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Frances Donovan

Principal Investigator and Project Manager (AST Life Support Studies)

Branch/Division: Code SCB

Affiliation: NASA Ames Space Biosciences Bioengineering Branch

Frances Donovan, Ph. D. Principal Investigator and Project Manager of the Synthetic Biology Project at the Space Biosciences Division of NASA Ames Research Center. I lead a team of biologists, geneticists, and engineers in developing microbe-based nutrient delivery systems to produce genetically engineered fermented foods as well as a small-scale biomanufacturing platform that utilizes CO2 conversion based carbon feedstocks and genetically engineered organisms to produce on-demand nutrients and materials for space missions.

Synthetic Biology BioNutrients evergreen webpage:
https://www.nasa.gov/ames/bionutrients

Twitter: ISS Research on X: “Bantha milk on @Space_Station? #StarWarsDay Actually, BioNutrients-2 is testing an on-demand production system for key nutrients from yogurt during long-duration missions. The blue color is a pH indicator that allows researchers to quickly visualize the progress of these samples. https://t.co/YSw7LPXEAS” / X (twitter.com)

Relevant publications and abstracts:

  • Soundararajan M, Paddock MB, Dougherty M, Jones HW, Hogan JA, Donovan FM, Galazka JM, Settles AM. Theoretical design of a space bioprocessing system to produce recombinant proteins. NPJ Microgravity. 2023 Sep 16;9(1):78. doi:10.1038/s41526-023-00324-w. PMID: 37717090.
  • Ball N, Hindupur A, Kagawa H, Kostakis A, Gresser AL, Sims K, Sharif S, Villanueva AG, Donovan F, Settles AM, Hogan JA. BioNutrients-2: Improvements to the BioNutrients-1 Nutrient Production System. 50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, ICES-2021-331. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/87260.
  • Kern VD, Bhattacharya S, Bowman RN, Donovan FM, Elland C, Fahlen TF, Girten B, Kirven-Brooks M, Lagel K, Meeker GB, Santos O. Life sciences flight hardware development for the International Space Station. Adv Space Res. 2001;27(5):1023-30. doi: 10.1016/s0273-1177(01)00178-8. PMID: 11596633.
  • Searby ND, Vandendriesche D, Havens C, Donovan F, Deluis, J, Pretorius S, Lagaz J, Sund L, Kundakovic L, Preda C, Berzin I, and Vunjak-Novakovic G.   Space Life Support from the Cellular Perspective.  SAE-paper 2001-01-2229.
  • Donovan F, Ball N, Downing S, Hannon A, Kagawa H, Li J, Ray H, Roque O, Settles AM, Sims K, Vu S. Strategies for determining safety of fermented foods produced in space. Oral presentation at NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop., Galveston, TX, Feb 13, 2024. https://hrpiws2024.eventscribe.net/biography.asp?pfp=Speakers
  • Ball N, Anderson L, Downing S, Gresser A, Hindupur A, Hogan J, Kagawa H, Kostakis A, Levi J, Paddock M, Ray H, Roque O, Sharif S, Sims K, Settles AM, Soundararajan M, Villanueva A, Vu S, Donovan F. BioNutrients: Microbial production of on-demand nutrients on the International Space Station. Oral presentation at American Society for Gravitational Research, Washington DC, Nov 17, 2023. https://asgsr.org/2023-meeting/#Program.
  • Soundararajan M, Paddock M, Galazka J, Hogan J, Jones H, Settle AM, Donovan F. Exploring the benefits of reusing consumables for a biomanufacturing system during a deep space mission. Oral presentation at American Society for Gravitational Research, Houston, TX, Nov 11, 2022. https://asgsr.org/2022-meeting/
  • Donovan F, Settles AM, Hogan J, Hindupur A, Ball N, Kagawa H. BioNutrients: Microbial On-Demand Production of Short Shelf-Life Micronutrients in Space. Oral presentation at NASA Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop. Galveston, TX, Feb 7, 2022. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220000543
  • Soundararajan M, Paddock M, Hogan J, Jones H, Dougherty M, Galazka J, Hindupur A, Settles AM, Donovan F, Hogan J.  Preliminary Design Of A Downstream Processing System For Protein Production In Space. Oral presentation at American Society for Gravitational Research, Baltimore, MD, Nov 6, 2021. https://www.xcdsystem.com/asgsr/program/pRa4fnY/index.cfm?pgid=2601
  • BioNutrients: Microbial on-demand production of short shelf-life micronutrients in space. Ball N, Hindupur A, Kagawa H, Kostakis A, Gresser A, Levi J, Sims K, Sharif S, Villanueva A, Donovan F. Oral presentation at American Society for Gravitational Research, Baltimore, MD, Nov 6, 2021. https://www.xcdsystem.com/asgsr/program/pRa4fnY/index.cfm?pgid=2601
  • Larenas P, Donovan F, Sun L, Park H, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Walker S, Nelson E, Kizito J, Krebs C, Slater K, Vandendriesche D, Rask J, Havens C, Searby N. Variable Gravity Culture of Yeast in the Cell Culture Unit: Feasibility for Microbial Cultures.  Astrobiology Science Conference, NASA ARC, Moffett Field, CA, March 2004.
  • Donovan F, Jagger J, Sun L, Park H, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Walker S, Nelson E, Kizito J, Krebs C, Slater K, Vandendriesche D, Larenas P, Havens C, Searby N. Characterization of the Fluid Environment within the Cell Specimen Chamber for the Cell Culture Unit, American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology, Cape Canaveral, FL, November 2002.
  • Sun L, Pretorious S, Lagaz J, Preda C, Donovan F, Searby N, Havens C, Vandendriesche D, de Luis J, Parish J, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Ground Based Studies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Growth in the Cell Culture Unit, American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology, Cape Canaveral, FL, November 2002.