Link: Aerospace Microbiology Research Group

Research Field

Aerospace Microbiology, Astrobiology, Filamentous Fungi, Education, Outreach

Current research interests

• Understanding microbial physiology under spaceflight microgravity (simulated and real)
• Developing new concepts of Lunar microbial biomining for future In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
• Identifying the impact of solar UV, X-rays and galactic cosmic radiation in microbial model systems (DNA repair; microbial resistance, planetary protection)
• Understanding pigment bioshielding potential for space exploration (e.g. melanins)
• Microbiological studies supporting human health in Aerospace (e.g. space station or airplane cabin): investigations of antimicrobial materials and decontamination methods for ongoing and future space- and air-flight activities

Curriculum Vitae

2017-2021:

Doctorate (Ph.D.) Space Microbiology, German Aerospace Center (DLR) and University of Göttingen (GAUSS)
Focus: Filamentous fungi, Spores, Microgravity, Radiation, Mars analogues

DLR-DAAD Fellow
Thesis: “Molecular and Morphological adaptation of Aspergillus niger to simulated spaceflight and Mars-like conditions”.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ralf Moeller

Guest Scientist at:
Institute for Biotechnology TU-Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
BioServe Space Technologies (Boulder, CO)
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)
Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator (HIMAC), NIRS-QST (Chiba, Japan)

2013-2015:

Master (M.Sc.) Molecular and Cellular Biology, FCUP
Focus: Molecular biology, Cell biology, Microbiology

M.Sc. Thesis: “Functional metagenomics in the identification of novel UV-resistance genes" At the Molecular Ecology Department at CAB, INTA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Supervisor: Dr. José Eduardo Gonzalez Pastor.

2011-2017:

Board of European Students of Technology (BEST)
Local Group Porto, Marketing coordinator 2012-2013
International Management Team and Educational Involvement Coordinator 2015-2016

2010-2013:

Bachelor (B.Sc.) Biology, Faculty of Sciences University of Porto (FCUP)
Focus: Genetics, Molecular biology, Microbiology and Planetary Geology

B.Sc. Thesis: “Cloning and characterization of a MATE transporter from the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don". At Bioactive Natural Products group, IBMC-INEB, Porto, Portugal.
Supervisor: Dr. Mariana Sottomayor.

Awards, Recognitions and Memberships

Tom K. Scott Award recognizing students with excellent academic and/or professional achievements, and an outstanding potential for success in, and interest in the field of gravitational and space research. American Society for Gravitational and Space Research 2020.

Memberships: EANA (European Astrobiology Network Association); AbGradE (Astrobiology Graduates in Europe); VAAM (German Society for Microbiology); SPM (Portuguese Society for Microbiology); WIA-E (Women in Aerospace-Europe).

Outreach

2016-now: Curator of Space Microbes
Science communication of Space Microbiology and Astrobiology

2017: Astrobiology: The search for life beyond Earth
TEDxUniversityofPorto

Publications

• Fungal Biotechnology in Space: Why and How? | SpringerLink

• Frontiers | MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere | Microbiology (frontiersin.org)

• Frontiers | Aspergillus niger Spores Are Highly Resistant to Space Radiation | Microbiology (frontiersin.org)

• Design of a spaceflight biofilm experiment - ScienceDirect

• Single-cell analysis reveals individual spore responses to simulated space vacuum | npj Microgravity (nature.com)

• Bacillus subtilis Spore Resistance to Simulated Mars Surface Conditions (nih.gov)

See also Publications of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and
elib - Publications of the DLR -> Marta Cortesão