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At a Glance
The 2011 Summer Undergraduate Internships in Astrobiology is a ten-week research program held each year at Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland. During this period, each Intern conducts an intensive research project on a state-of-the art question under the direction of an individual mentor. Mentors are members of the Goddard Center for Astrobiology. At the conclusion of the ten-week program, each s
tudent presents his or her research in a NAI Forum in Astrobiology Research (FAR).
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The 2011 URAA Students ready for their first day at GSFC - Pictured left to right: Laura Beckerman (Northwestern University), Natasha Batalha, Wade Dauberman (Florida Institute of Technology) |
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The URAA Students touring one of the labs at GSFC with Dr. Michael Mumma (Director - Goddard Center for Astrobiology). |
| Natasha Batalha (Cornell University) worked on analyzing infrared spectra taken with the Keck telescope of the transiting exoplanet GJ1214b, a super-Earth-sized planet orbiting a nearby M star. The student used existing IDL data reduction programs to process the data from raw images to produce the final residual spectrum, and allowed the student will help to search for signals of molecular absorption from the planet. Dr. Avi Mandell (NASA/GSFC) was her mentor. |
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Laura Beckerman (Northwestern University) was mentored by Dr. Jennifer Stern (NASA.GSFC). Ms. Beckerman analyzed the stable carbon isotopes of organic and inorganic carbon in Mars analog materials relevant to astrobiology using different laboratory methods including combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The isotopic composition of carbon is one tool in determining whether the source of carbon found in extraterrestrial samples has a biological or a geological source. |
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Wade Dauberman (Florida Institute of Technology) was mentored by Dr. Geronimo Villanueva (Catholic University/GSFC) Dr. Villanueva's group observed an important release of the biomarker gas methane on Mars in 2003. Was the observed methane produced by life? During the summer of 2011, Mr. Dauberman tested this key question by analyzing our most recent data of planet Mars obtained using the most powerful infrared telescopes in the world. In our latest observational campaign (2009/2010) we acquired the deepest and most comprehensive search for biomarkers on Mars. Wade analyzed the echelle infrared spectra of Mars and create a spectral catalog. The observed spectra will be compared to the expected signatures of more than 20 biomarker gases, and abundances or upper limits will be derived. |
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