Tyler G. Foote
Furlong
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
LEAP Intern - Leadership Mentor, Astrobiology Specialization
NASA L’SPACE Academy
08.2024 - 09.2025
Guided interdisciplinary student teams in astrobiology mission design and preliminary development; provided subject matter knowledge and weekly office hours to support research for over 900 students; facilitated collaboration and project management aligned with NASA protocols; oversaw the first four phases of the NASA mission lifecycle and contributed to Standing Review Board evaluations.
Butterfly House Intern
Churchville Nature Center
06.2025 - 08.2025
Managed butterfly husbandry using sterile techniques; identified arthropod species and tracked life cycles; maintained native plant habitats, and pollinator-friendly gardens; supported ecological health and educational programming through data collection and hands-on site work.
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Department of Biology, Eastern University
01.2024 - 05.2025
Investigated Solanum lycopersicum phenotypic responses to varying light regimes; conducted independent research under faculty mentorship; and produced a comprehensive thesis paper and presentation.
Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, Eastern University
08.2022 - 05.2025
Guided students through experiments and lab equipment demonstrations for General Biology I and II, Introduction to Biology, and Geology; graded assignments and lab reports; maintained and calibrated laboratory equipment; and delivered a guest lecture on Planetary Geology and Solar System Dynamics.
Summer Intern
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
05.2024 - 08.2024
Analyzed organic compounds in biomass and meteorite samples for the Solar System Exploration Division; reviewed literature on global biomass chemistry; developed a preliminary database; and integrated data to assess organic compound abundance and frequency.
Summer Intern
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
06.2023 - 08.2023
Conducted vegetation surveys and biodiversity assessments across multi-acre bioretention basins; applied statistical analysis and data science techniques; compiled findings, and presented them to the Environmental Management Division; assisted with environmental audits, and reviewed EPA compliance and industrial policies.
Education
Master of Engineering - Earth Science and Engineering
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY05.2026
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Eastern University
St. Davids, PA05.2025
Skills
- Statistical modeling and data processing (RStudio)
- Spatial analysis and mapping (QGIS, JMARS)
- Astrophotography and telescope image processing (TheSky64, MAXIM D/L, CCDSoft)
- Field sampling and organism identification
- Biodiversity and vegetation assessments
- GIS, hydrology mapping, and remote sensing
- Spectrophotometry, HPLC, and spectroscopy
- Quadrat and stream morphology surveys
- Analytical chemistry techniques
- DNA extraction and PCR
- Gel electrophoresis and Western blot
- Immunohistochemistry
- Organismal husbandry
- Project management
- Technical writing
- Public speaking
Publications
Tracking ground arthropod diversity in urban forests: Lessons learned from a new undergraduate long-term project, Alfaro, B., Porter, R.C., Foote, T.G., Lohmann, M.J., Herring, C., Blankley, K.E., Anemone, J.N., Madden, K., Unander, D.W., Alfaro, R.E., Urban Naturalist, 74, 1–10 (2024)
Presentations
- LED It Grow: Phenotypic Shifts in Orange Hat Tomatoes Under Colored Light Treatments, Foote, T., 2025, Eastern University Biology Department Senior Thesis Showcase
- Biodiversity and Floristic Composition in Bioretention Basins at NASA GSFC, Foote, T., 2025, Eastern University College of Health and Sciences 2025 Research Symposium
- Integrating Biomass and Meteorite Data: A Database Approach to Analyzing Organic Compound Abundance and Frequency, Foote, T., 2024, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division
- NASA L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy Preliminary Design Review: Enceladus South Tiger Stripe Research and Inorganic Polymers Exploration (E-STRIPE), Sheha, A., Foote, T.G., Harutyunyan, A., Aletto, J., Kautsch, S., Cherop, F., Naicker, H., Trivette, T., Budhathoki, B., Stacey, J.A., Nonna, M., Hong, M., 2023, NASA L’SPACE Academy Standing Review Board
- Synergistic Assessment of Biodiversity and Floristic Composition of Bioretention Basins at GSFC, Foote, T., 2023, NASA Wallops Flight Facility and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Medical and Environmental Management Division
Accomplishments
- NASA L’SPACE Academy - LEAP Internship Mentor of the Semester (Spring 2025)
- Eastern University Biology Department ‘Outstanding Internship’ Award (2025)
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) ASCEND Event Diversity Scholarship (2023)
- Leadership Fellows Grant (2021- 2025)
- Bookstore Award (2021-2022)
- Tom Byron Memorial Scholarship (2021-2025)
Affiliations
- Member of Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) (2025-present)
- Member of American Geophysical Union (2024-Present)
- University Club President (September 2023- May 2025)
Organized campus events and awareness campaigns, created promotional materials, and led community outreach initiatives.
- Member of Sigma Zeta Honors Society (2024-Present)
- NASA L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy Chief Scientist (September 2023 - December 2023)
Led research and mission design on Enceladus habitability; authored key NASA lifecycle documents (MCR, SRR, MDR, PDR); presented Preliminary Design Review to a Standing Review Board; developed skills in technical writing, workforce development, and mission-relevant concepts.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Butterfly House Intern
Churchville Nature Center
06.2025 - 08.2025
LEAP Intern - Leadership Mentor, Astrobiology Specialization
NASA L’SPACE Academy
08.2024 - 09.2025
Summer Intern
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
05.2024 - 08.2024
Undergraduate Student Researcher
Department of Biology, Eastern University
01.2024 - 05.2025
Summer Intern
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
06.2023 - 08.2023
Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology, Eastern University
08.2022 - 05.2025
Master of Engineering - Earth Science and Engineering
Cornell University
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Eastern University