Gretchen J Maldonado-Vazquez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a BSc in 2019, majoring in Microbiology with a clinical emphasis. Currently, studying Soil and Water Sciences at the University of Florida (MSc). She worked as an R&D Scientist in the Microbiology and Molecular Biologist in NASA KSC. Experienced in the professional research science field with the knowledge and capabilities to support laboratory developments and operation, in 2018, worked in the Environmental Microbiology laboratory under Integrated Mission Support Services, LLC at Kennedy Space Center.