Mhatre is a Senior Project Scientist at NASA Ames

Research Center. In this role, Dr. Mhatre is investigating the role

of various space stressors on the physiology of the nervous

system and potential countermeasure targets using

the Drosophila and murine model systems. She has served as a

project scientist for the MVP-FLY-01 mission. Dr. Mhatre received

her Bachelor’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Institute of

Chemical Technology, Mumbai, followed by a Ph.D. in

Neurobiology from Drexel University, focusing on modeling

Alzheimer’s Disease in Drosophila melanogaster for testing

pharmacological interventions. During her postdoctoral work at

Stanford University, Dr. Mhatre’s research was centered on

understanding cellular metabolic pathways, such as the

kynurenine pathway, and de novo NAD+ generation in aging

and Alzheimer’s pathology paradigm using murine and human

cell models. She joined NASA Ames Research Center in 2018.

Senior Project Scientist,

Space Biosciences Research

NASA Ames Research 

Center, Moffett Field, 

California

Email Address:

siddhita.d.mhatre@nasa.gov

31
2023 Staff & Management

32
Dillon 

Nishigaya

& 

Payne Turney

Northeastern 

University

Email Address:

Nishigaya.d@northeastern.edu

33

Purdue University

Email Address:

payneturney@gmail.com

2023 SLSTP 

Staffers 
Kimberly Cadmes

Email Address: 

kimberly.r.cadmes@nasa.gov

Kimberly is the Space Biology Project Coordinator at NASA Ames

Research Center. She provides program and project management

support to the Space Biology Project Office and academic programs,

GeneLab for High School and Space and Life Sciences Training

Program. Kimberly joined Ames in 2016 as a contractor, supporting

the Office of the Chief Financial Officer as the Central Travel Office

Workload Administrator. She delegated and processed Federal travel

orders for Ames Science and Aeronautic Directorates, and Armstrong

Flight Research Center deployments. In 2018, she went on to support

the Ames Partnerships Office assisting the Patent Licensing team with

licensing NASA developed technologies. In 2020, she was a recipient

of the NASA Ames Honor Team Award as part of the Technology

Transfer Office. Her work was also recognized by the FILMSS contract,

and she was presented with a One KBR Award for significantly

exceeding established annual performance goals, resulting in widest

possible adoption of NASA technologies in the public sector. From

there she went to support the Aeronautics Research Mission

Directorate as part of the Aeronautics Projects Office Virtual Presence

Team. In 2021, she received the NASA Agency Honor Group

Achievement Award for her support of the 2021 Transformative

Aeronautics Concepts Program Showcase. Kimberly is a detailed

oriented individual and is passionate about acquiring new skill sets,

improving processes and executing big picture goals. This is her third

year supporting the Space Biology branch and she is excited to

continue her work with the Space and Life Sciences Training Program.

Space Biology 

Project Coordinator, 

SLSTP 2023 Program 

Coordinator

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

34
Stephanie Perreau

Email Address: 

stephanie.m.perreau@nasa.gov

Neurobiologist by training, Dr. Stephanie Perreau received a joint PhD from 

Louis Pasteur University (ULP, Strasbourg, France) and the University of 

Amsterdam (UvA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), studying the neuronal 

pathway controlling the daily rhythm of melatonin in a rat model. 

After pursuing her academic career in Germany (Central Institute of Mental 

Health, Mannheim), studying neurobiology of addiction and its interaction with 

biological rhythms using various rodent models from 2004-2012, she relocated 

in California in July 2012. From 2013-2018, Stephanie investigated the impact 

of alcohol abuse on sleep as a NIH funded Principal Investigator at SRI 

International. Over the years, she conducted numerous collaborative research 

studies and led independent NIH funded research projects in the fields of 

addiction and chronobiology (alias Perreau-Lenz). 

In July 2018, she redirected her career and joined the NASA Ames Research 

Center as a contractor (KBR/ Fully Integrated Life cycle Mission Support 

Services, FILMSS contract) to support the Space Biology Program as a Project 

Scientist for flight missions. 

In the past 5 years, she oversaw the mission science of Rodent Research-10 

mission (PI Almeida; bone formation study), led the initial science definition 

phase of Rodent Research-18 mission (PI Mao; Eye study) and 3 upcoming 

Rodent Research missions focusing on oxidative stress (RR-21) and 

reproductive system (RR-20), and Rodent Research Habitat Validation 2 or RR26, and recently oversaw the successful completion of the international NASAJAXA Joint Partial-gravity Rodent Research (JPG-RR) Mouse Habitat Unit-8 

(MHU-8) mission. The NASA/JAXA joint science mission used the JAXA's 

Multiple Artificial-gravity Research System (MARS) to study targeting the 

musculoskeletal system, microbiome, metabolism, and circadian rhythms.

