Photo: NASA
CARMEn is an autonomous ISS experiment designed by the SPOCS team investigating the differences in growth patterns of bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and fungus Candida albicans when grown in a dual-species biofilm. The experiment won NASA’s SPOCS payload design competition in December 2020, earning $20,000 from NASA to build and fly CARMEn to the International Space Station for 30 days. The team is currently working on payload prototyping and testing of biological protocols, mechanical systems designs, and payload electronics systems and is also continuing work with partnered middle and high schools for outreach events and citizen science opportunities.
Design an autonomous bacterial resistance payload experiment
Complete payload prototype and testing
Launch our payload in Spring 2022
Microbiology/Biomedical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Enthusiasm for space science research
Partnered with the Dietrich Biological Shape and Pattern Formation Laboratory
Partnered with the Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory
Created an 87-page technical proposal and received NASA feedback of having “outstanding experimental design” and a “well-engineered [and] well-developed scientific approach”
Won NASA’s SPOCS competition including full funding for a 30-day experiment on the ISS in 2022
