Bioserve Space Technologies

New CU �ֲ��ý-built hardware flying high aboard the International Space Station

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:51:10 +0000

New CU �ֲ��ý-built hardware flying high aboard the International Space Station Jeff Zehnder Thu, 07/23/2026 - 10:51

Jeff Zehnder

Stu Tozer inspecting a backup NEMO unit at BioServe.

Orbiting astronauts have access to a new research tool designed and built in Colorado.

�ֲ��ý researchers have launched a new combination imaging microscope and incubator to the International Space Station (ISS).

Bioscience Research

Astronauts have long used microscopes in orbit, but this new effort is a leap forward in ISS capabilities for imaging over time by joining what are typically two separate tools -- incubators and microscopes. This allows multiple samples to be incubated and imaged with minimal crew intervention.

“We have microscopes onboard the ISS, and we have incubators, but the astronauts have to do all the work of switching samples and setting them up for imaging. This device allows us to continuously image and incubate multiple samples at the same time,” said Stu Tozer, associate director of BioServe Space Technologies, a center within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

The device is called NEMO, the Nikon Experimentation Microscope in Orbit. It was designed in partnership with the eponymous camera company and the U.S. national laboratory that oversees American research aboard the ISS.

As BioServe operates within a university, the project came together through hard work of both the center’s full time staff and student workers like Ben Helfant (AeroEngr’24, MS’26).

“Contributing to flight hardware that is now in orbit is one of the most meaningful experiences I have had as an engineer. Knowing that this work helps enable new research capabilities in microgravity has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Helfant, who graduated in May and is now employed at BioServe full time.

Next Generation Tech

BioServe has been designing, building and flying microgravity life science experiments and hardware for nearly 40 years. The new microscope/incubator builds on the center’s SABL, a solo incubator which has been in use aboard the ISS since 2016. That incubator, in turn, was an enhancement of an even earlier BioServe design that began service on Space Shuttle flights in the 1990s.

“We learn a lot from each project. SABL has been operating for a decade. Microscopes and related devices have been operating for longer. NEMO will significantly increase the imaging capabilities on the station in both the quantity and quality of images that we collect.,” said Tozer.

NEMO launched in April and is currently awaiting final commissioning aboard the ISS.

Once complete, there are already experiments scheduled to demonstrate its full capabilities.

Much of that work will be automated, a central feature of the hardware, allowing astronauts to work on other projects.

“Instead of being controlled by the crew, it’s all controlled from the ground. We remote desktop into NEMO and it’s like we're sitting in front of the microscope ourselves,” Tozer said.

The name NEMO was chosen to reflect this. In Latin, “nemo” means “nobody.”

“It’s an automated microscope, so there’s nobody required to operate it,” Tozer said.

Backup NEMO unit on a workbench.

Orbiting astronauts have access to a new research tool designed and built in Colorado. �ֲ��ý researchers have launched a new combination imaging microscope and incubator to the...

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CU �ֲ��ý space research honored by NASA

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:43:55 +0000

CU �ֲ��ý space research honored by NASA Jeff Zehnder Thu, 07/02/2026 - 10:43

Jeff Zehnder

Above: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir working with a BioServe-designed experiments on the International Space Station.
Header Image: Members of NASA, the BioServe team, students, and associates following the award presentation.

BioServe Space Technologies has earned a rare NASA accolade.

The �ֲ��ý research center is being recognized for decades of contributions to the International Space Station with a NASA Space Flight Awareness Supplier Award.

The honor is only bestowed on rare occasions, with the most recent recipients in 2024 and 2018.

The award recognizes BioServe’s “outstanding contributions and unbridled success advancing space exploration and scientific discovery.”

The center, housed within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, has been designing, building, and flying microgravity life science research experiments and hardware since 1987, with six payloads launching less than two months ago.

Government space agencies, universities, and private companies frequently contract with BioServe to take advantage of the center’s extensive experience in space research.

“This award means a lot to us. We are who we are today because of all the work the people of BioServe have done since our inception in 1987. This recognizes everyone and I’m honored and proud to be a part of this group,” said BioServe Director Stefanie Countryman.

As both a research facility and educational center, BioServe employs full-time staff and students to advance their work. In addition to hardware development, BioServe also conducts live uplinks with orbiting astronauts to walk them through experiments.

Ryan Landon, NASA director of utilization for low Earth orbit, was one of three agency representatives who presented the award in person at CU �ֲ��ý on June 30. She commended BioServe’s work as a NASA contractor.

“We have 20-something commercial space providers. These guys have been doing it the longest and are the standard that we look to,” Landon said.