Since September 2021, Stephanie is also a Task Order manager for the FILMSS 

contract, and, this summer 2023, she took over new responsibilities as Project 

Scientist & Acting Program Manager of the SLSTP 2023 Program.

Space Biology 

Project Scientist,

2023 SLSTP Project Scientist 

& (Acting) Program Manager

NASA Ames Research Center

Moffett Field, California

35
Elizabeth Keller

Email Address: 

elizabeth.keller@nasa.gov

Elizabeth Keller receiver her BA and MA Degrees from San Jose State

University in Neuro-Cognitive Science. She began her career in spacerelated work when she was hired as an Ames student research scientist

in Aerospace Human Factors. She conducted research on astronauts

working in low earth orbit. Later she was hired as a Science Associate

in the Space Life Sciences Payloads Office where she worked

supporting science payload operations for rodent research on the

Space Shuttle. She’s been back at Ames Research Center since 2012

as a Senior Scientist in the Space Biology project office, where she

has supported budget planning for grants, science outreach, program

assessment and analytics reporting, science communications, and as

the Project Coordinator for the Space Biology ground grants and

student research. Elizabeth is also the creator, author and producer of

ExtremeScience.com, an online destination that established a new

standard for approachable and engaging science education. Her

success with Extreme Science got her noticed by the National

Geographic Society, which signed her for a book contract. Elizabeth

enjoys engaging the public on NASA’s missions and inspiring the next

generation.

Science Manager

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

36
Jonathan Galazka

Email Address: 

jonathan.m.galazka@nasa.gov

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. Jon

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, Jon enjoys spending

time with his family in nature.

Space Biology 

Portfolio Scientist 

NASA Ames Research 

Center Moffett Field, 

California

37
Matthew Lera

Email Address:

matt.l.gresser@nasa.gov

Space Biology Deputy 

Portfolio Manager

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

38

Matthew Lera is currently the Deputy Portfolio Manager for Space Biology 

and the Manager for the Beyond LEO Instrumentation & Science Series 

(BLISS) at NASA Ames. BLISS includes the Lunar Explorer Instrument for 

space biology Applications (LEIA) mission, a Flies & Worms payload on 

Artemis II, the Beyond LEO Science Working Group, and other deep space 

hardware capabilities currently in development. Matt began his career at 

Ames in 2004 as a Research Assistant on the Space Shuttle payload, Fly 

Immunity & Tumors (FIT), which flew on STS-121 in 2006. He then joined 

the Small Spacecraft Payloads & Technologies group and served as a 

Support Scientist for PharmaSat and the Payload & Fluidics Lead for 

EcAMSat, both microbial cubesat missions. He has also served as Deputy 

Project Manager, Project Scientist, or Operations Lead on several ISS 

missions including Fruit Fly Lab-01, -02, and -03, and 3-Dimensional 

Microbial Monitoring. He was Department Head and Deputy Program 

Manager of the FILMSS contract before joining civil service in 2021. He 

holds a BS in Biotechnology/Microbiology from UC Davis and an MS in 

Biotechnology/Astrobiology from Johns Hopkins University. 
Amy Gresser

Email Address:

amy.l.gresser@nasa.gov

Amy received her B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology with minors in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and in

Chemistry. She also holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology

from Harvard University where her research focused on neuronal

coding in the rodent vomeronasal system. As a post-doctoral fellow at

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, she investigated gene

regulation in the fruit fly and its role in neurological development and

behavior. Amy then spent eight years as a contractor at NASA Ames

Research Center where she supported Space Biology as a mission

scientist for invertebrate, microbial, and cell biology payloads. In

addition, she served as a science and operations lead for Fruit Fly Lab,

payload manager for the Synthetic Biology Project's BioNutrients-2

experiment, and a department head for the Fully Integrated Lifecycle

Mission Support Services contract. In 2022, Amy transitioned to civil

service and is currently the Space Biology Portfolio Manager at NASA

Ames. She manages a portfolio of more than 70 active grants focused

on development and operations for life sciences experiments that

utilize the International Space Station, free-flyer platforms, or groundbased analog systems.

Space Biology 

Portfolio Manager

NASA Ames Research 

Center

Moffett Field, California

39