Four scientists receive postdoctoral fellowships from National Space Biomedical Research Institute

Four young scientists have received postdoctoral fellowships from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Through this two-year program, they conduct research with the eventual aim of protecting astronaut health during long-duration spaceflights.

In addition to receiving mentorship from a faculty member at their home institution, the fellows are members of one of NSBRI's seven research teams. This allows them to interact with some of the nation's leading researchers in their fields and to participate in NSBRI and NASA meetings.

"This class is filled with some of the most promising young researchers this nation has to offer," said Dr. Jeffrey P. Sutton, NSBRI president and CEO. "The fellows benefit from the program through the research experience they gain and the interactions they have with leading scientists. The human spaceflight community is also a beneficiary because NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellows have a history of conducting research that is valuable in reducing the health risks associated with long-duration spaceflight, and in improving life on Earth."

The 2011-2013 NSBRI fellows, their institutions, teams and mentors are:

Brandon Macias
University of California, San Diego
NSBRI Team: Cardiovascular Alterations Team
Mentor: Alan Hargens, Ph.D.

Frances Meredith, Ph.D.
University of Colorado Denver
NSBRI Team: Sensorimotor Adaptation Team
Mentor: Katherine Rennie, Ph.D.

Anthony Lau, Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NSBRI Team: Musculoskeletal Alterations Team
Mentor: Ted Bateman, Ph.D.

Michael Lee, Ph.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
NSBRI Team: Human Factors and Performance Team
Mentor: Elizabeth Klerman, M.D., Ph.D.

Each participant receives a $42,500 stipend per year and additional funds to cover health insurance and travel to NSBRI-related meetings. The fellows also have an opportunity to attend the Summer Bioastronautics Institute (SBI) at NSBRI's headquarters and demonstration laboratories in the BioScience Research Collaborative in Houston. The SBI emphasizes essential skills needed for a successful research career and connects the trainees with the NSBRI and NASA scientific communities. The SBI includes participants from NSBRI's Summer Internship Program and Graduate Education Program in Space Life Sciences.

Source: National Space Biomedical Research Institute