Moonmilk is a white substance mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that is often found in limestone caves. It is one of many mineral composites in Wind Cave National Park South Dakota and is thought to be formed by microbial activity. Some of the evidence supporting this hypothesis lies in the association of metabolically active microorganisms in moonmilk such as Macromonas bipunctata, a bacterium first discovered in caves over a hundred years ago. More recently, there is evidence that dry versus wet moonmilk harbor different bacterial communities (Shanae et al., 2020). We have collected our own samples of moonmilk from different areas within Wind Cave using sterile supplies to avoid cross-contamination. 
Each site had varying degrees of human exposure, from public tour routes to caverns only occasionally visited by park rangers. By extracting environmental DNA from these samples, we will then be able to measure microbial diversity. The resulting data set will allow us to estimate how much of the human microbiome transfers to moonmilk and whether there is a correlation between microbial diversity and the level of hydration in Wind Cave moonmilk. DNA will be extracted using the Qiagen PowerSoil Pro DNA Extraction kit followed by 16S rDNA PCR amplification and clone library construction to identify microbes. The results of this study will not only offer insights into the composition of microbial species in moonmilk, as well as their role in its formation, but will add to the larger genetic map of Wind Cave being constructed by the other students on my research team.
X-ray telescopes differ from optical telescopes in the sense that they must utilize grazing incidence mirrors to “skip” X-rays to the detector. To meet the performance requirements necessary to achieve NASA’s science goals, we must stack many thin (<1mm) X-ray mirrors together. However, thin mirrors are susceptible to stray loads, which distort the mirror and diminish its sensitivity. To address this problem, our group studies the fabrication and implementation of thin, adjustable X-ray mirrors. These mirrors are micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) that utilize an array of addressable cells to correct distortions introduced in spaceflight and production. My research focuses primarily on the development and optimization of the algorithms used to correct the mirror distortions. These algorithms are essentially nonlinear, least-squares optimization solvers. I will use these algorithms to predict which voltages we must apply to each cell in order to optimize the performance of the mirror. We will then use these predictions to apply and measure corrections to a mirror prototype available to us at the University of Iowa.
This project aims to extend strain-based kinematic shape sensing from 1-D beams to 2-D plates.
Radiation-induced DNA damage demands recognition as the ultimate insult to cosmonauts’ genetic material. Recently, we have identified a novel nuclear matrix metalloprotease (nMMP) activity possibly associated with DNA repair related to ‘Sample M’. In an effort to improve upon Sample M, we describe the optimization of nanoparticle encapsulation for the purified sample known as Compound MP. Nanoparticles are widely known drug delivery systems for improving pon a compound’s stability and allowing for widened functionality (de Alcantara Lemos et al., 2021). As a comparative measure, this protocol will be examined with existing commercial pharmaceutical agents Epinephrine and Nifedipine. Upon successful nanoparticle encapsulation, Compound MP will be examined further for relative DNA repair functionality.
The latest cosmologies predict inflation in the early universe to have imprinted a signature polarization pattern in the cosmic microwave background (CMB). The BICEP/Keck Array is a collection of telescopes that aim to detect this unique pattern and constrain inflationary models. Precision measurements of the CMB require a thorough understanding of instrumental systematics. Determining the differential beam between pairs of orthogonal detectors is essential to mitigating the effects of temperature-to-polarization leakage, a significant source of systematic error. The first step in characterizing the beams is the demodulation of a signal from observing a chopped source. Here we summarize previously implemented demodulation techniques and propose new methodologies. We will further benchmark and compare the performance of each demodulator on simulated calibration time-streams and the latest data from the BICEP/Keck Array experiments. We find that a Fourier-space deconvolutional approach was most successful at accurately characterizing the beam, improving our understanding of the instrument to mitigate the effects of temperature-to-polarization leakage. With this information, we intend to continue developing this new approach for eventual implementation into the final science analysis pipeline.
Graphene is a 2D sheet of carbon atoms with diverse chemical and physical properties, such as high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, that is suitable for large-scale production. This material has been widely studied over the past decade and is commonly used for the development of electrochemical sensors, such as ion-selective electrodes (ISEs), which measure the activity of an ion in a solution. Current ISEs are designed for the detection of different ions in biochemical and biophysical research. However, these ISEs suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio and poor long-term stability, making it difficult to apply in complex matrices like food, soil, and water.
One of the many challenges that face any extraterrestrial mission is the need for high strength while maintaining a low weight during transport to reduce cost. Our academic research consists of creating materials with high strength-to-weight ratio from nanocellulose for extraterrestrial applications. Nanocellulose can be synthesized from cellulose, which is the most common organic polymer found in nature. Nanocellulose is synthesized by applying ultrasonic agitation to a mixture of purified cellulose in water. The result is a very viscous suspension of nanocellulose and water which is dried to form solids. These solids have a strength-to-weight ratio 8 times greater than steel while also remaining stiff. The main problem with making nanocellulose solids is the inability to control the shape of the solid being created and the abundance of cracks and impurities running throughout the solid which reduces the strength. The research currently involves combining nanocellulose of varying sizes, from 1 nanometer to 1 micron, to create a composite which, upon drying, has a lower density while still maintaining strength. During the drying process a nanocellulose suspension will lose 90% of the water, but when combining differing sizes of nanocellulose, volume loss is cut down to 20% which reduces strain on the material when drying leading to less cracking and better shape retention. The solids created are machinable and suitable for building structures. Using nanocellulose for planetary missions would negate the need for bringing building materials, reducing weight and thus reducing fuel needed for transport.
When charged particles from the solar wind interact with a planet’s atmosphere it induces a magnetic field. This research project aims to study this phenomenon at Mars and compare it to prior data from Venus to examine how planet-specific properties affect the interaction.