NASA Selects Next Class of Space Health Postdoctoral Fellows

A view of NASA’s Orion spacecraft aboard the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on April 1 during the launch of the Artemis II test flight.Credit: NASA The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) has selected two early‑career scientists for its next class of postdoctoral fellows. The new fellows will begin their projects in May, focusing on space food systems and astronaut eye health. The TRISH Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports independent research that advances biomedical, behavioral, and technological approaches relevant to human space exploration. The selected projects should aim to reduce spaceflight-related health risks and improve human health on Earth. The selected fellows are: Dr. Baiyang Liu Institution: Columbia University in New York City Project: Developing a Diazotrophic and Nutritionally Optimized Spirulina Strain for Extended Space Missions Mentor: Dr. Harris Wang Dr. Dylan Pham Institution: Texas A&M University in College Station Project: Impact of Simulated Microgravity and Aging on Ocular Artery and Neural Retina Function Mentor: Dr. Travis Hein “Our postdoctoral fellows bring new ideas, technical expertise, and energy to some of the most complex challenges in human spaceflight,” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, executive director of TRISH and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “By investing in the next generation, we are building the capability required to achieve a sustained presence on the Moon and extend human exploration deeper into space.” A virtual institute, TRISH is empowered by NASA’s Human Research Program to help solve challenges of human deep space exploration. It pursues and funds research to deliver scientific and technological solutions that advance space health and help humans thrive wherever they explore, in space or on Earth. ____ NASA’s Human Research Program NASA’s Human Research Program pursues methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through