Jess Atkin’s favorite planet is Earth. It always has been. No surprise there — after all, she spends her days nurturing plants, diving into oceans to clean up debris and caring for her horses at her home on a small patch of land outside of Bryan.
And Atkin’s second favorite thing in the universe? The moon. It’s the quiet, constant companion in the night sky, one that has long captivated her imagination.
“I’ve always felt a deep connection to the moon,” Atkin said. “It’s this peaceful, steady presence. But when I think about it, I realize how much of our understanding of the universe has been shaped by this celestial body. And now, here we are, thinking about sustaining life on it.”
Rather than simply gazing up at the moon, Atkin, a doctoral student in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, is doing something many might consider impossible. She’s researching how to grow chickpeas in lunar regolith, otherwise known as moondust.
“It sounds insane, right?” Atkin said. “I’m studying how a crop that thrives on Earth might survive in the dust of the moon. But it’s not as crazy as it seems. If we want to go to the moon — and beyond — we need to figure out how to grow food there. And if we can make chickpeas grow in that environment, it could open the door to a whole new way of thinking about sustainability in space.”
If she’s successful, her work won’t just be another space experiment — it could be one small plant for man but a giant leap for plant-kind.
Military service to moon research
Born into a military and first responder family, Atkin spent much of her childhood moving between the agricultural landscapes of Utah and the bright lights of Las Vegas.
“I grew up between two very different worlds,” she said. “One where I was in the fields, learning how things grew from the ground up, and another where I was surrounded by the fast-paced environment of the city. That contrast shaped how I see the world.”
But the most important influence on her love for plants didn’t come from the ranch; it came from her grandmother’s greenhouse. As a child, Atkin would spend hours alongside her grandmother, watching as she nurtured seedlings into thriving plants.
“My grandmother could grow anything,” Atkin said. “Her greenhouse was this peaceful space where I learned about plants, soil and how everything worked together. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments planted a seed in me — one that eventually led me to where I am today.”
That early experience shaped her understanding of plant-microbe interactions, even before she knew the science behind them. Little did she know that her grandmother’s ability to grow anything had been passed down to her in a way she could have never imagined. But as she got older, life took her in a different direction, away from plants.
College wasn’t an immediate option, so she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, inspired by a family member who had served before her. During the 2006 surge, she deployed to Baghdad as part of a police transition team, where she trained and mentored Iraqi police in high-risk districts, taking on combat roles beyond the Air Force’s traditional mission.
“I was raised with a strong sense of duty and responsibility,” Atkin said. “There wasn’t much room for excuses. You worked hard, you pushed through the tough days, and you always gave it your best.”
After returning from deployment, Atkin trained cavalry horses at Fort Hood for military use and therapeutic programs. This eventually led her to equine therapy for disabled veterans, a cause she remains passionate about. While horses kept her grounded, something else was calling to her: science.
“I was good at military work, but I never felt truly fulfilled,” she said. “I realized that my real passion was in science. I had always loved biology, the environment and the idea of solving real-world problems. I just hadn’t figured out how to make it a career yet.”
“Chickpeas are an underdog in the plant world. They’re hardy, tough and can survive in a wide range of environments. If we can grow them on the moon, they might be able to provide food and contribute to sustainability during long-duration space missions.”
Jess Atkin ’22 ’27
Doctoral Student, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Finding sustainable solutions in space
After leaving the military, Atkin started community college before transferring to Texas A&M University. Initially, she pursued biomedical sciences, thinking she might go into large animal medicine. But something kept pulling her back to plants. She couldn’t stop thinking about her time spent in the greenhouse with her grandmother.
“Being in horticulture brought me back to those moments,” she said. “It was calm, methodical and I realized I could make a real impact.”
She switched her major to study in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, where she earned her undergraduate degree, and later moved to the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences for her doctorate. Her interest in space agriculture grew as she saw parallels between what plants had done for Earth’s early ecosystems and what they might be able to do for future space habitats.
“I had always been fascinated by space. Growing up, I’d watch documentaries and read about the Apollo missions,” she said. “But I never thought I’d be studying how to grow food on the moon. It was just something that seemed so far out of reach.”
However, as Atkin continued her studies, she realized there was an undeniable connection between space exploration and the issues faced by humanity on Earth. The idea of sustainable food production was central to both.
Growing crops in space could provide solutions to feeding astronauts on long missions while also offering insights into how we could grow food more efficiently on Earth, especially in areas facing soil depletion and harsh climates.
“That’s when it clicked for me,” she said. “Growing food in space wasn’t just a theoretical challenge. It was something that could have real-world applications for food security on Earth. And that’s when I started thinking seriously about researching space agriculture.”
