Ivan Martinez Diez-Muro wants to make drinking water as safe as possible aboard the International Space Station. And, the 28-year-old student in (COPH) hopes a novel idea takes off.
With a boost from a national spaceflight organization, Martinez Diez-Muro has been investigating new energy conversion technologies that might enhance the quality of water for astronauts and even people at home.
“The knowledge we gain could improve water purification systems for future space missions while also inspiring cleaner, more sustainable technologies here on Earth,’’ the student said.
In a paper titled “Dark Adsorption in Space: Testing Cactus-Modified TiO₂ Films Beyond Earth,’’ his team looked at how microgravity affects the interaction between certain materials enhanced by, of all things, a cactus extract. The investigation focused on the earliest stages of photocatalysis − the acceleration of a chemical reaction on materials that absorb light energy.
Ivan Martinez Diez-Muro receiving an award at the USF Office of Student Engagement in Research and Innovation. (photo courtesy of Diez-Muro)
He explained that gravity constantly influences how liquids move on Earth. Warm fluids rise, particles settle and natural mixing occurs continuously. In microgravity, those effects nearly disappear, so liquids behave very differently. Scientists can observe molecular interactions without Earth's gravity affecting the results.
“That allows us to better understand fundamental processes like adsorption, chemical reactions and fluid movement,’’ he said. “In many cases, gravity masks these subtle interactions, so removing it gives researchers a unique laboratory that simply doesn't exist on Earth.’’
The team included Riva Nathani, a biomedical major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and James Ma, a computer science major from the College of Engineering. Faculty support came from Dr. Norma Alcantar, professor and associate dean for research in the College of Engineering; and Dr. Saundra Johnson Austin, director of Student Engagement for Research and Innovation (SERI) in the office of USF Research.
“Working together on a project with real-world applications in space research allowed me to grow as a student researcher and gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork,’’ Nathani said. “I believe this project has significant merit because it explores sustainable, nature-inspired approaches to water purification in microgravity. Understanding how adsorption and fluid behavior change in space is essential for developing reliable life-support systems.’’
Their paper raised plenty of eyebrows, winning a Top 3 honorable mention from the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), part of the . This competitive, nationwide research initiative involved 3,700 students from across the country and gave 10 teams awards for microgravity experiments with the potential for flight aboard the International Space Station. In its inaugural appearance in the program, USF produced three winners – including first place.
The program encourages curiosity, teamwork, critical thinking, and innovation while showing young scientists that their ideas can contribute to real-world discoveries.’’
Ivan Martinez Diez-Muro
That top prize went to the study “Microgravity Effects on Chitosan Hydrogel Structure for Potential Wound-Care Applications,’’ led by principal investigator Krystal Walford, an engineering undergraduate student. Their experiment is scheduled to go into orbit in October.
Along with Martinez Diez-Muro’s team, another USF group won an honorable mention for its research study “Nutritional Retention of Germinating Black Currant Seeds in Microgravity,’’ led by principal investigator Karam Shahrouri, a mechanical engineering major. Both honorable mentions were recognized for their strong scientific design, innovation and competitiveness at the national level.
“SSEP is unique because it gives students the rare opportunity to design real experiments that can be conducted aboard the space station.Instead of simply learning science in a classroom, students become researchers solving authentic scientific problems,’’ Martinez Diez-Muro said. “The program encourages curiosity, teamwork, critical thinking and innovation while showing young scientists that their ideas can contribute to real-world discoveries.’’
Martinez Diez-Muro also was invited to present at a national conference at Kennedy Space Center, where he spoke on student-led research that connects public health with spaceflight and scientific innovation. In addition, he presented his research at a recent OneUSF Research Day on campus.
Ravi Nathani, another member of the research team. (Photo courtesy of Nathani)
Austin said Martinez Diez-Muro is making and difference through his commitment to research excellence and scholarly engagement.
“I witnessed these qualities firsthand’’ in SSEP, she said … “where Ivan and fellow researcher Riva Nathani were recognized as Top 3 finalists at USF, exemplifying scientific rigor and leadership that distinguish him as an exceptional emerging physician-scientist.’’
Although his team’s experiment won’t be aboard the space station, the group continues to test its underlying mechanisms in the laboratory. Martinez Diez-Muro is honing his scientific chops by working as a research assistant with the Hibernation Intelligence Base for Education Research & International Alliance, an international research collaboration based in New Zealand.
Martinez Diez-Muro had been dreaming of doing space-related work since 2009, when he attended NASA’s Space Camp.
“It was one of those moments that didn't feel real at first,’’ he said of the national honor. “Deep down, I believed our team had created something meaningful, but hearing that we were recognized among the Top 3 honorable mentions nationally was incredibly rewarding.’’
“It validated the countless hours we spent researching, writing, revising and learning together,’’ he added. “It's an experience I'll always remember because it reminded me that persistence and hard work truly pay off.’’