Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute (2008) / Chapter Skim
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3 Training the Next Generation of Astrobiologists
3 Training the Next Generation of Astrobiologists
Pages 35-41
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From page 35... ...
• The Astrobiology Graduate Conferences, a series of conferences held annually since 2004 and organized by graduate students to foster peer-to-peer communication within the broad community of students interested in astrobiology, give junior researchers the opportunity to practice speaking about their work in a collegial atmosphere.1 • Students can contribute to the drafting of the student-written "Astrobiology Primer," a general introduction to and summary of basic concepts in the traditional scientific disciples relevant to astrobiology. 2 At present, no university offers a stand-alone degree in astrobiology.
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From page 36... ...
Former NAI postdoctoral fellows reported to the committee, however, that although astrobiology was not specified in the title for the position they filled, during the interview process their interdisciplinary training and astrobiology background were seen as a plus and served to set them apart from other candidates. In short, anecdotal evidence suggests that the interdisciplinary training of students in astrobiology is producing a new generation of scientists whose education has encouraged them to see the world in a broader context, although validating such a claim in a quantitative manner is beyond the scope of this study.
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From page 37... ...
Weinberger University of California, Carnegie Institution of Award in Astronomy Los Angeles Washington 2004 Sloan Research Fellowship Colin Nuckolls Scripps Research Institute Columbia University 2004 Sloan Research Fellowship Brad Hansen University of California, University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles 2004 Presidential Early Career Sarah Stewart- Carnegie Institution of Harvard University Awards Mukhopadhyay Washington 2004 Sloan Research Fellowship Andrew Roger University of California, Dalhousie University Los Angeles 2004 Sloan Research Fellowship Dustin Trail University of Colorado Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2005 Sloan Research Fellowship Michael Liu University of Hawaii University of Hawaii 2006 NASA Haskin Early Career Michelle Minitti Arizona State University Arizona State University Fellowship 2007 Howard Hughes Medical Seth B���������� ordenstein Marine Biological Laboratory Marine Biological Laboratory Institute Biomedical Research Institutions Initiative 2007 L'Oréal USA Fellowship Julie Huber Marine Biological Laboratory Marine Biological Laboratory for Women in Science TABLE 3.2 Examples of NAI-Trained Researchers Who Have Obtained Faculty Positions Name NAI Affiliation NAI Role Current Faculty Position Charles Boyce Harvard University NAI Postdoctoral Fellow University of Chicago Seth Bordenstein Marine Biological Laboratory NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Marine Biological Laboratory James Farquhar Carnegie Institution of Washington Postdoctoral Fellow University of Maryland and University of California, Los Angeles Shannon Hinsa Michigan State University NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Grinnell College Julie Huber Marine Biological Laboratory NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Marine Biological Laboratory Matthew Hurtgen Harvard University NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Northwestern University Marc Kramer Ames Research Center NAI Postdoctoral Fellow University of California, Santa Cruz Michelle Minitti Arizona State University NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Arizona State University Stephen Mojzsis University of California, Postdoctoral Fellow University of Colorado Los Angeles Shuhei Ono Carnegie Institution of Washington Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard University Alexander Pavlov University of Colorado NAI Postdoctoral Fellow University of Arizona Susannah Porter University of California, NAI Postdoctoral Fellow University of California, Los Angeles Santa Barbara Henry Scott Carnegie Institution of Washington NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Indiana University Yanan Shen Harvard University NAI Postdoctoral Fellow University of Quebec, Montreal Margaret Turnbull Carnegie Institution of Washington NAI Postdoctoral Fellow Space Telescope Science Institute
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From page 38... ...
universities have made commitments to establish astrobiology programs on the basis of NAI 5-year funding contracts, longer-term commitments involving the establishment of research centers, targeted faculty hires, and commitment of faculty to develop curricula and supporting degree and certificate programs have been much harder to achieve. In the absence of a formal renewal process for NAI nodes at the conclusion of their 5-year funding period, university programs established, in part, using NAI funds have been discontinued because the host universities were not prepared to provide the resources needed to sustain the development of these programs.
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From page 39... ...
As noted previously, graduate training efforts by the NAI have been promoted primarily through activities at the member nodes, although NAI Central has provided grants to support graduate student travel to meetings and occasional field seminars. Modest support for graduate student fieldwork has also been provided each year, for example, through the Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Fieldwork, a program jointly sponsored by the NAI and the American Philosophical Society.
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From page 40... ...
There are not many faculty appointments in astrobiology, but the breadth of training does appear to help graduates obtain positions in related departments, according to comments provided to the committee by former NAI postdoctoral fellows and NAI PIs. Success in establishing new university education programs in astrobiology comes with special requirements, including assembling a critical mass of university faculty who collectively represent the major subdisciplines of astrobiology, providing reasonable breadth in the curriculum and research environment, and supplying sustained support that allows programs to grow to a steady state including the capacity to confer formal degrees.
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From page 41... ...
12. Personal communication, Daniella Scalice, NASA Astrobiology Institute, July 26, 2007.
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