Team Members
Our team consists of six undergraduate students, a graduate student, a senior staff member, and two faculty members, each with unique qualities and areas of expertise. Each team member had individual tasks to perform during our stay at NASA (some of which we discovered when we got there). The tasks each member had could be collectively portrayed as three different crew types.
- The laboratory ground crew worked primarily at the Bioscience Core Lab we collaborate with at Johnson Space Center. They focused on preparing the cells for our flights. (However, everyone took part in preparing the cells for analysis after the flights).
- The Ellington Field ground crew spent the majority of their time at the hangar, adjusting our rig as NASA personnel directed and completing any tasks that came up that we could not plan for.
- The flight crew consists of four "flyers" and an alternate flyer, all had to be undergraduates. They spent their time being trained and briefed for flight, and had the privilege of flying on the Weightless Wonder (not a privilege for all flyers, it is nicknamed the "Vomit Comet" for a reason).
John Wise, Jr. is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern Maine, majoring in biology. John has been working in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology for four years now. He is the student leader for our project; his duties include designing the protocols, making sure everyone is ready and on task, yelling at his brother, James, when he gets sidetracked, and fearlessly leading our team to where no other Maine undergraduate student has gone before. Between going to class, going to work, and keeping up progress on our project, John enjoys discovering new music, hanging out in the Old Port, going someplace outdoors, and playing as much soccer as possible. He has also recently begun learning about the teachings of Buddhism, and applied some of its principles to his life.
Adam Courtemanche recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine. He was a student in the school of Applied Engineering, Science, and Technology, studying Information Technologies. His expertise in various areas of technology has brought him to our team, where he will serve in roles including camera man, audio/video production editor, and website developer. Using video, the internet, newspapers, and other media, he has been tasked with presenting our Microgravity University experience to the world. Adam loves music. He enjoys playing and listening to jazz, blues, country, and classic rock. During the warmer months he has a blast dirtbiking, motorcycling, rock climbing, and even off-road unicycling. During the winter months he enjoys watching movies with his girlfriend, skiing, and driving in the snow.recently graduated from the University of Southern Maine. He was a student in the school of Applied Engineering, Science, and Technology, studying Information Technologies. His expertise in various areas of technology has brought him to our team, where he will serve in roles including camera man, audio/video production editor, and website developer. Using video, the internet, newspapers, and other media, he has been tasked with presenting our Microgravity University experience to the world. Adam loves music. He enjoys playing and listening to jazz, blues, country, and classic rock. During the warmer months he has a blast dirtbiking, motorcycling, rock climbing, and even off-road unicycling. During the winter months he enjoys watching movies with his girlfriend, skiing, and driving in the snow.
Benjamin Freedman is an undergraduate student at the University of Maine working towards a double major in both Chemical and Biological Engineering. A graduate of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, Benjamin participated in an eight month Co-op with Sappi Fine in Westbrook, ME, testing formulations for an environmentally friendly paper product. Benjamin has been a member of Dr. Michael Mason's lab group since the fall of '07, working with graduate students on developing Anthrax biosensors and modifying silver and gold nanoparticles. He plans to earn an advanced degree and work in pharmaceutical or biomedical production. A member of the flight crew for our NASA experiment, Benjamin will also participate in raising funds for the trip, outreach programs, and analyzing the flight data back at Maine. In his free time, Benjamin reads classic literature, works out at the gym, and has recently picked up Jujitsu.
Michael Browne is an undergraduate student at the University of Maine, as well as a Pulp and Paper Foundation scholar majoring in Chemical Engineering. Michael has been working in the research lab of Dr. Mason since the fall of 2007, focusing on the synthesis of silica-coated gold nanoparticles as dynamic optically active bio-nanoparticles. For the current NASA Project, he is the team readiness leader and is also part of the outreach team, which focuses on raising public awareness about the Microgravity University and the specifics of our research project. When Mike is outside of classes and work, he enjoys long distance running, going to the gym, and traveling to different cities.
James Wise is an undergraduate student at the University of Southern Maine, majoring in Chemistry. James has been working in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology for about a year. His research includes studying the effects of cellulose nanoparticles on human fibroblast cells. He will be part of the ground crew and the alternate flyer; his duties include assisting his brother, John, on the protocol development, and making sure everyone is ready for our trip (including making sure everyone finishes all of the never ending forms from NASA). Between going to class, and going to work, James enjoys listening music, driving around, trying to collect every single Blu-ray Disc made and obsessing over Jim Morrison.
Sandra Wise is a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine, pursuing a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. Sandy has been working in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology as the laboratory supervisor for 9 years and only recently became a PhD student. Her research focuses on the effects of chromium induced chromosome instability in human lung cells. Between classes, managing the laboratory, and keeping all of the students in line... Well there isn't time for anything else!
Jane McKayis an undergraduate student in the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology working on a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine. She will be working on the ground crew for the project. Her hobbies are 'TNTC' (too numerous to count), but she plays a lot of whiffle ball with her two children.
Christy Gianios, Jr. serves as the Information Technology Director for the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology with degrees in computer systems and information systems from the University of Maryland. He came to our lab after many years at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington D.C. where he enjoyed the hot summers. His research interests include management systems and structures, database design and the interface of bioscience and information technology. His interests include music (guitar), technology, and keeping his wife Charlene, and his dog Diesel happy.
Dr. Michael Mason ,originally from the Pacific Northwest, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and member of the Institute for Molecular Biophysics, at the University of Maine. Nanoparticle synthesis, pre- and post-flight nanoparticle, and cellular material characterization will take place in his lab. His research interests include nanoparticle and single molecule chemistry, photo-physics, and the development of novel imaging methodologies. His recreational interests include hiking, skiing, racquetball, golf, and spending time with his three children. div>
Dr. John Wise, Sr. is the head of the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology and Director of the Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health. The cell culture work for the Weightless Wonder project will be performed in this laboratory. His research interests include toxicology of metals and particulates including space dusts, marine toxicology, and molecular epidemiology. His recreational interests include reading, soccer, basketball, snorkeling and separating John and James when they start yelling at each other over research work