Opportunities & Conferences

Florida Space Summit

Anaerobic Digestion for Advanced Space Technology and Resource Acquisition

Year 1 Review

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Location: The meeting will be in the Artemis Arena (which is at the Summit venue). There will be coffee available for our meeting, and lunch will be served around noon!

Florida Space Summit at the Center for Space Education, NASA KSC Hosted by the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wustl.zoom.us/j/94461667891?pwd=Y124HWa1KMnOO0rXRDpIM1oOW44c6Y.1

Meeting ID: 944 6166 7891

Passcode: 503016

0900 – 0915 Arrival

0915 – 0925 AD ASTRA: A roadmap for space biomanufacturing and in situ resource utilization, Prof. Yinjie Tang, WUSTL

0925 – 0930 Welcome, Dr. Elison Blancaflor, Division Director, NASA Biological and Physical Sciences

Session 1: Anaerobic Digestion Characterization for Space Application

0930 – 0950 Methanosaeta dominates methanogens in activated sludge designed for bioregenerative life support systems, Prof. Laibin Huang, SLU

0950 – 1010 Effects of simulated microgravity on anaerobic digestion: Baseline coculture performance and modeling for closed-loop space biomanufacturing, Grace Halferty, UF

1010 – 1030 Building and characterizing synthetic lichen via hydrogel technology, Dr. Shrameeta Shinde, WUSTL

1030 – 1045 Break

Session 2: Anaerobic Digestion Engineering for Space Application

1045 – 1105 Engineering yeast for improved coculture applications and sustainable bioproduction, Dr. Richa Guleria, UD

1105 – 1125 A photosynthesis-driven microbial consortium for sustainable melanin production in space, Dr. Soumila Mondal, WUSTL

1125 – 1145 Microbial upcycling of waste-derived carbon toward thermoplastic biopolymers for space applications, Jackson Bland, UF

1145 – 1205 Waste to product: At-scale biomanufacturing using a prototype space-based bioregenerative resource recovery system, Hannah Roberts, UF

Session 3: Broader Impacts and Future Preparation

1205 – 1225 Workforce development and contributions from metabolomics research, Prof. Tunsisa Hurisso and Qingbo Yang, LU

1230 Lunch

1235 – 1305 From Genesis to Exodus: Future collaborations and funding opportunities, Prof. Yinjie Tang, WUSTL

1305 – 1320 Evaluation of Year 1 AD ASTRA research and suggestions for Year 2, Dr. Elison Blancaflor, Program Scientist, Dr. Aubrie O’Rourke (NASA-KSC), and Dr. Natasha Haveman (NASA-KSC), NASA Biological and Physical Sciences

1320 – 1325 Closing remarks, Prof. Yinjie Tang, WUSTL

1330 Opening remarks, Florida Space Summit

Abstract Submissions Now Open!

Greetings,

The Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida is pleased to announce that abstract submissions are now open for the Florida Space Summit, taking place October 20–21, 2026, at Kennedy Space Center.

The Florida Space Summit is a first-of-its-kind program designed to strengthen research collaboration among Florida’s universities, government partners, and industry leaders. The Summit will bring together researchers, students, agency representatives, companies, and other members of the space community to advance Florida’s role in space research, technology development, exploration, innovation, and workforce development.

Researchers, students, industry partners, government collaborators, and members of Florida’s broader space community are invited to submit abstracts for consideration as either a 12-minute oral presentation or a poster presentation. Abstracts may be up to 3,000 characters and should highlight research, technology development, mission concepts, policy or business analysis, education, culture, outreach, or other work relevant to Florida’s growing space ecosystem.

Abstract submissions are open now, and abstract review will begin July 31, 2026. Registration for the Florida Space Summit will be available later this summer, and additional details will be shared as registration opens.
Submit an abstract:

Abstract Submission Page

We encourage you to submit an abstract and to share this opportunity broadly with colleagues, students, and partners who may be interested in participating.

Please see Florida Space Summit schedule and registration updates here.

- Florida Space Summit Team

ASGSR 2025 Middle/High School Call for Abstracts

[Submission Deadline: October 14th, 2025]

https://asgsr.org/asgsr-2025-middle-high-school-call-for-abstracts/

Check this opportunity: Biotechnology for Naval Applications | Office of Naval Research

Research Challenges and Opportunities

Biomaterials Synthesis: Generate new materials from naturally occurring biological materials or using biological components or processes and the design and synthesis of biologically-based materials, including DNA nanotechnology as a tool for material synthesis, and synthesis and patterning of materials by microorganisms.

Bioengineering and Biomanufacturing: Extend the natural capabilities of microbes by using synthetic biology to create systems that will produce Naval-relevant materials, including production, testing, and scale-up of biosynthetically produced compounds of interest.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics: Engineer biological systems for environmental sensing, information processing with improved sensitivity, expanded analyte range, and decreased detection time, or for production of electronic materials and devices, including DNA based information processing and computing components, and mechanisms and characterization of microbial synthesis and repair of electronic components.