People

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Frannie Edmonson is a PhD student in Biological Sciences who joined the lab as an undergraduate in 2021. While receiving her B.S. in Astrobiology, she worked on the Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from the ISS (PGPB) and specifically Cupriavidis metallidurans. Currently, Frannie works on the Perchlorate Removal, MGS Constituents, and Duckweed projects developing methods to grow plants in space. She is skilled on a scanning electron microscope. Some of her images can be seen if you check out the MGS Constituents project. 

Steven Elsaid joined the lab in 2024 as a PhD student in Biological Sciences. Previously, he received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida where he worked in the Exolith Lab (now Space Resource Technologies) to develop lunar and Martian regolith simulants. Currently, Steve is working on Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from the ISS, MGS Constituents, and building a self-designed chamber called TASR to study bacteria in simulated Martian conditions.  

Tyler DeScenza joined the lab in 2022 as a Master's student studying Biotechnology. After completing his M.S., Ty began his PhD in Biological Sciences, during which he has studied the pros and cons of Hydroponics vs. Regolith Based Agriculture and in-situ resource utilization of lunar regolith simulant. Ty has also worked at Kennedy Space Center as an intern for two semesters. 

Sergio Solano joined the lab in 2022 pursuing his Master's in Cell and Molecular Biology. He has studied the effects of duckweed growth on Martian regolith simulants as well as determining the accuracy of regolith simulants by solubility and mineralogy. Currently, Sergio is finishing up his M.S. while working a full-time job in his field. 

Ryan Quick joined the lab in 2021 to study the quorum sensing activity of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Ryan received his B.S. in Genomics and Molecular Genetics and has continued his education by pursuing a Master's in Molecular Biology. 

Haley Fleming joined the lab in 2020 as an undergraduate student. After receiving her B.S. in Biomedical Science, she returned to pursue her M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology. Currently, Haley's thesis aims to study metabolism of plastics by E. coli by genetic transformation. 

Hayley Ernest began work in the lab in 2021 as an undergraduate student during which she developed a method of Martian regolith transformation using clover. After receiving her B.S. in Astrobiology, she continued on to pursue a Master's in Ecology. Currently, she is patenting her design of a plant growth device and finishing up her thesis work. 

Adam Bach joined the Chlamy team in 2022 as an undergraduate student studying Biochemistry. Previously, he was a member of Dr. Toby Daly-Engel's lab. After receiving his B.S., he began a Master's in Chemistry. Adam works on quorum sensing in C. reinhardtii using NMR techniques to examine N-acyl homoserine lactones. In his chemistry pursuits, Adam often works closely with the Chemistry Dept. and Dr. Alan Brown. 

Caitlyn Hubric joined the lab in 2021 as an undergraduate studying Astrobiology. She began research with a self-developed project using P. ostreatus to remediate Martian regolith simulant and create a soil-like substrate. After receiving her B.S., she began a Master's in Ecology during which she has studied fungi to improve Martian agriculture. 

Haley Kathryn Murphy began work in the lab in 2021 with the Anabaena cylindrica project. She received a B.S. in Astrobiology in 2024 and began working toward a Master's in Ecology. Currently, she continues work on the cyanobacteria project and began a new project, MGS Constituents, to study the mineralogical components of high-fidelity Martian regolith simulant. 

Joshua Ahrens joined the lab in 2023 to work on the Chlamy project studying quorum sensing. Josh is currently working towards a dual B.S. and M.S. in Marine Biology and has begun a new project to develop methods of studying quorum sensing in the slow-growing, cold climate species Chlamydomonas nivalis. 

Sandhya Vadadoriya is a Master's student studying Biotechnology. Previously, Sandhya received a B.S. and M.S. in Microbiology from Gujarat University. Currently, Sandhya is 

Aiden Kelly began working in the lab in 2022 with Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from the ISS. He is working toward a B.S. in Astrobiology and currently finishing his senior project. 

