Five young scientists have received First Award Fellowships from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Through this two-year program, they will conduct biomedical research with the aim of helping to protect astronaut health during long-duration spaceflights. In addition to receiving mentorship from a faculty member at their home institution, the fellows will become members of one of NSBRI's seven scientific research teams. This will allow them to interact with some of the nation's leading researchers in their fields and to participate in NSBRI and NASA meetings.

The 2013-2015 NSBRI fellows, their institutions, teams and mentors are:

Dr. Alix C. Deymier-Black

Washington University, St Louis, MO

Musculoskeletal Alterations Team

Mentor: Dr. Stavros Thomopoulos

Julianna C. Simon

University of Washington, Seattle

Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team

Mentor: Dr. Michael R. Bailey

Dr. Torin K. Clark

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Cambridge, MA

Sensorimotor Adaptation Team

Mentor: Dr. Daniel M. Merfeld

Dr. James M. Kuczmarski

Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Musculoskeletal Alterations Team

Mentor: Dr. John M. Lawler

Dr. Justin S. Lawley

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Cardiovascular Alterations Team

Mentor: Dr. Benjamin D. Levine

Each participant receives a $42,500 stipend per year and additional funds to cover health insurance and travel to NSBRI-related meetings. The fellows also have an opportunity to attend the Summer Bioastronautics Institute (SBI) at NSBRI's Headquarters and participate in scientific demonstrations in laboratories housed within the Consolidated Research Facility in Houston. The SBI emphasizes essential skills needed for a successful research career and connects the trainees with the NSBRI and NASA scientific communities. NSBRI is a NASA-funded consortium that studies the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight with peer-reviewed science, technology and education projects at approximately 60 institutions across the United States.

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