Dr. Rich Whittle is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis, where he runs the Bioastronautics and eXploration Systems (BXS) Laboratory in the UC Davis Center for Space Flight Research (CSFR).
Rich completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University in May 2023, 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 doctoral research focused 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).
Rich received a Master of Science in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University, 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 served as a British Army Officer from 2009 to 2023 with both The Parachute Regiment and the Corps of Royal Engineers. He is a graduate of both the International Space University Space Studies Program and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.