Stephen McGrath, NASA’s manager of mission safety and assurance for low Earth orbit, echoed those remarks.

“What I’ve seen BioServe do to push the boundaries is just amazing,” McGrath said.

BioServe Space Technologies has earned a rare NASA accolade. The �ֲ��ý research center is being recognized for decades of contributions to the International Space Station with a...

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New leadership in Smead Aerospace

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:55:57 +0000

New leadership in Smead Aerospace Jeff Zehnder Wed, 07/01/2026 - 08:55

Jeff Zehnder

John Evans is the new chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the �ֲ��ý.

A 13-year veteran of the department, Evans was elected by the Smead Aerospace faculty and is taking over from Hanspeter Schaub, who is stepping down after four years of service.

Looking Forward

“I’m very excited. There’s a lot of interest in aerospace right now and lots of new opportunities that directly link to research in our department, including human spaceflight, astrodynamics, quantum sensing, and hypersonics. We’re uniquely positioned to be part of solving big challenges related to these opportunities,” Evans said.

His elevation to chair follows tenure as the department’s associate chair for undergraduate curriculum, where he spearheaded the development and initial deployment of a new undergraduate aerospace curriculum.

The overhaul ensures continued alignment with industry needs and provides new course offerings and academic opportunities for students. It also aims to be more scalable, amid increasing demand for aerospace engineers.

Student Growth

Over the last 15 years, Smead Aerospace has nearly tripled in size to become the second largest undergraduate aerospace program in the United States.

“The growth signals the interest in our department, and more generally, the aerospace industry in Colorado. People want to be here. Throughout this curriculum development process, I’ve been working closely with a lot of faculty and staff. Those relationships are important stepping into the chair role,” Evans said.

As the student body grows, Smead Aerospace is also looking to expand its faculty ranks. Evans said faculty growth will be an important priority as the department responds to rising student demand, emerging research opportunities and the evolving needs of the aerospace sector.

Beyond the classroom, the aerospace chair has responsibilities in donor and industry engagement. Evans said he is looking forward to expanding the department’s industry-sponsored research.

“We’re very involved with industry in senior projects and education, but less on research. There’s a national shift of universities engaging with business more directly on research and there are opportunities we can plug into,” he said.

Aerospace Excellence

Evans joined CU �ֲ��ý in 2013. His research focuses on fluid dynamics and fluid structure interaction. He has been repeatedly recognized as a highly cited researcher and was the 2021 recipient of the Collegiate Educator of the Year award from the Rocky Mountain chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He holds a PhD in computational and applied mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

As chair, Schaub led the department through significant budget restructuring, ongoing enrollment growth, new collaboration with student groups, and development of a formal strategic vision. He remains a member of the aerospace faculty and Evans said he is eager to build on that foundation.

“Hanspeter has done a tremendous amount for the department,” Evans said. “I’m grateful for his leadership and excited to work with our faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners on the next phase for Smead Aerospace.”

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NASA spotlight on CU �ֲ��ý space research

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:56:36 +0000

NASA spotlight on CU �ֲ��ý space research Jeff Zehnder Fri, 05/29/2026 - 16:56

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir works on InSPA-StemCellEX-H2 inside the Life Sciences Glovebox. Microgravity samples will be frozen and returned to Earth for further analysis of stem cell expansion in space.

Biomedical research designed by the �ֲ��ý is being highlighted by NASA.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are conducting studies into the manufacture of large quantities of stem cells in orbit to benefit medical therapies on Earth.

The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion in Space project is led by BioServe Space Technologies, a research center within the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

Faculty and students in BioServe have been designing and launching space experiments and equipment for nearly 40 years. This project is using stem cells derived from the human body to produce large quantities of cells for patient use through a process called “expansion" that goes beyond what is possible on Earth.

“The microgravity environment in space is much more suitable for keeping the stem cells in their high-quality state during expansion," said Tobias Niederwieser, an assistant research professor and co-investigator on the project.

Read the full article at NASA...

Biomedical research designed by the �ֲ��ý is being highlighted by NASA...

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Smead Aerospace ranked #5 among public universities by U.S. News

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:22 +0000

Smead Aerospace ranked #5 among public universities by U.S. News Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/07/2026 - 09:00

The �ֲ��ý is again ranked as one of the top 10 public engineering graduate programs in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools list for 2026-27.

In the specialty rankings, nearly all of CU Engineering’s graduate degree programs were ranked in the top 20 amongst their public peers – with two in the top 10.

