ESA title
ESA Space Omics Hackathon - SciSpacE
Life Sciences

ESA Space Omics Hackathon

Join us for a 5-day virtual ESA Space Omics Hackathon to tackle space exploration challenges using NASA GeneLab omics datasets. Don’t miss this chance to shape the future of space biology –

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 17th 2024!  

When and where? 

From 23rd to 27th of September 2024 Online.

Challenges: 

Teams will utilize publicly available omics datasets to address challenges aligned with ESA HRE Exploration 2040 Strategy on the following topics:  

  • Reproducibility and open science in space omics 
  • Space multi-omics and data integration  
  • Meaningful experiment design for space biology  
  • Applied Space Biology Research   
  • Bioengineering and Synthetic Biology – Making Space Exploration Sustainable 
  • Planetary Protection: Preventing Contamination of Celestial Bodies 

What is more, the ESA Space Omics Hackathon will present a great opportunity to cooperate with the Experts. Joining us are,  

In the role of Mentors

  • Dr. Jakub Mieczkowski – 3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland 
  • Dr. Pedro Madrigal – European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, UK 
  • Dr. Felice Mastroleo – Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, 2400, Belgium  
  • Dr. Willian da Silveira – University of Salford, UK and International Space University, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France 
  • Dr. Anna Fogtman – ASI – Agenzia Spaziale Italiana for ESA – European Space Agency. European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Cologne, Germany
  • Dr. Stefania Giacomello – Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

In the role of Judges

  • Dr. Natalie Leys – Nuclear Medical Applications, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN, Mol, 2400, Belgium 
  • Dr. Raul Herranz  -Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas “Margarita Salas” (CSIC), Spain  
  • Dr. Daniela Bezdan – NGS Competence Center Tübingen (NCCT), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany  
  • Dr. Virginia Wotring – International Space University, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France 
  • Dr. Sandra Ortega – Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands 
  • Dr. Amanda M. Saravia-Butler – KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA.

How to participate? 

To participate, apply through the OSIP platform. Registration will be open from June 10th to July 17th on  https://shorturl.at/KTK3y

Who can participate? 

We are looking for Master/PhD students from biology fields. The scientific institution for which the coordinator of a proposal is working must be located in one of the ESA member or associated member states

Citizens of countries mentioned on this NASA published list are not able to participate in the Hackathon due to inability to obtain the first prize.

Prizes:  

First-place prize will be an exciting opportunity – an online internship with NASA GeneLab!

The first, second and third place winners will receive ESA’s support for an open publication, an invitation for a tour of the ESA European Astronaut Centre (EAC) and an opportunity to present at an opportunity to present at the next NASA-AWG Symposium. Additionally, the first three winners will also be gifted an ESA goodie bag. 

Our goal:  

The aim of the ESA Space Omics Hackathon is to encourage scientists to explore the field of space biology, while promoting open science and fostering community engagement, especially among early career scientists. Together we can identify new applications for omics methodology in space biology. 

Questions: esaomicshackathon@esa.int