Current Students
Kieran Smith
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. Torin Clark
Kieran Smith is a fourth year Ph.D. Student working with Professor Torin Clark. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in May 2020. While there, his work studied the mechanical properties of chordae tendinae in human heart valves, investigated user experience aboard the Boeing 777X aircraft, and performed thermal analysis for the International Space Station.
Kieran’s Ph.D. work focuses on understanding situation awareness in human operators from a physiological and cognitive perspective. In his free time, he likes to run trails, bike roads, ski uphill, and walk long distances with heavy backpacks. He also enjoys taking photos, slow coffee, and reading books. last updated September2023
ܲԻ徱Բ:College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean’s Graduate Assistanceship, DARPA SBIR on Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation as a Novel Display Modality (2020-2021),Charles Stark Draper Labs Scholarship (2021-Present),and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2021-Present)
Ella Schauss
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Ella Schauss is a first year PhD student working with Dr Allie Anderson developing a mechanical counter pressure garment in order to advance the hybrid spacesuit concept.
Ella received her Bachelor’s degree (Spring 2019) and Master’s degree (Fall 2019) from the Wilson College of Textile at NC State University in Textile Engineering with a concentration in product development. During her time at NC State, Ella worked on a multitude of projects through industry and the university. Her senior project, which was sponsored by Red Bull, was to develop and test materials for the application of wingsuits and BASE jumping suits for Red Bull athletes. Ella has had a variety of experience in industry such as Lean Six Sigma manufacturing, material development, and sensor integration into wearable textiles.
When not in school, Ella can probably be found in the mountains running, climbing, or skiing. A native to North Carolina, she is very excited to be in the wild, wild west, absorbing everything Colorado has to offer. last updated September 2020
Bharath Tata
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Ionic Liquid-Facilitated Gas Separations for ISRU and ECLSS
Funding:NASA STTR MarsOasis (2020-2021), NSTGRO (2021-present)
Savannah Buchner
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Savannah is a PhD student advised by Dr. Allie Anderson in Aerospace Engineering with an emphasis in Bioastronautics. Her research is on virtual reality as a training modality for satellite operations. During her MS work at CU «Ƶ, her research focused on estimating cognitive states for human autonomy teaming. Savannah earned her B.S. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis in 2019. While there, she was involved in research on self-customizable procedures for long duration astronaut training. She also interned at Lockheed Martin and NASA's Johnson Space Center. In her free time, Savannah loves exploring the outdoors,reading, and amateur astronomy.last updated September 2023
Funding: NASA HOME STRI (2021-2022),SpaceWERX (2022-present)
Taylor Lonner
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Torin Clark
Taylor started as a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU «Ƶ in 2021 with a focus in Bioastronautics. She is advised by Dr. Torin Clark, and her research involves using ground-based paradigms to determine countermeasures for motion sickness in astronauts having undergone gravity transitions.
Taylor received a B.S. in Geophysics and a B.S. in Astrophysics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2020. Her research at UCLA was focused on developing a laboratory experiment to simulate the fluid dynamics of the outer core of the Earth and other planets using rotating tanks of water. Her love of space exploration and applied physics led her down the path of Aerospace Engineering and Bioastronautics. Her skills working with rapidly rotating tanks of water has transferred well to working with the Human Eccentric Rotator Device (HERD), CU «Ƶ’s human centrifuge.
In her free time, Taylor enjoys knitting, cooking, video games, horseback riding, and spending time with her dog Ruby Tuesday.last updated September 2022
Funding:NASA Human Research Program (2021-present)
Caroline Austin
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Torin Clark
Caroline is a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the «Ƶ, with a Bioastronautics focus. She is advised by Dr. Torin Clark and is currently working on a project that uses galvanic vestibular stimulation to recreate vestibular illusions experienced by astronauts post spaceflight. She is also an NSF GRFP fellow.
Caroline received her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Alabama in 2022. While there, she was a member of the Randall Research Scholars Program and conducted undergraduate research in human balance, including work with electrical stimulation/stochastic resonance and stepping thresholds. Caroline is also a Pathways Intern at NASA Glenn Research Center where she has conducted power generation analyses for the ISS and worked on Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome modeling efforts.
Caroline is a Michigan native who enjoys hiking, biking, gymnastics, and embroidery.last updated September 2022
Funding:NASA SBIR w/ Soterix Medical, Inc. (2022-present)
Amrita Singh
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Amrita started as a PhD Student in Aerospace Engineering Sciences (Bioastronautics focus) at CU «Ƶ in 2022. Her research is focused on lunar habitat simulations and lunar dust mitigation strategies, inspired by the risks posed to crew health and performance by the pervasive and abrasive qualities of lunar dust.