Aerospace engineering sciences: No. 5
Environmental engineering: No. 7
Chemical engineering: No. 11
Mechanical engineering: No. 14
Computer engineering: No. 14
Civil engineering: No. 15
Computer science: No. 15 (Best Computer Science Schools)
Electrical engineering: No. 17
Biomedical engineering: No. 19
Materials science and engineering: No. 20
Biological engineering: No. 26

“These U.S. News & World Report rankings represent the strongest performance in the history of our graduate programs and reflect the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “Having every department with at least one graduate program ranked in the top 20 among public universities speaks to the depth and consistency of excellence across the college. This recognition affirms our commitment to impactful research, outstanding graduate education and preparing engineers and applied scientists to lead and serve society.”

When compared to its public university peers, CU �ֲ��ý’s engineering graduate program landed at No. 10. The college was ranked No. 18 overall, tied with Columbia University and the University of Maryland-College Park, when compared to both public and private universities.

To calculate its rankings, U.S. News and World Report looks at a range of data about graduate programs, including research activity, peer and recruiter assessments, and student selectivity. Read the full methodology.

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ISS National Lab spotlights CU �ֲ��ý space leader

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:01:15 +0000

ISS National Lab spotlights CU �ֲ��ý space leader Jeff Zehnder Mon, 02/09/2026 - 15:01

Louis Stodieck is honored in the 2025 annual report of the International Space Station National Laboratory.

The ISS National Lab operates the United States research facilities aboard the orbiting space station through a cooperative agreement with NASA.

Stodieck is being recognized following his retirement in summer 2025.

He is an expert in space flight experimentation and a research professor emeritus in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences with more than 50 years in space life sciences research.

Stodieck has been a part of dozens research payloads carried into low Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle, Mir, and ISS, as part of BioServe Space Technologies, a campus research center.

He served at BioServe from its founding in 1987 in a number of capacities, including 20 years as its director.

"Under his leadership, BioServe increased its payload cadence from two to nearly 20 complex payloads per year. Stodieck also contributed to the development of BioServe’s permanent hardware on the ISS, including incubators, microscopes, and cold storage systems for astronaut food and medications." - ISS National Lab Annual Report

Read the tribute at the ISS National Lab website...

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Leading hands-on Earth research planning for life on Mars

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:59:38 +0000

Leading hands-on Earth research planning for life on Mars Jeff Zehnder Tue, 01/20/2026 - 09:59

A crew member on an EVA looking out across the landscape.

Jeff Zehnder

Above: Members of a crew rotation outside the MDRS habitat prior to the mission start.
Header Image: Two crew members navigating on EVA under conflicting information. One crew member (left) holds a map and compass, while the other (right) holds a digital heading indicator.

A crew of astronauts wearing spacesuits look out across the reddish horizon, the rock formations unfamiliar, with no trails to guide them and incomplete maps. They are lost, once again, on Mars.

Human exploration of the red planet will present unique challenges, and a team of �ֲ��ý researchers are studying real-world human decision-making for Mars through a unique, Earth-based experience.

“When humans land on Mars, poor decisions can lead to loss of the mission and loss of life,” said PhD student Erin Richardson. “This work here on Earth is studying how to best design and support astronaut teams so they can be effective.”

Mars on Earth

Welcome to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), an analog astronaut research facility in the remote Utah desert. Operated by the Mars Society, the center gives scientists and engineers the opportunity to conduct complex experiments in a simulation space habitat.

Using MRDS, Richardson and Postdoctoral Scholar Aaron Allred, both from the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, and Cara Spencer, a PhD student in computer science, are leading a major study on team function – and dysfunction – in isolated and extreme environments.

“Our team is looking at cognitive security. How do we protect people’s ability in the face of information threats like mis- and dis-information and how do teams make decisions based on incomplete information in extreme environments,” Allred said.

Astronaut Experiments

They designed a series of experiments and recruited 18 mock astronauts to live and work at MDRS under conditions that will match actual life on Mars. That included close quarters, little privacy, a requirement to wear spacesuit simulators when leaving the habitat, and lengthy communication delays – up to 40 minutes, when speaking to Mission Control.

A crew member on an EVA looking out across the landscape.

“Decision making of teams in extreme environments is understudied. There has been some work looking at other extreme, isolated environments, like submarine crews and Antarctic teams, but what is novel in our work is the ability to run replicable experimental trials,” Richardson said.

By splitting participants into separate groups and pairings, experimental trials could be repeated to see if results varied.

Although university research involving human subjects often relies on undergraduate volunteers, for this project, the team was able to recruit working scientists and engineers worldwide.

“We had almost 600 applicants,” Richardson said. “MDRS is very well known, and people want to go there. We had a goal of assembling crews that were as close in education, operational experience, and age to real astronauts as possible.”

