MELBOURNE, Fla. — Florida Tech is partnering with several other universities with the goal of boosting space manufacturing.

Researchers will be able to collaborate with industry leaders to increase production of medicines, electronics and biology in space.

We saw one of the experiments being done in the new Center for Science, Technology and Advanced Research at the university.

It’s designed to uncover how cells react with one another, and one day apply to astronauts in space.

Leading the way is Caleb Phillips. He grew up in Titusville with a grandfather who worked for NASA from the Apollo to the Shuttle program.

It inspired him to study engineering, then later medicine.

Phillips is now on his way to becoming a biomedical engineer.

“Florida Tech has a history on the Space Coast. They’ve been putting engineers at NASA since the 60s. This is the place to go, brand new facility, opened right as I started,” he said.

He’s now working in one of the new C-STARS lab.

There are similar labs at the University of Florida, Florida A&M and Embry Riddle.

The hub is designed to train the next generation of specialists in space technologies, sciences and exploration and link up potential employers with students like Phillips.

“It gives me the ability to actually start doing work ahead of time. I’m not just a student who needs work experience, I’m applying as a graduate with four years experience, doing hands-on work,” says Phillips.

Florida Tech Biomedical Engineering professor Kunal Mitra is leading the effort.

He says it’s a combination of a rise in private sector investment and competition, increasing the demand for workers in the field.

“The whole idea is that we will be inviting employers to visit, and see what we are doing, and see a valuable position of what they are going to get,” Mitra explains.

So far, more than 50 aerospace, government and industry partners have expressed interest in C-STARS.

Meaning Phillips’ opportunities for an out of this world job is high.

“Whether I go out to the big 5 here on the Space Coast, start-ups, anything,” he says with a smile.