Atkin then took her research a step further, diving into the concept of growing plants in moondust. Her background in plant science and interest in space exploration aligned perfectly with the growing body of research on the future of space food systems.
Underdog of plant research
Unlike many graduate students, Atkin didn’t start with external funding or a big-name research project. Instead, she funded her own work, purchasing a grow tent, specialized lighting and chickpea seeds out of pocket.
“I knew I had the knowledge to make something work, but I didn’t know if it would actually turn into real science,” Atkin said. “So, I started small, buying what I could afford, setting up experiments in my home and hoping for the best.”
True to her military roots and no excuses upbringing, Atkin didn’t let the lack of formal resources stop her. “I’ve always loved to experiment and see what happens. If I can’t afford a fancy lab, I’ll make do with what I have,” she said. “That mindset has gotten me pretty far.”
With determination and a growing curiosity, she set up her own research. Over time, she homed in on the idea of growing chickpeas in lunar dust, focusing on their symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms — traits that made them perfect candidates for Lunar remediation.
“Chickpeas are an underdog in the plant world,” she said. “They’re hardy, tough and can survive in a wide range of environments. If we can grow them on the moon, they might be able to provide food and contribute to sustainability during long-duration space missions.”
Getting noticed by NASA
A bit of an underdog herself, starting with little funding at the beginning of her research, Atkin’s work has since caught the attention of NASA, who awarded her a $150,000 NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology, FINESST, grant. As one of only a select few chosen from 1,120 proposals, the FINESST grant secures her funding for the next three years, allowing her to refine her work and contribute directly to NASA’s goals for space food systems.
Adding to her grant selection, she was selected to do an internship at the Space Plant Biology lab at Kennedy Space Center during the Fall of 2024. Atkin worked in Florida, alongside NASA scientists Dr. Aubrie O’Rourke and Dr. Gioia Massa, developing plant systems that will land on the moon during the Artemis III mission in mid-2027. Her research could play a critical role in making long-term lunar habitation possible.
Atkin is testing chickpeas in environments that mimic the moon’s harsh conditions. Moondust is not only dry and nutrient-deficient but also contains harmful elements that make it difficult for plants to thrive.
“The idea is to recreate the conditions we expect on the moon in a controlled environment here on Earth,” Atkin said. “I’ve tested different types of lunar regolith simulants and even experimented with 16 different varieties of chickpeas. It’s about finding the right combination of conditions to make it possible for these plants to survive and thrive.”
Atkin is also supported by the faculty in both her undergraduate department and graduate department, particularly Terry Gentry, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, and Betsy Pierson, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.
“Having advisers in both soil and horticulture has been crucial to my research,” Atkin said. “Dr. Pierson specializes in plant-microbe interaction. Dr. Gentry guides me with his expertise in soil and water microbiology, as well as remediation. Having the combination of their mentorship has pushed this research forward.”
In Atkin’s lab, science is precise but also personal. Tucked among her research equipment is an AI-generated image of chickpeas growing on the moon, a vision of what she hopes will one day become reality. It hangs near her moondust experiments, not just as decoration, but as inspiration for her plants. “I like to think they need a little encouragement,” she said laughing. She also plays classical music for them, believing that a calm environment fosters strong growth. And sometimes, she even talks to them, offering words of motivation like a coach urging an underdog team to victory. “I tell them, ‘You’re going to grow up to be big and strong, and one day, you’ll be on the moon.’”
Rooted in curiosity
Atkin is not just focused on her research; she’s also deeply committed to sharing her passion with others. She mentors young scientists across the country, working with high school and college students to get them excited about plant science and space research.
“I love working with younger students because they still have that natural curiosity,” she said. “When you’re young, you don’t know that things can’t be done, so you just try. That’s the kind of mindset we need — people who are open to asking questions, to failing, to getting up and trying again.”
Outside the lab, she remains connected to Earth. Whether tending to her horses, scuba diving to clean up debris from oceans or working with veterans through equine therapy, her passion for sustainability isn’t just about space — it’s about making the world better, wherever she is.
“Earth is my favorite planet,” she said. “I love space, but everything I’m learning out there applies to what we need to fix here, too.”
Her research is more than just about growing chickpeas in moondust. It’s about blending the past, present and future — honoring the Earth while preparing for the possibility of life on other planets. It’s about finding solutions to problems we haven’t even encountered yet and always asking questions.
“Stay curious,” she said. “Don’t let what seems to be impossible stop you. Ask every question, turn over every stone, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. The future is full of possibilities… a whole universe of them.”
And perhaps one day soon, the same dust that clung to Neil Armstrong’s boots in 1969 will be home to the first chickpea roots of a lunar farm, a testament that the underdog should always reach for the stars, and the moon.
