Multi-Institutional Cooperation for Research Opportunities (MICRO): Engaging Undergraduate students in Planetary Protection research.

The key objective of project MICRO is to characterize novel bacterial species isolated from spacecraft and associated surfaces by performing an array of biochemical, physiological and genetic tests. These tests involve microscopic observation, colony characteristics, gram staining, API test, omnilog test, fatty acid analysis, polar lipid analysis, cell wall analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, whole genome sequencing and analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and phylogenetic analysis. Project objectives will be achieved by offering a research-based opportunity to undergraduate students, which will stimulate their interest in STEM research and propel their academic careers. Project MICRO will contribute significantly to NASA?s Planetary Protection efforts, which promote the responsible exploration of the solar system by implementing and developing efforts that protect explored environments from terrestrial microbes. CSUN will interview, screen and recruit two sophomore or junior standing students. The students will characterize potential novel microbial isolates from JPL?s microbial culture collection using polyphasic tests.