James Nick Benardini is an American microbiologist who served as the 8th Planetary Protection Officer for NASA from 2021 onward under President Joe Biden.[1] He has a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Arizona and a PhD in microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry from the University of Idaho. In 2016, he won the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for his contributions to planetary protection at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.[2][3]

James Nick Benardini
8th NASA Planetary Protection Officer
Assumed office
2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byLisa Pratt
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
OccupationPlanetary Protection Officer at NASA
Scientific career
FieldsAstrobiology, Microbiology
InstitutionsNASA
ThesisMicrobiology of aquatic environments :characterizations of the microbiotas of municipal water supplies, the International Space Station Internal Active Thermal Control System's heat transport fluid, and US space shuttle drinking water (2007)

References

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  1. ^ SpaceRef (June 1, 2021). "NASA Announces New Planetary Protection Officer". SpaceNews. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Planetary Protection". Planetary Protection. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  3. ^ https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/author/37086085655
Government offices
Preceded by 8th NASA Planetary Protection Officer
2021–
Succeeded by
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