Davonya Cheek began working in the lab in 2021 as an undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Astrobiology. Her first project was Kin Recognition, during which she studied the effects of neighboring Arabidopsis root exudates. Currently, Davonya studies the microbes which grow in Martian regolith simulant and how best to eliminate them for research and phytomining lunar and Martian regolith with various plants. 

Emily Soucy joined the lab in 2021 as a freshman pursuing a dual major B.S. in Biochemistry and Astrobiology. She began by working on the Kin Recognition project studying the effects of neighboring Arabidopsis on their growth. Later, she began work on the chemistry-based Fiber Digestion project and began her own project using Carnivorous Plants to biomine lunar and Martian regolith simulants.  

Lucy Elizabeth Turner is an undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in General Biology. In 2023, she joined the lab and began work on the quorum sensing project Chlamy. Currently, Lucy is working on deriving the relationship between quorum sensing and Chromosome X in C. reinhardtii. 

McKenna Taylor is an undergraduate student pursuing a dual major in Astrobiology and Astronomy & Astrophysics. She joined the lab in 2022 and began by working on the Chlamy project studying quorum sensing in the alga. Later, she joined the Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from the ISS team where she continues her research today.  In the fall, she will join the lab of Dr. John Z. Kiss to study the effects of microgravity and light on plants. 

Mia Markiet joined the lab in 2023 as an undergraduate in Environmental Science. She is currently working on a project using Biochar to remediate Martian regolith simulant. 

Tom Wilson joined the lab in 2022 working on the Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria from the ISS team. He previously received a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and is currently working towards another Bachelor's in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. 

Trenton P. Causey joined the lab as an undergraduate student in 2023 working on the Farmbot project, a machine provided by NASA to autonomously grow plants in space. Later, he began work on the chemistry-based Fiber Digestion project and MGS Constituents. Trent is currently working on his own project remediating lunar and Martian regolith simulants using peanuts growth and shells. 

Trevor Mello began working in the lab in 2023 on the Chlamy project while pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science. While contributing to the larger project, he began to study the strain of C. reinhardtii which grows without a light source in a basal medium. 

Allona Yehiav is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor's in Astrobiology. She joined the lab in 2024 and is currently working on the Perchlorate Removal project. 

Anna Weatherwax joined the lab her freshman year in 2024. She has begun work using a plant growth promoting fungus to improve plant growth in Martian regolith simulant and a second project remediating Martian regolith simulants using worms. 

Elijah Soyke 

2021-2024

MS Genetic Engineering 

David Handy 

2016-2024

BS Astrobiology

PhD Biological Sciences 

Vivienne Nipar 

2022-2024

BS Mechanical Engineering 

Kara Smoak 

2021-2024

BS Astrobiology 

Indigo Boggs 

2021-2024

BS Astrobiology 

Ruth Nichols 

2020-2024 

BS Astrobiology & Mathematical Sciences 

Kirstin Cutshaw 

2017-2024

BS Biochemistry

PhD Biological Sciences 

Anthony Digiovanni 

2022-2023

BS Astrobiology 

Catherine D

BS Space Sciences 

Rebekah Ramey 

2022-2023

BS Biochemistry 

Kristina Kowalik 

BS 

Alyssa Carson 

2020-2023

BS Astrobiology 

Lea Adepoju 

2021-2023

BS Astrobiology 

Thiara Bento 

2017-2023

PhD Biological Sciences 

Greg Belson 

MS Marine Biology 

Nathan Hadland

2018-2020

BS Astrobiology

Indigo Blackburn

2018-2020

BS Astrobiology

Dave Masaitis

2018-2020

BS Marine Biology

Brianna Richardson

2017-2019

BS Astrobiology

Alexandra Folcik

2014-2017

BS Biochemistry

Toxicology, Texas A&M Graduate Program 

Amanda Mazzella 

BS Biological Sciences 

Physician's Assistant School - Florida State University 

Paul Rice

Stephen Lazar 

2013-2017

PhD Biological Sciences 

Michael C. Riley 

2012-2014

BS Biology 

Timothy Haire 

2012-2017

PhD Cell & Molecular Biology