Dr. Rama ‘Bala’ Balasubramanian is a physicist, scholar, educator, mentor and a social entrepreneur. She has over 20 years of experience as a physics professor and her research expertise lies in experimental nanotechnology, focusing on the applications of quantum materials in biotechnology and Martian mineralogy. She has mentored several dozen students in the spectral analysis of MIMOS-II data from NASA's successful MER rover missions, Spirit and Opportunity; those missions have deepened our understanding of Mars's geology. She and her collaborators at the Aging Institute are currently working on developing a nanoscale tool to track cellular aging, potentially offering new methods to map human aging during space travel in the future. Dr. Bala’s vision is to make research and experiential education accessible to all students, and especially to students underrepresented in STEM fields. She is a strong advocate for promoting women and underserved students’ representation in physics and engineering. She leads a non-profit organization with a ‘pay-it-forward’ vision to mentor and develop the next generation of leaders and knowledge creators in STEM fields. Through their STEMnetX program- a workforce talent development initiative, Dr. Bala aims to empower underserved students in Western PA students to pursue space careers. Dr. Bala serves as a national Career Mentoring Fellow, selected by the American Physical Society (APS) in recognition of her efforts to develop a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce in physics and engineering.
