Bioastronautics and Human Performance

People

Faculty

Ana Diaz Artiles, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering

adartiles@tamu.edu

(979) 845-1187

Dr. Ana Diaz Artiles is an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University. Her interests focus on the engineering, biomedical, and human factors aspects of space exploration, including artificial gravity, spacesuits, space physiology, and human health countermeasures. At Texas A&M University she directs the “Bioastronautics and Human Performance” research lab. She received her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015, where she studied artificial gravity combined with exercise as a countermeasure for spaceflight-related physiological deconditioning. Prior to MIT, Ana worked for five years in Kourou (French Guiana) as a member of the Ariane 5 launch team. Dr. Diaz-Artiles has a background in aeronautical engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain), and SUPAERO in Toulouse (France). She is a 2011 Fulbright fellow and a 2014 Amelia Earhart Fellowship recipient.

Doctoral Students

Rich Whittle

Rich Whittle is a Ph.D. Candidate in Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, working in the Bioastronautics and Human Performance Laboratory under Prof. Ana Diaz Artiles. His dissertation is titled “Quantifying the effects of altered-gravity and spaceflight countermeasures on acute cardiovascular and ocular hemodynamics”. Rich’s research interests focus on understanding and characterizing physiological changes in altered-gravity environments, in particular changes on the cardiovascular system during spaceflight, the effect of countermeasures including Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) and short radius centrifugation, and the relationship to spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). He is planning to graduate in Summer 2023.

Rich received a Master of Science in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University, where he was the Vice-Chancellor’s Prize Winner, a Master of Arts and Master of Engineering from the University of Cambridge, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership from Stratford Business School (all UK).  He has worked as a British Army Officer since 2009 and is still a serving Captain in the British Army Reserves.

During his military career, Rich deployed on combat operations with The Parachute Regiment in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and researched the causes of lower limb overuse injury in military recruits.  He also served as an Operations Officer within UK Defence Intelligence (GEOINT), helped write the Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine Human Spaceflight Strategy, and was an industry project management consultant.  He is a graduate of both the International Space University Space Studies Program and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he was HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Medal Winner.

Curriculum Vitae (last updated July 24, 2022)

[Read more…] about Rich Whittle

Nathan Keller

Nathan Keller is an explorer and adventurer. A Ph.D. student on loan from Texas A&M’s Kinesiology department, Nathan went straight into the workforce after finishing his Bachelor’s degree at Texas Christian University.  For years he ran gyms, started businesses, and eventually found his passion for teaching.  As a high school science teacher, Mr. Keller taught Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, and Physics for five years and considers his time in that role to be his highest honor thus far.

The meandering adventure of life has finally led him to pursue his original calling to further the frontiers of science and human exploration. Parlaying his life’s experience and education into his love for all things space, Nathan‘s doctoral work focuses on the implementation of technology countermeasures to the negative effects of prolonged human spaceflight.

Logan Kluis

Logan Kluis is a PhD student in Bioastronautics in Texas A&M’s Aerospace Engineering department. His research interests focus on human spaceflight and in particular, human-spacesuit interaction and performance.

Logan received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Biomedical Engineering at Massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT). While there, he was a recipient of the Aerospace Engineering Department’s James Means Excellence in Space Systems Engineering Award. Outside of the classroom, he was a member of the MIT football team and twice received Academic All-Conference Honors. He was also a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity where he served as President and received the MIT Fraternity Senior Legacy Award. Logan is also a Matthew Isakowitz Fellow.

Poonam Josan

Poonam Josan is a PhD student in Texas A&M’s Aerospace Engineering department. Her interests focus on space human factors, in particular human-system integration (HSI) and human performance optimization in altered gravity environments. She is also interested in understanding human and robotic interactions and using Earth-based analogs to develop related operational frameworks for integrated human-robotic planetary exploration.

Poonam received a B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering from SRM University, India where her research focus was on improving thrust efficiency of micro-propulsion devices using aerospike nozzles. To pursue her interest in human spaceflight, she moved to the US and received a MS in Space Studies from University of North Dakota (UND). While there, she was heavily involved in student rocketry, high altitude ballooning, planetary space suits and human habitation related analog research (both as a subject and mission controller). She also served as President of UND’s Dakota Space Society which engaged the general public in STEAM related activities. Upon graduation, Poonam worked for start-ups in the Southern California aerospace industry before eventually deciding to return to academia. Her current research work at BHP utilizes NASA’s HSI standards for the experimental design and Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing of a Virtual Assistant (VA) tool developed for future long duration exploration missions.