Once selected, the 18 astronauts were split into three groups of six, with each spending a week at MDRS in late fall.

Navigation Challenges

Once the crews were on site, they took part in outdoor navigation challenges that focused on human response when dealing with incomplete and conflicting information.

“In one experiment, one person had a map, one had GPS, and we always gave one of them incorrect information,” Allred said. “The teammates had to work together to solve where to go. Doing it as extra vehicular activities (EVAs) where they’re wearing a spacesuit outdoors also imposes a time pressure and gives perceived stakes, based on how long the life support system has before it runs out.”

Allred, Richardson, and Spencer.

Subjects completed daily surveys on their experience and wore sensors to track their body’s physiological response, including a functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device to monitor brain function in real time. Team dynamics, alertness, and fatigue were also tracked.

“We’re still analyzing the data, but anecdotally, one crew stayed up super late their last night and in all three of their final EVAs they followed the wrong source of information. Fatigue is unavoidable, but measuring its impact allows us to better support operators,” Richardson said.

Research Impact

As they digest the data collected, the team is excited about the potential impact of the research.

“This was an incredible opportunity to go out there and conduct experiments where there are more stressors than you can do in a laboratory while enforcing controlled experimental design in a space analog. We want to set a baseline of scientific understanding that can aid development of technological countermeasures,” Allred said.

The principal investigator for the grant is Research Professor Leanne Hirshfield in the Institute of Cognitive Science, who also advises Spencer. Allred and Richardson are advised by Allie Hayman, an Associate Professor in Smead Aerospace.

More Photos

The MDRS habitat at dusk.

Two crew members ready for EVA wearing communications headsets and microphones, GoPro cameras, wireless lapel microphones, and location trackers.

Inside the habitat practicing ultrasound imaging skills on a cardiac phantom. Small ultrasound devices like these are ideal for constrained spaceflight missions.

The Perseverance rover departing for an EVA.

A crew of astronauts wearing spacesuits look out across the reddish horizon, the rock formations unfamiliar, with no trails to guide them and incomplete maps. They are lost, once again, on Mars...

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Virtual reality headsets could help astronauts mitigate motion sickness

Jeff Zehnder — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:41:56 +0000

Virtual reality headsets could help astronauts mitigate motion sickness Jeff Zehnder Wed, 10/22/2025 - 13:41

Astronauts generally can't look out the window like you might in a car—a "virtual window" could instead serve that purpose.

When learning about the effects of spaceflight on human health, you typically will hear about the dangers of radiation, bone density loss and changes in eyesight. While these long-term risks are important, a less frequently discussed concern is motion sickness.

As a child, one of us (Taylor) was highly prone to motion sickness – whether in the backseat of a car, sitting on a train or riding a bus. At the time, she considered it a cruel twist of fate, but as an adult – and a scientist to boot – Taylor can tell you with confidence that it was entirely her fault.

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Retiring after 50 years in space life sciences

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:10:04 +0000

Retiring after 50 years in space life sciences Jeff Zehnder Mon, 08/25/2025 - 09:10

Jeff Zehnder

Header: Stodieck and a group of students under Space Shuttle Endeavour prior to the STS-118 launch.
Above: Stodieck loading Fluid Processing Apparati for an orbital experiment.

Louis Stodieck is stepping back from bioastronautics after nearly five decades at the leading edge of research.

A three-time graduate of the �ֲ��ý, Stodieck (AeroEngr BS’79, MS’81, PhD’85) has spent almost his entire career on the Front Range, but his work is literally out of this world. He has been part of BioServe Space Technologies on campus since it was founded in 1987. The center recently celebrated its 100th orbital payload launch to space.

“The launches never become ordinary,” said Stodieck, a professor emeritus in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. “Our first launch was an extreme learning curve; you can’t even imagine getting to it, having something on the space shuttle and getting launched.”

Stodieck grew up on a ranch in northern Nevada. His two older brothers would become electrical engineers. Stodieck was drawn to space.

“Aerospace was very much my priority. Back then there was no online. You had to go to the library to pick up catalogs to figure out which schools had aerospace programs,” Stodieck said.

He applied to CU �ֲ��ý in part for the quality of the engineering program and also for Colorado’s outdoor opportunities.

After finishing his undergraduate degree, he considered going into industry, but the allure of research was strong, and an aerospace faculty member, Marvin Luttges, had funding to take him on as a graduate student.

“The work was more biomedical engineering related. I loved physiology and biology. They complemented my more traditional engineering training,” he said.

