Her dissertation research was in molecular biology where she studied genetic changes in bone cells exposed to simulated microgravity.

Mamta Patel Nagaraja was born in Anaheim, California to parents who emigrated from India to the United States just a year earlier.

Mrs. Bean handed Nagaraja a copy of the Texas A&M Full Ride Scholarship application the day before it was due and told her to apply.

[3] She was awarded the scholarship and began her formal education at Texas A&M University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering in 2003.

In 2007, she completed a doctorate in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech with dissertation research performed in the School of Medicine at Emory University.

In 2013, Nagaraja accepted an opportunity at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to serve as an operator for a science mission to the Moon.

Lastly, Dr. Nagaraja has previously served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Catholic University of America.

She was also the recipient of the Robert H. Goddard Exceptional Achievement in Engineering award for her significant contributions to the lunar mission called LADEE in 2013.