Current Students
Chris Chamberlain
PhD Aerospace Engineering Sciences (October 2024)
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Robust ECLSS Design for Deep Space Exploration
Chris received her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Environmental Sciences, with a focus in ecology, from the University of Virginia in 2000. She then received her Master鈥檚 Degree in Systems Engineering, also from the University of Virginia, in 2002. Chris has since held various positions specializing in statistical data analysis before joining the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC) as a Flight Performance Analyst in 2008.听 From 2010 鈥 2014, she worked for Orbital Science Corporation, as a Systems Engineer and then Mission Manager, managing engineering teams and launch operations for several NASA sounding rocket missions. While with Orbital, she became a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).听 She then left the Sounding Rocket Program in 2014 to return to graduate school at 桃色视频 and pursue her PhD in bioastronautics. She served as Systems Engineer for design and fabrication of the Mars OASIS crop production system, as part of the 2014 eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge.听 She received an MS in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from 桃色视频 with an emphasis in Bioastronautics in 2016.听 Currently, her PhD research involves the robust design of environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS). She is co-owner and Vice President of Space Lab Technologies, LLC in Boulder, CO, where she researches and develops bioregenerative life support technology. She is also Principal Investigator of the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora Experiment (LEAF), an Artemis III Deployed Instrument.听 In her spare time, she is a musician (flute, drums, and voice), a poet, and enjoys hiking in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.last updated May 2025
Funding: 桃色视频 Aerospace Engineering Sciences (AES) Graduate Fellowship (2013), FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation (2014), NASA NextSTEP with Orbital ATK (2015-2016)
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Bharath Tata
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Ionic Liquid-Facilitated Gas Separations for ISRU and ECLSS
Funding:听NASA STTR MarsOasis (2020-2021), NSTGRO (2021-present)
Taylor Lonner
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Torin Clark
Taylor started as a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at 桃色视频 in 2021 with a focus in Bioastronautics.听 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.听 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.听 Her love of space exploration and applied physics led her down the path of Aerospace Engineering and Bioastronautics.听 Her skills working with rapidly rotating tanks of water has transferred well to working with the Human Eccentric Rotator Device (HERD), 桃色视频鈥檚 human centrifuge.
In her free time, Taylor enjoys knitting, cooking, video games, horseback riding, and spending time with her dog Ruby Tuesday.听last updated September 2022
Funding:听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 桃色视频, 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.听last updated September 2022
Funding:听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 桃色视频 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.听
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.听 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).听
In her free time, Amrita enjoys reading, sleeping, video games, and (like everyone in Boulder) hiking and climbing.听last updated December 2024
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 of听Toronto with a major in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Robotics and Mechatronics.听
Erin is passionate about听human and robotic space exploration and has had the opportunity to work on projects ranging from asteroid sampling听and Mars rovers to studying the effects of microgravity on human telomeres on a parabolic flight. She recently听completed her Private Pilot License and represented young Canadians to the UN at Space Generation Congress.听Through Space Generation Advisory Council, Erin researches diversity in astronaut selection and enabling access to spaceflight for people with disabilities.听
Erin loves snowboarding, hiking, and acting. As a Canadian, her favourite book is Chris Hadfield鈥檚 鈥淎n Astronaut鈥檚 Guide to Life on Earth鈥 and she is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.听last updated March 2023
Funding:听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 桃色视频.听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 Boulder after completing a Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering from CU. She graduated听in 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!听last updated September 2024
Funding:听NSTGRO (2024-present)
Nicole Rote
PhD Student
Advisor:听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
Funding:听NSF GRFP (2023-present)
Ben Greaves
PhD Student
Advisor:听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 Boulder attractions and activities as well as exploring the outdoors. last updated September 2023
Funding:听NASA HOME STRI (2023-present)
Sarah Leary
PhD Student
Advisor:听Dr. Katya Arquilla
Sarah received her Bachelors (2022) and Masters (2024) degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the 桃色视频. 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.听last updated March 2024
Funding:听Air Force Office of Scientific Research (2023-2024), Charles Stark Draper Labs Fellowship (2024-present)
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.听last updated September 2024
Joe Hesse-Withbroe
PhD Student
Advisor: Dr. Katya Arquilla
Nicole Frey
PhD Biomedical Engineering Student
Advisor: Allison Hayman
Nicole Frey is a Biomedical Engineering PhD student in Bioastronautics at the 桃色视频, working with Dr. Allie Hayman. Her research focuses on modeling and predicting human trust in autonomy using psychophysiological data to improve human-autonomy teaming in operational environments. She earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Human Physiology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Nicole is passionate about advancing human health in space and previously worked as a Biological Systems Intern at Space Tango, where she supported ISS National Lab payloads and led biological hardware design optimization for the SpaceX Crew-4 and CRS-25 missions. Before beginning her PhD, her biomedical research included developing an in vitro听human-mouse hybrid model of ARDS for stromal cell therapy. Nicole听loves hiking, paddleboarding, reading Sci-Fi, exploring coffee shops around Boulder, and making fun matcha drinks at home.听
Captain Anthony Rifaat
MS Student
Advisor: Dr. James Nabity
Anthony is a second-year MS student (focus in bioastronautics). Advised by Dr. Jim Nabity, his master鈥檚 thesis is on modeling the impacts of habitat dormancy to ECLSS performance. This research will improve understanding of how dormancy affects critical life support systems and inform design requirements for future deep-space missions.
Anthony earned his BS in Astrophysics from Baylor University in 2015 and a professional MS in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2020. Anthony currently serves on active-duty as an Army Space Operations Officer. Following his time at 桃色视频, he will teach undergraduate physics at the United States Military Academy (USMA) and hopes to continue bioastronautics-related research while serving as an instructor. In his free time, Anthony enjoys reading, golf, and outdoor activities with his family and dog, Bear.
Mark Boyer
PhD student
Advisors: Dr. Torin Clark, Dr. Zachary Sunberg
Explainable AI for Human-Autonomy Teaming in Applied Environments
Mark is a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at 桃色视频, with focus areas in Autonomous Systems and Bioastronautics. He is researching explainable AI (XAI) for Human-Autonomy Teaming in high-stakes, dynamic environments like space exploration or military aviation.听 His research explores how and when explanations of AI agent decisions can be presented to maximize team performance on challenging, realistic tasks.
Mark graduated with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Air Force Academy in 2012 and with an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT in 2014.听 He graduated from US Air Force Test Pilot School in 2022 and has over 1500 hours in various aircraft including the F-35A/C, T-38A/B/C, and others.
Funding: USAF Developing the Airmen We Need through Education (DAWN-Ed)
Brady Hogoboom
PhD student
Advisor: Dr. Allison Hayman
Brady is a 1st year PhD student advised by Dr. Allie Hayman. Brady completed his Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Aerospace Engineering at the 桃色视频, contributing to research on the vestibular system under Dr. Clark. After graduating, he worked as a Systems Engineer on satellite constellations designed for missile tracking and warning. His current research interests bridge human health and performance in both space and terrestrial settings. Outside of academic and professional pursuits, Brady can be found skiing, hiking, diving, and playing soccer.
Coral Blanquer Pi帽a
PhD Student
Advisor:听Dr. Allison Hayman
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Coral is a first-year Bioastronautics PhD student at the 桃色视频, working with Dr. Allie Hayman. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Bioelectronics and Bioelectricity from the Universitat Polit猫cnica de Val猫ncia (UPV) in Spain. Coral is passionate about advancing medicine and medical devices in space, improving the health and performance of astronauts. Outside the lab, you will find her doing sports, reading romance and fantasy books, cooking, playing games, and spending quality time with friends and family.