NASA Glenn Academy 2005

NASA Academy 2005
Glenn Research Center
2005 GRC Academy Home

Katrina Schweiker

Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Integrative Biosciences
Graduate Degree Program
PhD, August 2008

NASA Academy Research Project

Design of a Fluorescent Capillary Flow Immunosensor with Increased Sensitivity
NASA Principal Investigator: Greg Zimmerli

Education

I got my BS in Physics from the University of Minnesota in 2004, where my emphasis was in biological systems. I was in the Air Force ROTC program, and I received my commission last year as well. I had the opportunity to do lots of cool research projects in fields like space physics, optics, and physiology. I especially liked the last one, which was my Senior Thesis because we were trying to design a system to induce hypothermia non-invasively by suppressing shiver. The hope is that this would prevent the brain damage that often accompanies ischemia suffered by stroke and head trauma patients while simultaneously running diagnostic testing that cannot be done under the current methods to induce hypothermia.

Experience

My current assignment for the Air Force is to get my PhD. I think it is one of the best assignments ever, as it is giving me a ton of experience and opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Right now I am working in a lab that works on engineering thermostable proteins and uses computational biology to try to devise methodology to predict which mutations will provide greater stability. I also spent much of the last year rotating through labs where I did everything from purify gangliosides (this involved many hours with cow brains) to mass spectrometry.

Extra-curricular Activities

I pretty much live by the motto "I'd rather be snowboarding" ... I started when I was about 17 and I haven't stopped. Two years ago I got my SCUBA certification, and last year I got to dive in Hawaii. I also started mountain biking a year ago and it was great fun. In the summer, I spend as much time as possible at the pool, hiking, rollerblading, or doing anything that involves being outside. I also love to move, and I tend to move at least once every 2 years, though I think my family wishes I would settle down. When I can get at least a week off work at a time, I like to travel. I spent the summer of 2003 in Italy and it was amazing.