Planetary Protection

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Scientist

moogega.cooper@jpl.nasa.gov
Office: 818-393-7795

Biography

Moogega received her Bachelors Degree in Physics from Hampton University in 2006. She successively enrolled in Drexel University where she received her Masters and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in thermal fluid sciences. Her dissertation studies involved non-equilibrium plasma sterilization of spacecraft materials so it was a logical transition to work for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Planetary Protection Group. Her current projects include developing plasma sterilization methodologies and additional sterilization capabilities for future mission use. She is also the Planetary Protection lead for the Mars 2020 Mission and is involved with the InSight Mission.

Research Interests

Microbial populations in spacecraft assembly facilities
Low biomass sample collection
Plasma sterilization and sterilization methodologies in general

Professional Experience

Planetary Protection Engineer, JPL, Aug 2011 – Present, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group.

Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, Jan 2010 – Aug 2011, Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology Group.

Graduate Student Research Scientist, September 2006 – December 2009, Drexel Plasma Institute, Drexel University.

Co-op Student, June 2003 to September 2006, NASA Langley Research Center.

Student Data Analyst, July 2002 to May 2005, Center for Atmospheric Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.

Selected Awards

JDrexel University 40 under 40 award. 2015.

NASA Group Achievement Award, “For exceptional performance in the rigorous evaluation and rapid synthesis of a development strategy for the Mars Sample Return Planetary Protection technology.” October 2012.

Selected Publications

Cooper, Moogega, et al. "Biological responses of Bacillus stratosphericus to Floating Electrode‐Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Treatment." Journal of applied microbiology 109.6 (2010): 2039-2048.

Cooper, Moogega, et al. "Comparison of innovative molecular approaches and standard spore assays for assessment of surface cleanliness." Applied and environmental microbiology 77.15 (2011): 5438-5444.

Cooper, Moogega, et al. "Decontamination of surfaces from extremophile organisms using nonthermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas." IEEE transactions on plasma science 37.6 (2009): 866-871.

Exton, R. J., et al. "Levitation using microwave-induced plasmas." Applied Physics Letters 86.12 (2005): 124103.

Joshi, Suresh G., et al. "Nonthermal dielectric-barrier discharge plasma-induced inactivation involves oxidative DNA damage and membrane lipid peroxidation in Escherichia coli." Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy55.3 (2011): 1053-1062.

Kalghatgi, Sameer U., et al. "Mechanism of blood coagulation by nonthermal atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma." IEEE Transactions on plasma science 35.5 (2007): 1559-1566.