Amrita received her B.S. in Astronautical Engineering and her B.A. in Theatre from the University of Southern California in 2021. She has held a variety of roles in both fields, working in both research and industry positions in astronautics and as a director, actor, designer, and playwright in LA. During her final years of her undergraduate education, Amrita realized her passion for Bioastronautics and embarked on an internship at NASA Ames Research Center, where she developed a model for microbial population growth in the deep space radiation environment (AMMPER).
In her free time, Amrita enjoys reading, sleeping, video games, and (like everyone in «Ƶ) hiking and climbing.last updated April 2023
Funding: NSF GRFP (2023-present)
Erin Richardson
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Erin is a Bioastronautics PhD student working with Dr. Allie Anderson. She is working on estimating human cognitive states using psychophysiological data to improve human-autonomy teaming for deep space habitats. She completed her undergrad in Engineering Science at the University ofToronto with a major in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Robotics and Mechatronics.
Erin is passionate abouthuman and robotic space exploration and has had the opportunity to work on projects ranging from asteroid samplingand Mars rovers to studying the effects of microgravity on human telomeres on a parabolic flight. She recentlycompleted her Private Pilot License and represented young Canadians to the UN at Space Generation Congress.Through Space Generation Advisory Council, Erin researches diversity in astronaut selection and enabling access to spaceflight for people with disabilities.
Erin loves snowboarding, hiking, and acting. As a Canadian, her favourite book is Chris Hadfield’s “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” and she is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.last updated March 2023
Funding:NASA HOME STRI (2022-present)
Victoria Hurd
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Vicki is a Bioastronautics PhD student in the Aerospace Engineering Sciences department at CU «Ƶ.She is advised by Dr. Allison Hayman. Her research involves 1) developing software to monitor for decompression sickness in astronauts on extravehicular activity and 2) investigating retention of ultrasound skill for long-term spaceflight.
Vicki has stuck around «Ƶ after completing a Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering from CU. She graduatedin May of 2022. During her undergrad, Vicki was a research assistant for BioServe Space Technologies. In this role, she manufactured and operated life science experiments for the International Space Station and assisted with the manufacture of the current refrigerator used by astronauts to store medicine and fresh food. She has also dabbled in Enceladus astrobiology research for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Vicki has completed similar work on Europa for the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and is a current Europa Clipper affiliate. Vicki got her master's degree in Aerospace Engineering with a certificate in Biomedical Engineering in May of 2024.
If she's not at the lab, Vicki is probably skiing or out biking. Her other hobbies include running, hiking, cooking, painting, trying to get through her endless reading list, and out starting a million different side projects!last updated September 2024
Funding:NSTGRO (2024-present)
Nicole Rote
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. Torin Clark
Nicole started as an AES PhD student in 2023. She is advised by Dr. Torin Clark and funded by the NSF GRFP.
Nicole obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 2019. At Purdue, Nicole completed thermal analysis as a part of RETHi (Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitat Institute) to support future lunar habitats. Also, during her undergrad, she researched Europa Lander sample acquisition systems at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
After graduating, she worked at Boeing Research & Technology in Loads and Dynamics analysis and testing, supporting efforts from F/A-18 flight testing to spacecraft vibration and shock testing. While at Boeing, she earned a graduate certificate in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California.
In her free time, Nicole loves hanging out with her dog Luna, rock climbing, hiking/mountaineering, building things, and snowboarding. last updated September 2023
ܲԻ徱Բ:NSF GRFP (2023-present)
Ben Greaves
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. James Nabity
Ben (he/him/his) is an Aerospace Engineering PhD student with a focus on Bioastronautics and is also pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Global Engineering from the Mortenson Center. Ben attended the University of Michigan where he received a BSE in Mechanical Engineering, a minor in Astrophysics, and a MEng in Space Engineering. As a graduate student, Ben interned at NASA Kennedy Space Center and NASA Langley Research Center where he developed projects for extraterrestrial food production as well as Martian habitat designs.
He has volunteer experiences as a U.S. Peace Corps agricultural volunteer in The Gambia and conducting relief work in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. In addition to these experiences, Ben spent two years in Abu Dhabi, UAE, engineering off-Earth agricultural systems and exploring their applications for resource-strained terrestrial environments. He is particularly interested in exploring technologies and systems for more efficient agriculture, energy production, and climate-change resiliency.
As a new Colorado resident, Ben enjoys learning about «Ƶ attractions and activities as well as exploring the outdoors. last updated September 2023
ܲԻ徱Բ:NASA HOME STRI (2023-present)
Luca Bonarrigo
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. Allison Hayman
Luca (he/him) is a Bioastronautics PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at CU «Ƶ advised by Dr. Allison Anderson. A Colorado native and second-time Buff, he graduated with his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from CU «Ƶ in May 2023. His current research focuses on measuring the neurophysiological responses to operationally-relevant virtual reality training simulations for long-duration exploration missions.
