Zena Cardman
Zena Maria Cardman (born October 26, 1987) is an American microbiologist and NASA astronaut.
Zena Cardman | |
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Born | Zena Maria Cardman October 26, 1987 Urbana, Illinois, U.S. |
Status | Active |
Alma mater | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BS, MS) |
Space career | |
NASA Astronaut | |
Current occupation | Microbiologist |
Selection | NASA Group 22 |
Early life and education
Cardman was born on October 26, 1987, in Urbana, Illinois to Helen and Larry Cardman. Her family moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where she attended Bruton High School. Cardman attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with minors in Creative Writing and Marine Sciences, and a Masters of Science in Marine Sciences.[1] As an undergraduate and graduate student, Cardman participated in microbial research in hydrothermal vents, the Arctic, and the Gulf of Mexico. She also participated in the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research Network[2] in Antarctica and the Pavilion Lake Research Project in British Columbia. Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at The Pennsylvania State University when she was selected as an astronaut candidate in 2017.[3][4][5]
NASA career
Prior to her astronaut candidacy, Cardman participated in the NASA analog missions Pavilion Lake Research Project (2008-2015) and BASALT (2016-2017), working with exobiologist Darlene Lim. In June 2017, she was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Group 22, and began her two-year training at Johnson Space Center in Houston.[3][6]
Awards and honors
Cardman has received numerous academic awards, including a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Fellowship, and a NASA Ames Honor Award for her work in the Pavilion Lake Research Project.[3]
References
- "Tar Heel selected for NASA's new astronaut class - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill". The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
- "Welcome to Palmer LTER | Palmer LTER". pal.lternet.edu. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
- Garcia, Mark (February 7, 2018). "Astronaut Candidate Zena Cardman". NASA. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- Carrol, Matt (June 7, 2017). "Penn State graduate student selected for NASA astronaut program". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Zena Maria Cardman". Biographies of U.S. Astronauts. Spacefacts. April 18, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- Harwood, William (June 7, 2017). "NASA introduces 12 new astronauts". CBS News. CBS Broadcasting. Retrieved 8 June 2017.