Apart from space exploration, Poonam enjoys traveling, exploring national parks, hiking, and learning about modern history.

 

Renée Abbott (Woodruff)

Renée Abbott is a Ph.D. student in Texas A&M’s Aerospace Engineering department. She is a 2021 NASA NSTGRO recipient, and her research will include developing and assessing the effectiveness of virtual reality technologies as tools to enhance the behavioral health of astronauts on long duration missions. Her additional work is focused on assessing physiological function in altered gravity environments via parabolic flight and short-radius centrifuge analogs. In 2020, Renée received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with minors in mathematics and astrophysics from Texas A&M. She has also been a member of the A&M Gymnastics club since 2017 and served as the Women’s Team Captain from 2020-2021.

Masters Students

Alexis Gangeme

Alexis Gangeme is a Master of Engineering student in Texas A&M’s Aerospace Engineering department. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Spanish and Mathematics from Texas Tech University in May of 2020. After graduating, Alexis spent a year in industry designing power-grid utilities before returning to academia where her primary coursework focuses on systems, design, and human integration.

Outside of engineering, Alexis is an avid traveler and has studied abroad in both Seville Spain, where she spent her Fall 2017 semester continuing her engineering courses, and San Jose Costa Rica, where she attended a Spanish language school.

Yasmin Zaman

Yasmin Zaman is a Masters student in Aerospace Engineering researching in the Bioastronautics and Human Performance Laboratory at Texas A&M University. She is a 2022 Fulbright Scholar from Sydney, Australia. Prior to Texas A&M, Yasmin was a Space Technology Officer at the Australian Space Agency where she led the development of the Applied Space Medicine and Life Sciences roadmap, which is due to be released in 2022.

Yasmin received her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Aerospace Engineering and her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of New South Wales, Australia. She has previously flown drones to look for sharks for Surf Life Saving NSW, competed in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition,and worked on virtual reality at the ANU Advanced Instrumentation and Technology Centre. Yasmin aspires to further Australia’s space life sciences capabilities and contribute to the advancement of human space exploration.

Vani Vellore

Hrudayavani “Vani” Vellore is master’s student from Missouri City, Texas. She received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University. Her research interests involve simulating the way various cardiovascular parameters are altered by gravitational changes. She was awarded the Young Investigator Award at the 2021 Conference for the International Society of Gravitational Physiology.

Outside of the lab, Vani was a member of AggieSat6 at the AggieSat Laboratory. She is also the president of the Texas A&M chapter of the Society of Women in Space Exploration.

Undergraduate Students

Braeden Stewart

Braeden Stewart is a Junior undergraduate student, originally from Dallas, Texas, majoring in Aerospace Engineering with honors at Texas A&M University.  His research interests include gravitational impacts on the human body and related space suit design.  He has been part of a student-led aircraft design team since the spring of 2022.  Braeden leads tours for prospective Aerospace engineering students through the Aerospace Ambassadors program.  Braeden plans to earn his bachelors degree in 2024, and his master’s degree in 2025, at Texas A&M University while seeking additional opportunities to grow as an aerospace engineer.

Outside of class, Braeden enjoys playing soccer and guitar, reading, cooking, and baking.  He has traveled extensively since childhood and particularly enjoyed visiting China, Russia, Dominican Republic, and The Netherlands.  He attends Restoration Church in Bryan, TX, and is a member of Christian Engineering Leaders, through which he finds time to serve the local community.

Eric Hall

Eric Hall is a Junior pre-med Biomedical Engineering major from Nashville, Tennessee with a focus in biomolecular and cellular engineering. He is currently the Director of Aggie Astronaut Corps and is heavily involved with Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, being a former Vice President of the organization. His research interests include cardiac responses to altered gravity environments and countermeasure development for long duration exploration missions. In the future, Eric hopes to attend medical school and work in the field of aerospace medicine.

Outside of the lab, Eric volunteers extensively with TAMU BUILD, an organization dedicated to building mobile medical clinics for use around the globe. He also is an avid ice hockey player and ancient history enthusiast.

Former Students