D. Marshall Porterfield

Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue

Dr. D. Marshall Porterfield is a Professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue, where his research focuses on biosensors, bionanotechnology, and space biology. Over the last 25 years he has worked experimentally to study biological systems in the spaceflight environment for development of biomedical countermeasures and bioregenerative life support technologies. He recently served NASA as Division Director for Space Life and Physical Sciences from 2012-2016 (Human Research, Physical Sciences, and Space Biology Programs), focused on science for future human exploration using the International Space Station. During his tenure at NASA he developed a new “open science” paradigm

(geneLAB, materialsLAB) for the utilization of the ISS. He has published over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts, as well as numerous technical publications, patents, and book chapters. National leadership includes service as President of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, and the Institute for Biological Engineering. He has received numerous awards including the Halstead Investigator Award, the Purdue University Faculty Scholar Award, and was elected to the College of Fellows for the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Tamaira Ross

Principal Manager & Configuration Design Engineer, Blue Origin

"Play to your Strengths"

Tamaira Ross is a principal manager and configuration design engineer at Blue Origin, a commercial launch company dedicated to opening human access to space, where she is leading System Definition and Design for the New Glenn orbital launch vehicle program. Formerly, she was a technical fellow in Boeing Defense, Space & Security where she led preliminary vehicle design and rapid development of aircraft and spacecraft including Boeing’s small satellite programs and related efforts. Ross holds a BS (1996) and a MS (1998) in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University.