User:Cbakle/Monserrate Román

Career in NASA
In 1989, Román applied and was hired as a microbiologist by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. As a microbiologist, Román studies microbes, living organisms and agents including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. All of which are only visible under a microscope.

Román was a member of the team that built the International Space Station. The Station was designed with materials that are microbe-resistant. Temperature and humidity are controlled to discourage microbe growth. According to Román:

"As a little girl, I never dreamed I would be helping NASA build part of a Space Station. It has been fascinating watching the Station go from paper drawings to a real home and workplace in space."

As chief microbiologist for the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) project, Román must determine how microbes will behave under different situations and in different locations, such as the nooks and crannies of the Space Station. Román must study an international, multicultural group of the microbes, since crewmembers, visitors, experiments and hardware hail from 15 Station partner countries and comes with his or her own unique set of microbes.

She ensures safe water and air for the crew of the International Space Station. Román works closely with MSFC engineers who are designing and testing the Oxygen Generation and Water Recovery equipment, a more sophisticated air and water recycling system to be installed on the Station.

Her unique experiences of development in spacecraft life support technology and training in microbiology has provided Monsi with a special perspective when it comes to engineering design and performance. Due to this unique outlook, this made her qualified for the position as project manager for the Atmosphere Resource Recovery and Environmental Monitoring (ARREM). She leads a team spanned across five NASA centers who develop Air Life Support Systems and Environmental Monitoring Systems for missions of long periods of time. In addition, she developed an in-flight monitor on the ISS and other space stations that can detect bacteria, viruses and fungi. In 2011, she received the NASA Snoopy Award for her work.

Monsi in 2018 is the Program Manager for NASA Centennial Challenges, where she encourages the public to help solve difficult technological problems both in space and on Earth. The goal is to find commonalities between space and Earth technology and solving problems even though the way of thinking is different. Monsi says, "My everything is about answering questions and solving puzzles."

Roman also has over 60 technical publications. All of which are about the subjects of space microbiology, biofilm, microbial monitoring and life support systems.