NASA Postdoctoral Program - Computational modeling of biological systems for spaceflight applications

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. This specific postdoctoral project focuses on developing advanced computational tools to facilitate the development of biological systems for spaceflight applications, and conducting experimental validation in the lab. The research will be co-mentored by researchers from the Space Biosciences Research Branch and the Intelligent Systems Division. On Earth, humans depend on other organisms to provide clean air, water, food, drugs, fuels, and building materials. To live sustainably for long durations in space, we will likewise need to bring plant and microbial systems to serve those functions. Computational modeling can help overcome challenges to advance the development of biological systems for space applications in multiple ways. Proposals should describe an independent project with both modeling and experimental components; examples of biological systems for study include microbial bioproduction, bioregenerative life support systems, or crop plants.