Here is a quick guide to the people and places : 

Pawelczyk has been named by NASA as one of two payload specialists who will fly aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. He will be the first Penn State faculty member in space and is one of only a handful of university-based researchers to ever fly on a shuttle mission. 

As a payload specialist on Neurolab, Pawelczyk will conduct experiments on behalf of about two dozen researchers. The specialists oversee all of the experiments on the flight,  performing the necessary "hands-on work and making decisions" for the Earthbound investigators.

NOLL LAB

This is the home of Penn State's Physiological Research Center. 

www.noll.psu.edu

With over 76,000 students in 23 locations across Pennsylvania, Penn State leads the nation in the integration of teaching, research and public service 

www.psu.edu

A 16-day shuttle mission to be launched April 16, 1998. Neurolab is dedicated to life sciences research. Results of the research may prove useful not only to astronauts but to older adults as well. 

neurolab.jsc.nasa.gov and www.psu.edu/nasa

Since its start in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has pursued "the expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space". 

www.nasa.gov