During his time at CU as an undergraduate, Luca spent several years working in satellite mission operations at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), where he had the chance to serve as technical support in mission control for a rocket launch, before getting involved in bioastronautics research. His senior design project focused on designing a hybrid-reality simulation to train astronauts for lunar surface operations, which sparked his interest in alternative reality solutions to enhance training for deep space.
In his free time, Luca enjoys art, writing, and reading, and is always working on a creative project on the side. He is passionate about STEM outreach and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and also loves exploring the outdoors (whether it be in sun, rain, or snow).last updated September 2023
ܲԻ徱Բ:NASA HRP(2023-present)
Sarah Leary
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. Katya Arquilla
Sarah received her Bachelors (2022) and Masters (2024) degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the «Ƶ. During her undergraduate career, she was an assistant to Dr. Katya Arquilla (then a PhD candidate) on one of Dr. Allie Anderson's projects. In this work, Sarah designed and manufactured a device that allows self-placement of electrodes in a 3-lead configuration with minimal variability for the purpose of autonomous behavioral and physical health monitoring through electrocardiogram (ECG). As a follow-on to this work, Sarah performed an independent study where she investigated the association between biological sex and perceived stress, anxiety, and depression scores in the general population during COVID-19 lockdown. During Sarah's first-year of graduate school, she was a Teaching Assistant (TA) for Medicine in Space and Surface Environments (MiSSE) which teaches students wilderness first aid and how to apply these principles to the spaceflight environment. This course culminates into a week-long Mars analog at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah where students participate in simulated extravehicular activity (EVA) with science-driven objectives and stressful medical events. In her first-year of her PhD, Sarah worked on one of Dr. Allie Anderson's projects that focused on building models capable of inferring and predicting trust in human-autonomy applications.
As a result of these experiences, Sarah's research focuses on designing, building, and testing an anthropometrically-accommodating wearable sensor system for behavioral health monitoring in the wild. Data collected from the wearable system will also enable the generation of models capable of inferring behavioral health decrements of the wearer.last updated March 2024
ܲԻ徱Բ:Air Force Office of Scientific Research (2023-2024), Charles Stark Draper Labs Fellowship (2024-present)
Grace Robertson
PhD Student
Advisor:Dr. James Nabity
Plant Studies on Photosynthetic Gas Exchange Parameters for Hybrid Life Support Systems
Grace received her bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering focused in Astronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022. While at ERAU, she worked in theSpace Technologies Lab under Dr. Troy Henderson and collaborated on the team that built EagleCam, the first university payload to ever reach the moon.
Since January of 2022, Grace has been with Sierra Space - first as an Instrumentation Systems Engineer and now in the Flight Operations department working on the ECLSS console. She will finish MS coursework in Bioastro by May of 2025.
Grace's PhD studies surround plants as a part of hybrid spacecraft life support systems. Biologicalcomponents of life support systems support a future long-term space mission architecture in which systems follow a closed-loop architecture, making the mission more cost-effective through self-sustainment. last updated September 2024
Major Lucia White
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Lucia earned her BS in Biology at the United States Air Force Academy in 2010 and her MS in Botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022. While in Madison, Lucia focused heavily on astrobotany, taking part in plant experimentation on the International Space Station. She continued her biological research in microgravity as an instructor of biology at the United States Air Force Academy. As a Bioastronautics PhD student, she hopes to help bridge the gap between biology and aerospace engineering in the Space Force where she is an active duty officer.
In her limited free time, you can find her tending to her plant collection, doing STEM outreach, working out, or indoor skydiving.last updated September 2024
Lisa Ventura
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Lisa is a PhD student in both Autonomous Systems and Bioastronautics, co-advised by Dr. Allison Hayman and Dr. Zach Sunberg. Her research interests include human-autonomy teaming, trust modeling and prediction, risk management in partially observable environments with uncertainty, autonomous navigation to minimize risk, and optimizing human trust of collaborative autonomous systems. Prior to her entry into the PhD program at CU, Lisa earned a masters degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.last updated September 2024
Maggie Lea
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
I’ve always been inspired to expand humanity’s horizons and help send astronauts back to the moon and beyond. Previously, I have worked at Axiom Space on the structures and mechanisms team as a Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, and at Agile Space Industries on propulsion design. I value STEM education and outreach, and advocating for women and minorities in the aerospace industry. Outside of research, I enjoy playing bass guitar, taking photos of my bearded dragon (Norb), and exploring Colorado parks and wildlife.last updated September 2024
ܲԻ徱Բ:GRA (2024-present)
Josep Ivars Martínez
MS Student (Visiting Scholar)
Advisor:Dr. Katya Arquilla
Abby Rindfuss
MS Student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Jonas Holl
MS Student
Advisor:Dr. James Nabity