News

Twelve students get summer of science with space research internship


Twelve students are spending the summer at NASA Johnson Space Center, working alongside space life scientists and space medicine researchers as part of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s Summer Internship Program.

As NASA works to complete construction of the International Space Station and plans longer space missions, these young scientists are getting a taste of health and medical research related to sending humans on lunar and Mars missions. The 10-to-15 week program provides the opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and medical students to join ongoing research activities at NASA Johnson Space Center. The 2007 NSBRI Summer Interns and their home institutions are:

  • Chris Aurand, University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Dan Cortez, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign
  • Stephen Currie, University of Notre Dame
  • Rachel Ellman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Mikhail Gorbounov, Johns Hopkins University
  • Justin Gorski, University of Rochester
  • Carol Kao, Ohio State University
  • Wai-Ying Lam, University of Texas at Austin
  • Malika Lane, Texas Southern University
  • Rebekah Lawrence, St. Ambrose University
  • Camille Ryans, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
  • Isaac Solaimanzadeh, Queens College, City University of New York

"The summer internship program gives these students exposure to research for space exploration, combined with an awareness of the Earth applications of their work," said Dr. Jeffrey Sutton, NSBRI director. "We hope to help inspire the next generation of scientists by providing the opportunity for them to experience the science opportunities related to the space program."

NSBRI interns work on research activities under the supervision of NASA scientists and physicians. The students are paired with mentors working on projects assessing space food, cardiovascular regulation, balance and mobility after spaceflight, movement related to extravehicular activities, and laboratory equipment for use in space.

NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration space flight. The Institute’s science, technology and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United States.

NSBRI projects address space health concerns such as bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular changes, balance problems, sleep disturbances, radiation exposure, nutrition, physical fitness, rehabilitation, remote-treatment medical technologies, and neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors. Research findings will also impact the understanding and treatment of similar medical conditions experienced on Earth.