HOUSTON – (July 1, 2008) – Fifteen 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 the International Space Station nears completion, these young scientists are
getting a taste of health and medical research related to living in space for
long periods and to sending humans back to the moon. The 10-to-15 week program
provides the opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and medical students to
join ongoing research activities at NASA.

The 2008 NSBRI Summer Interns and their home institutions are:

  • -Teresa Ai, Duke University
  • -Justin Barba, Texas A&M University
  • -Michelle Bruner, Mars Hill College
  • -John Cackler, Stanford University
  • -Pushan Dasgupta, Harvard University
  • -James Fiedler, Iowa State University
  • -Lauren Frost, West Virginia University
  • -Jennifer Hirt, University of Kansas Medical Center
  • -Stephanie Horsfield, Ohio University
  • -David Lindsay, Syracuse University
  • -Kathryn Montgomery, Rice University
  • -Ji Son, University of California, Los Angeles
  • -Man Ying Wong, New York Medical College
  • -Abigail Young, Saint Louis University
  • -Matthew Young, Arkansas Tech University

“These students are participating in research for space exploration and learning
about the numerous Earth applications of their work,” said Dr. Jeffrey Sutton,
NSBRI director. “We hope this experience inspires them to pursue careers
related to the nation’s 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 muscle performance and changes in lean body mass, balance and
orientation disturbances during and after gravitational changes, the effects of
radiation on bone, and software for enhanced analysis of the heart’s electrical
activity.

NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks
related to long-duration spaceflight. The Institute’s science, technology and
education projects take place at more than 60 institutions across the United
States.

NSBRI projects address space health concerns such as bone and muscle loss,
cardiovascular changes, balance and orientation problems, neurobehavioral and
psychosocial factors, radiation exposure, remote medical care and research
capabilities, and neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors, and habitability and
performance issues such as sleep cycles and lunar dust exposure. Research
findings will also impact the understanding and treatment of similar medical
conditions experienced on Earth.

Kathy Major
Chief Communications Officer
National Space Biomedical Research Institute
One Baylor Plaza, NA-425
Houston, TX 77030-3498
713-798-5893 (direct line)
713-798-7413 (fax)
www.nsbri.org