At that time, space payloads were almost exclusively the domain of NASA, but in 1987, that changed.

“Congress required NASA to create centers for the commercial development of space and to accept commercial payloads. There was almost no one in the agency that supported it. Commercial payloads were a four-letter word,” he said.

Luttges submitted a proposal to start a center at CU �ֲ��ý, which would become BioServe. Stodieck, who had been completing a postdoc at the University of British Columbia, was drawn back to Colorado to join the team.

It was rough going at first.

“We were trying to promote industry getting involved in the space program, and the first question from companies was always, ‘Well, why would I want to do that?’ Today, there’s much more interest,” he said.

In those early years, BioServe was sending up one or two payloads annually. Today they launch nearly 15 payloads each year, ranging from studies of cell cultures and bacteria to pharmaceutical research. BioServe has also developed permanent hardware used on the International Space Station, including incubators, microscopes and refrigerators to store astronaut food and medications.

Stodieck at Cape Canaveral for a shuttle launch.

Their budget is approximately $5 million each year, funding generated from work with universities and businesses worldwide. If an organization wants to do life science research in space, BioServe can make it happen. The Mayo Clinic, Goodyear, Sanofi Pasteur, and the Aerospace Corporation have all worked with them to develop experiments.

As years passed, Stodieck’s responsibilities at BioServe increased; in 1995 he was promoted from research associate to assistant research professor. In 1999, he was asked to lead the entire center, a position he would hold for 20 years.

He faced particular challenges in 2006 when NASA ended funding for the commercial space program. It was no longer an issue of the agency not trusting commercial providers, they had proven their worth; it was simply a change in leadership priorities.

“At that time, there were 16 centers like ours. After 2006, almost all of them closed. That transition was extremely difficult. We navigated it because we were determined to do so. We strongly felt our program should continue, along with key champions inside NASA,” he said.

In 2019, Stodieck stepped back from the director role to become BioServe’s chief scientist, a role that focused entirely on research. It was an attempt at a phased retirement. Stodieck anticipated he would continue working for another two to three years. It has now been six.

“The last few years all of the work has been with human cells, tissues and lab on a chip systems. This is an area that has potential to treat cancer, blood disorders, autoimmune issues. That’s all really exciting and it’s hard to step away,” Stodieck said.

Although he is now retired, Stodieck is not slowing down. Both he and his wife enjoy traveling and the Colorado lifestyle, including hiking and climbing. They recently went rafting in the Grand Canyon with their two adult daughters.

“I don’t ever see sitting around very long,” he said. “It’s time to see what’s next.”

Louis Stodieck is stepping back from bioastronautics after nearly five decades at the leading edge of research. A three-time graduate of the �ֲ��ý, Stodieck has spent almost...

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CU �ֲ��ý establishes Colorado Space Policy Center

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:34:37 +0000

CU �ֲ��ý establishes Colorado Space Policy Center Jeff Zehnder Tue, 06/24/2025 - 14:34

The �ֲ��ý has established the Colorado Space Policy Center—positioning itself as a new resource on the forefront of an evolving landscape in national and global space exploration.

The center is designed for original research; discussion and debate on space policy issues; and educational programming. The work of the center will address advances in space science and technology, the role of government, the growth of commercial space, increases in global entrants and civilian-military interactions within the space sphere.

The center will seek to tie together entities within the university that involve space science, engineering, exploration, law and business in the aerospace context.

CU �ֲ��ý’s Research & Innovation Office, Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Applied Science and Leeds School of Business represent key partners in the launch of the CSPC.

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Bioserve Space Technologies

New CU �ֲ���ý-built hardware flying high aboard the International Space Station

Bioscience Research

Next Generation Tech

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CU �ֲ���ý space research honored by NASA

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New leadership in Smead Aerospace

Looking Forward

Student Growth

Aerospace Excellence

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NASA spotlight on CU �ֲ���ý space research

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Smead Aerospace ranked #5 among public universities by U.S. News

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ISS National Lab spotlights CU �ֲ���ý space leader

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Leading hands-on Earth research planning for life on Mars

Mars on Earth

Astronaut Experiments

Navigation Challenges

Research Impact

More Photos

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Virtual reality headsets could help astronauts mitigate motion sickness

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Retiring after 50 years in space life sciences

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CU �ֲ���ý establishes Colorado Space Policy Center

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New CU �ֲ��ý-built hardware flying high aboard the International Space Station

CU �ֲ��ý space research honored by NASA

NASA spotlight on CU �ֲ��ý space research

ISS National Lab spotlights CU �ֲ��ý space leader

CU �ֲ��ý establishes Colorado Space Policy Center