JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

Pasadena, California

• Planetary Protection Lead, Mars 2020 Mission (12/2016-Present)

• Planetary Protection Engineer, 2020 Mission (8/2013-Present)

• Planetary Protection Engineer, InSight Mission (2/2014-Present)

• Engineer, Mars Science Laboratory Mission (11/2012 - 8/2013)

2011-Present

Planetary Protection Engineer

2010-2011

Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY

Pasadena, California

• Development of a model community of spore and non-spore-forming bacterial, anaerobic archaeal, and fungal strains representing the microbial life able to survive in clean rooms.

• Evaluate efficient recovery methods of biomolecules from metal surfaces through the development and validation of a standard operating procedure.     

• Assess archaeal and fungal diversity of JPL-Spacecraft Assembly Facility     

• Design and development of instruments germane to planetary protection

DREXEL PLASMA INSTITUTE

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Develop an understanding of the sterilization efficacy of plasma on varying spacecraft materials through methods to include standard plate count, PCR, and fluorescent techniques.

2006-2009

Graduate Student Research Scientist

EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

DREXEL UNIVERSITY

Dissertation: Surface Disinfection of Spacecraft Materials from Extremophile Microorganisms by Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas

2008 - 2010

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics

2006 - 2008

Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering

DREXEL UNIVERSITY

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HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Hampton University Honors College, Summa Cum Laude

2002 - 2006

Bachelors of Science, Physics

EXPERIENCE