Emily Seto


Planetary Protection Engineer

Emily.P.Seto@jpl.nasa.gov


Biography

Emily Pui-Yee Seto received a B.S. in Public Health Sciences at University of California Irvine and her M.S. in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Nottingham, England. Her graduate work at the Centre of Biomolecular Sciences focused on microbial genetics and gene disruption of spore formers to combat antimicrobial resistance in hospital settings. Prior to joining the Planetary Protection group, Emily had developed a diverse research background in the fields of medical microbiology and environmental microbiology. She was selected to train at the State of California Department of Public Health where she specialized in identifying and characterizing infectious agents including bioterrorism pathogens. At JPL, she is currently leading the effort for sterilization and inactivation research as well as technology development for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. She is also supporting flight implementation work for both Mars2020 and Europa Clipper.


Research Interests

  • Sterilization and Inactivation

  • Prions

  • Microbes in extreme environments

  • Spores

  • Astrobiology


Professional Experience

2017 – Present, Planetary Protection Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2017, Public Health Microbiologist, State of California Public Health Department, Richmond, CA

2016, Postgraduate Research Student, Centre of Biomolecular Sciences, Nottingham, England

2014 – 2015, Pathology Technician, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA

2013 – 2015, Clinical Microbiology Lab Assistant, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Orange, CA

2013 – 2014, Water Microbiology Intern, County of Orange Public Health Laboratory, Newport Beach, CA

2010 – 2013, Infectious Disease Student Researcher, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA


Education

2016, M.S. Clinical Microbiology, University of Nottingham, England

2013, B.S. Public Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine


Selected Awards

2017, CDPH: Licensed California Public Health Microbiologist


CL#: 17-1953, 18-1585

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