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First Native American Research Laboratories(NARL) ignites excitement about Astrobiology
May 15, 2009 / Written by: Benita P. Bell
The University of Montana is buzzing about its first new Native American Research Laboratories. The NARL was conceptualized and established by a Native American Scientist, Professor Michael Ceballos.
Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
Ceballos(Tepehuan/Tsalagi/Choctaw) serves as Director of NARL and is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Montana. NARL was established at UM to provide “hands-on” research experiences to Native American undergraduates, graduate students and also high school students in an interdisciplinary research environment. Research diversity and cultural diversity is a core component of the NARL and is provided through the guidance of culturally-relevant faculty mentors and role models.
Two labs were established: The Native American Research Laboratory Division of Biological Sciences(NARL-DBS) and The Native American Research Laboratory Department of Biomedical Sciences (NARL BMED). Although the primary focus of NARL is to provide Native students with access to modern research instrumentation and faculty training to develop expertise in state-of-the-art research techniques, NARL also employs non-Natives and international students. The broad goal is to facilitate a cross-cultural learning environment. Astrobiology research is a key interdisciplinary focus within the NARL. Ceballos students cannot wait to begin their day working on exciting astrobiology projects that are applicable to their daily lives. With funding from both the National Science Foundation and NASA, Ceballos labs focus on studying extremophiles. Michael Ceballos research focus is on heat-shock proteins in hyperthermoacidophilic archaea as well as host protein-viral protein interactions in lentiviral systems. Student research projects involve characterizing the activity and biochemistry of the hyperthermoacidophilic archaea.
Professor Michael Ceballos. Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
Samples are taken from volcanic sites in Costa Rica. In addition to environmental sampling, Ceballos collaborates with the Organization for Tropical Studies and the Native American/Pacific Islander Research Experiences program to provide “hands-on” field training to indigenous students. In 2008, a group of 15 indigenous students participated in a field exercise that demonstrated how hyperthermoacidophiles are sampled from geothermal hot springs. Ceballos students are so excited about science and astrobiology that they sometimes can be found in the lab working after hours.
Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
Professor Ceballos has had quite a career. His prior positions include serving as Director of Salish Kootenai College Molecular Biology and Biophysics Research Lab. He also worked for the Boeing Corporation in the Missiles and Space Division on Flight Modules Design, a NASA Space Station Project. Ceballos worked with Discovery Schools in Honduras as an Instructor of Math and Science and was awarded a NASA Astrobiology Institute MIRS Research Fellowship where he worked in the lab of Dr. Ken Stedman. Ceballos also worked with Dr. Jonathan Trent at NASA Ames. UM NARL maintains research and science education collaborations with Tennessee State University (TSU) and The University of Puerto Rico (UPR).
Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
To date, NARL has served more than 45 students representing more than 22 tribes from across the First Nations. Students have participated in NARL semester rotations, research assistantships, summer programs, and internships. Students are actively engaged at all levels of NARL research including simple culturing projects to advanced biochemistry and biophysics research. Several students have completed summer and academic year internships at NASA Ames as part of ongoing research collaborations between NARL and ARC scientists.
Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
Funding for NARL has come from a variety of sources including a NASA EPSCoR astrobiology research award entitled “Biomolecular Substrates of Extraterrestrial Life: Revealing Secrets of Extremophilic Archaea and their Viruses”. Ceballos serves as the science-PI on this multi-institutional award. A National Science Foundation award has also helped significantly to start-up NARL research activity.
Ceballos is the first in his family to obtain an advanced degree and hopes to encourage other Native scholars to pursue careers in science and mathematics. Michael received his bachelors degree in physics/math from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, his masters degree in neuroscience from the University of Alabama and is scheduled to complete his Ph.D. in Integrative Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Montana 2009-2010. Ceballos is a rising star and we expect great science to emerge from UM Native American Research Laboratories.
Image Credit: The Native American Research Laboratories, University of Montana
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Ken Phillips said:
Please link the images for this article. I’d like to feature this new institute on our touch screen kiosk focusing on astrobiology. The kiosk has four sections including: current science; beginner’s guide to astrobiology; aliens in pop culture and people and profiles. I would like to feature the institute in “people and profiles.” Many thanks.