Research Teams / Investigators

CBER: THE CENTER FOR BIONANOTECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

Texas Southern University (TSU), the second largest Historically Black College and University, and its new administration strongly supports the NASA C-BER and will employ a team of faculty from the departments of biology, chemistry, mathematics; and colleges of business, education, law and public affairs to support outcome one of the NASA Education Strategic Framework.

The team will build strategic partnerships with educational and commercial institutions, along with government employees, to train and educate students and postdoctoral fellows. NASA C-BER will integrate molecular biology, bioinformatics, bionanotechnology with chemical and biochemical analysis to address important environmental and human health concerns related to manned exploration of space. Techniques for detecting, monitoring and controlling microorganisms will be developed; and the effects of microgravity, radiation and other space travel-induced stress factors on living organisms will be investigated with the intent of developing countermeasures.

The research of C-BER is closely aligned with NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and is relevant to all NASA’s mission directorates. Our successes will improve existing technologies and generate new inventions that increase speed and accuracy while decreasing cost. New technology developed or advanced will educate and drive the perception of what is possible in the realm of Space Life Sciences. Historically, synergism between science and technology has thrived at TSU as applied to microgravity induced stress and microbial detection/control.

In this current effort we will develop advanced technologies to enable novel solutions to the great health challenges facing humans during long-term space duration missions. Overall we shall develop a future workforce in STEM fields; improve TSU’s research infrastructure and innovative partnerships; enhance astronaut and autonomous medical care; enhance technology transfers and commercialization; and improve quality of life on earth.

Research Thrusts:

• Thrust 1:Radiation and Microgravity
• Thrust 2:Space Microbiology
• Thrust 3:Biosensors, Bioinformatics, and Bionanotechnology
• Thrust 4:Workforce Development

Investigators/Collaborators:

• Olufisayo Jejelowo, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University lab website
• Fawsia Abdel-Rahman, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University lab website 
• Shishir Shishodia, Ph.D. ,Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University lab website
• James M. Briggs, Ph.D. Bichemistry Division, University of Houston
• Marguerite Butler, JD, MLIS, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University
• Daniel C. Davis. Ph.D. , Texas A&M University
• Pearlie M. Fennell, Ph.D., Dept. of Chemistry, Texas Southern University
• John R. Ford, Ph.D. , Texas A&M University
• George E. Fox, Ph.D., University of Houston
• Nancy L. Glenn, Ph.D., Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, Texas Southern University
• Maribel Soto Handy, M.S., Dept. of Computer Science
• Yvonne H. Hogan, Ph.D., Dept, of Biology, Texas Southern University
• Olurominiyi O. Ibitayo, Ph.D. Texas Southern University
• Demetrios Kazakos. Ph.D. , Texas Southern University
• Claudette Merrell Ligons, Ed.D. , Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas Southern University
• Hector C. Miranda, Jr., Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University lab website
• Carlton Perkins, J.D., M.B.A., C.,P.A., Dept of Accounting anf Finance, Texas Southern University
• Nader Pourmand, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University
• Govindarajan Ramesh, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Norfolk State University
• Jason A, Rosenzweig, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Texas Southern University lab website
• Mahmoud A. Saleh, Ph.D., Dept. of Chemistry, Texas Southern University
• Kamaleshwar P. Singh, Ph.D., RCMI, Texas Tech University
• Barbara A. Wilson, Ph.D. , Dept. of Biology, Jackson State University

Research News

Workshops, Seminars and Meetings

NASA CBER holds regular public seminar presentations every Mondays at 3:00 pm in Room 154 New Science Bldg. Everyone is cordially invited to attend. Regular weekly meetings by Co-Investigators and Collaborators are held soon after the seminar.

CBER Network and Multimedia