Molika Sinha – The Hidden Science of Space Exploration
Think space is only for astronauts and engineers? Think again! Space exploration requires people from many fields working together to answer some of the biggest questions about life beyond Earth. Discover how space has become one of the world’s most exciting laboratories, where researchers study human health, plants, behavior, and aging. Hear about the NASA RR-20 mission and learn how scientists investigate the effects of space on living organisms—and how these discoveries can shape the future of human exploration and improve our understanding of biology on Earth.
Molika is a female health and space scientist. She is currently a graduate research assistant and a PhD student at University of Kansas Medical Center. Originally from India, Molika earned her Master’s degree from Texas A&M University, College Station and has a decade of research experience working on topics ranging from ovarian cancer to increasing IVF success rates at institutions such as University of California Berkeley and Stanford University, and now KUMC. She was also a NASA Fellow, and is currently working with them to understand how human body adapts in space conditions.
Outside the laboratory, Molika has led national leadership workshops, enjoys communicating science in creative ways, and has a passion for fashion and theater. She believes that you don’t have to choose between science and creativity—you can pursue both.