Â鶹ӰԺ

My research investigates human health and performance in aerospace environments. My students and I develop technologies to measure and mitigate the body’s adaptations to extreme stressors with the primary motivation to advance human space exploration. While my diverse interests have led me into several seemingly disparate disciplines, each maintains this common thread: to support humans doing exceptional work in demanding environments.  

My research has four core aerospace emphases, each of which are detailed below: 1. Extravehicular activity (EVA), 2. Alternative reality (XR) technologies for spaceflight applications; 3. The spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS); and 4. Human resilience in isolated, confined, extreme (ICE) environments. These core emphases map to a broad set of disciplines. Each of these areas is identified by NASA as critical to resolve prior to a human mission to Mars. We are tackling future EVA issues by pursuing paradigm-shifting technologies that enable planetary surface exploration. We are investigating novel ways to design spacecraft and train astronauts through XR environments like virtual reality (VR). Our research has also made contributions to SANS by investigating the acute physiological responses to countermeasures and developing technologies to investigate the syndrome’s etiology. Finally, our work provides training and treatment to improve cognitive and behavioral health performance in ICE settings. Together, these aerospace applications span subdisciplines within the fields of engineering, science, medicine. Our methods include fabrication, modeling, data mining, and human subject experimentation. Thus, by focusing our research on human health and performance in extreme environments, we are advancing the state of the art for Earth-based applications in several diverse fields.   

My students come to Bioastronautics with very diverse skills but are smart, creative people who are passionate about human spaceflight and improving human health on Earth. If this research is exciting to you, please e-mail me (apanders@colorado.edu) your CV, a short description of your specific research interests, and your goals in pursuing a PhD. No form letters please!