SGAC announces Malisetti Foundation Winner for SGC 2019

SGAC and the Malisetti Foundation are proud to announce that Chinmayee Raj (India) will be sponsored to attend the 18th Space Generation Congress (SGC) and the 70th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Washington, D.C., USA.

The award from the Malisetti Foundation will partially cover the expenses up to a maximum amount of 1500 USD incurred to attend SGC (round trip travel via airfare, accommodations, visa costs, and the registration fees) and the scholarship winner also is free to use the grant to attend the IAC.

Chinmayee Raj (India)

Chinmayee is a Ph.D. student of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her Bachelor’s in Electronics and Instrumentation from Amrita School of Engineering, India and a Master’s in Bioengineering from San Jose State University, CA, USA. She carried out her master’s thesis on electrochemical sensor systems as a graduate researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, CA. During her tenure at NASA, the interdisciplinary field of astrobiology piqued her interest, and she is now working on instrument systems dedicated to astrobiological applications for her Ph.D. Chinmayee’s Ph.D. thesis is proceeding towards physio-chemical sensor designs for exploration of icy moons such as Europa and Enceladus for their potential to harbor life and support human habitation. Chinmayee is keen on educating youngsters and creating awareness about this quintessential niche field. Astrobiology is the science of developing methods to explore extra-terrestrial worlds and detect life along with realistically enabling human habitation beyond Earth; she believes that gathering global contribution and exchange of ideas will rapidly enhance the field and expand human understanding of life itself.

I am immensely honored and excited to be awarded the Malisetti Foundation Scholarship to attend the Space Generation Council and the International Astronautical Congress. To me, this recognition promises excellent opportunity and exposure to the global space community. This award motivates me to make meaningful contributions to the council, and I am grateful for this opportunity.“