About

I earned my BS in mechanical engineering and MEng in space engineering from the University of Michigan. Afterwards, I joined the University of Colorado’s Bioastronautics program as a PhD student to advance research in human spaceflight. There, I focused on environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) for spacecraft, concentrating in bioregenerative technologies. My research provided carbon loop closure by incorporating algae into air revitalization systems, typically approached with physio-chemical processes. Throughout my study, I was required to consider the spaceflight environment and responses in human physiology. Conducting research in Antarctica allowed me to experience isolation and confinement, analogous to spaceflight, as well as sample some extremophilic algae for my experiments. Now, I apply these lessons learned to my position as an extravehicular activity (EVA) flight controller. It is my duty to understand the spacesuit down to the component and material level, and to execute real-time troubleshooting based on crew reports and downlinked data.