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Rachel R. Gilbert

Rachel R. Gilbert

Contractor

Phone: (650) 604-5128
Email: Rachel.R.Gilbert@nasa.gov
Affiliation: Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Space Biosciences Division

Professional Background

Biography

  • NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellow, NASA Ames Research Center (2017-present). Research focus: using simulated microgravity to investigate spaceflight-induced changes in virulence of bacteria in a host-pathogen system using Serratia marcescens and Drosophila melanogaster. Additionally, I’m involved in the development of experiments and validation of spaceflight hardware for upcoming Fruit Fly Lab missions.
  • Graduate Research Assistant, University of Cincinnati (2011-2017). Research focus: investigating the tradeoffs between sexual signaling and immunity in a wolf spider, including changes to the microbiome, innate immune system, and sexual traits.

Education

Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Research Interests

I am using simulated microgravity techniques to mimic the changes in virulence properties to Serratia marcescens that have been discovered during previous spaceflight missions. I intend to functionally characterize these genetic changes by inducing mutagenesis and examining changes in survival of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster after infection with these modified strains. Additionally, I am working to characterize spaceflight-induced changes to the microbiome of D. melanogaster, including the microbiome response to altered gravity and radiation. I am also working to develop experiments and validate spaceflight hardware that will be used in upcoming missions to the ISS.

Select Publications

  1. Gilbert, R., Karp, R. Uetz, GW. Effects of juvenile immune stress on male multimodal sexual signaling in a wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata. Behavioral Ecology (2016) 27 (3): 946-954. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arv241
  2. Gilbert, R and Uetz, G.W. Courtship and male ornaments as honest indicators of immune function. Animal Behaviour (2016) 117: 97-103. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.04.013