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Crew-4: Ignition

The Ignition Class.
The 2026 cohort of exceptional researchers ready to shape the next era of space health science.

Crew-4:

Igniting High-Impact Research Across Space and Earth

Crew-4 is a 12-week, part-time, remote research fellowship pairing exceptional scientists from biomedical, biotechnology, and computational life science fields with leading Principal Investigators advancing human spaceflight.

Crew-4 builds directly on the benchmark established by Crew-3: Propellant, where fellows earned ASGSR abstract acceptances and advanced publication-track research. The 2026 cohort will further expand research depth, publication targets, and cross-sector collaboration across genomics, aerospace medicine, artificial intelligence, and translational countermeasure development.

Applications for Crew-4 are closed.

Crew-4 Summer 2026

Advancing the Next Era of Space Health Science

Candidate Profile: Crew-4 is designed for advanced-degree researchers in biomedicine, biotechnology, genetics, pharmacology, bioinformatics, computational biology, and related fields who are ready to apply deep domain expertise to space-specific translational challenges. We are seeking scientists prepared to operate within the scientific and operational constraints of human spaceflight and contribute meaningfully to publication-track research.

Research Integration: Crew-4 fellows will be embedded within active research programs aligned with conference and publication pathways. Each project is structured around defined deliverables, mentorship, and measurable scientific milestones.The fellowship is designed for researchers prepared to operate inside the space health sciences ecosystem from day one.

Scientific Trajectory: Last year’s Crew-3: Propellant fellows demonstrated measurable output, including three abstracts accepted to the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR). Crew-4 is structured to expand on that foundation by increasing publication targets, strengthening principal investigator collaboration, and deepening translational research pathways that bridge spaceflight and terrestrial medicine.

Ecosystem Access: Fellows will engage directly with leading scientists, aerospace researchers, and industry innovators through structured sessions and strategic introductions. The program strengthens long-term integration into the professional networks advancing space health science.

Crew-4 Ignition Deliverables

  • Mission-Driven Research

    Crew-4 fellows will execute high-impact projects addressing core challenges in space health and human performance. Examples of research areas include genomic countermeasure discovery, AI-assisted biomedical intelligence, and translational deployment models; all research will be aligned with defined scientific milestones.

  • Hands-On Innovation & Publication

    Crew-4 is structured around measurable research outcomes, including conference submissions and publication-ready manuscripts. Fellows will contribute directly to peer-reviewed scientific work designed to extend beyond the formal fellowship timeline.

  • Expert Mentorship & Professional Growth

    Fellows will work directly with Principal Investigators while engaging ecosystem leaders through structured sessions and workshops. The program strengthens technical depth while accelerating long-term positioning within the space health sciences community.

The Next Cohort of Space Health Leaders

Crew-4: Ignition represents the next phase of the BioAstra Fellowship’s evolution.

The 2026 cohort comprises ambitious and accomplished researchers prepared to operate at the frontier of space health science — individuals who demonstrate technical depth, research maturity, and the capacity to translate complex science into measurable output.

Applications are now closed.

Crew-4 Research Fellows

  • Rogan Carpenter

    Biomedical Engineering Student, University of Austin

  • Shreya Chandra

    Student of Aerospace Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, UC Davis

  • Harrison Coker

    PhD candidate in Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition at Texas A&M; NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellow

  • Nathaniel Freed

    Biomedical Engineering Student, University of Austin

  • Amy Givan, PhD

    Predictive Modeling Analyst, Lone Star Analysis; PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences from UTMB; MS in Exercise Physiology from SIUE

  • Sean Jackewicz, MD

    Aerospace Medical Officer at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute; MD Internal Medicine

  • Trifeena James, MS

    Project Engineer at NASA Langley; MS in Mechanical Engineering

  • Farnaz Mazhari, MS

    Microbiologist; MS in Biotechnology with focus in Bioinformatics

  • Tara Sangal

    MPH Student in Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman

  • Tao Sheng

    Medical Student training as flight surgeon-scientist, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

  • Tarjani Shukla, PhD

    Lead Bioinformatics Scientist at the 59th Medical Wing; PhD in Molecular Biology, UT Dallas; Post-graduate certificate in AI and machine learning, UT McCombs

Join the Mission

BioAstra is more than a research initiative—it’s a movement to transform healthcare through space-driven innovation.
Whether you’re a scientist, an investor, or a visionary, your collaboration can help shape the future of medicine for space and Earth.

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