Meet the Director
Professor Charles Doarn serves as the director of the institute. Professor Doarn holds degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Dayton. He is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences within the College of Medicine. He spent 33 years with NASA as a program executive in the field of aerospace medicine and remote health care as it related to human spaceflight. His full CV can viewed here.
Director’s Message –
I am delighted to support the UC Office of Research in this new endeavor. Most of my career has been at the intersection of medicine, public health, engineering and program management. While I remain fully engaged in medicine and public health with ties to NASA, it is my program management skills that I will apply to this new institute in helping shape the University of Cincinnati’s efforts in aerospace through mutually-beneficial partnerships with NASA’s aerospace engineering activities, the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson, industry partners, academia, and the State of Ohio in expanding our boundaries in education and discovery. Each new graduate of our engineering and applied sciences program as well as other disciplines within our vibrant urban campus will be better prepared as a result of their involvement with our faculty, collaborators, and this institute. Feel free to contact me by phone at (513) 558- 6148 or by email at charles.doarn@uc.edu
Advisory Board
The Institute is guided by a diverse group of subject matter experts internal and external to UC. These individuals, listed below bring interdisciplinary prowess to Institute, providing strategic advise as it grows in stature and capability. From time to time, individuals will join the Board.
Amit Bhattacharya, PhD
Professor
Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences
UC College of Medicine
Dr. Bhattacharya, with a PhD in biomedical engineering and an MS in fluid mechanics, is a Professor at UC in Environmental Health, Biomedical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. He directs the EDDI Lab, focusing on early detection of degenerative disorders. His research includes wearable sensors for firefighters, genetic impacts on postural stability, cardio-synched vibration therapy for weightlessness, and noninvasive techniques for detecting neurotoxicity and early markers of osteoarthritis. His work on balance quantification for chemical toxicity was recognized by NIEHS. Dr. Bhattacharya serves on review panels for organizations like NIH and CDC and is a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society.
John A. Benek, PhD
Senior Scientist
Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate
Wright Patterson Air Force Base
John A. Benek, with over 50 years of experience, is the senior scientist for aeronautics at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. He specializes in advanced wind tunnel testing, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and fluid dynamics modeling integration. Previously, he led the Computational Fluid Dynamics Department at AEDC and managed high-performance computing at Raytheon/Army Research Laboratory. A UC alumnus, Benek holds an MS and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tennessee. He is a Fellow of AIAA, past chair of several AIAA committees, and a Distinguished Alumnus of UC.
Elaine Bryant
Managing Director, Military and Federal Sector
JobsOhio
Dayton, Ohio
Elaine Bryant is the Executive Vice President for Aerospace and Defense at the Dayton Development Coalition and Managing Director of the Federal and Military sector for JobsOhio. With over 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, she holds a BS from the Air Force Academy and an MS in Aerospace from the University of Maryland. Her roles included F-16 maintenance officer, Air Vehicles director at AFRL, Aeronautics Professor at the Air Force Academy, and Commander of the Foreign Material Exploitation Squadron at WPAFB. In 2020, she was appointed by Governor DeWine to lead PPE acquisition for Ohio during COVID-19.
Kelly Cohen, PhD
Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Cohen is the Interim Department Head and Brian H. Rowe Endowed Chair in UC's Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. An Associate Fellow of AIAA and Senior Member of IEEE, he specializes in AI, intelligent systems, and UAVs. Prior to UC, he spent 22 years in military R&D, focusing on UAVs and air mobility. Since 2010, he has secured $6M in research funding and graduated 10 PhD and 26 MS students. With over 115 publications and 340 conference presentations, he also serves on editorial boards for journals like Unmanned Systems and Automation.
Richard J. Harknett, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Political Science
UC College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Harknett is Professor and Head of Political Science and Chair of the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy at UC, where he also co-directs the Ohio Cyber Range Institute. A former Scholar-in-Residence at US Cyber Command and the NSA, he helped shape the doctrine of cyber persistent engagement and has advised on Capitol Hill. He’s held Fulbright Scholar roles at Oxford and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. With over $19M in grant support and 60+ publications, he’s received multiple honors, including UC’s Provost Career Award and Ohio’s Faculty Innovator Award. Dr. Harknett is a dedicated Liverpool FC supporter.
Ashley Kubley, MFA
Associate Professor of Fashion Design
Associate Director of the Myron E. Ullman Jr. School of Design
Head of the Evelyn G. Burgoyne Textiles Innovation Laboratory
UC School of Design Architecture Art and Planning
Ashley Kubley is the Associate Director of the Myron E. Ullman Jr. School of Design and Head of the Evelyn G. Burgoyne Textiles Innovation Lab at UC. With 17 years in fiber and textile science, she focuses on smart materials and textiles innovation. Since 2017, she has collaborated with UC’s engineering program on Carbon Nanotube fabric for wearable technology. Her recent research, funded to explore Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Active Textile Systems, aims to enhance personal protective equipment for Ohio Fire Service in partnership with UC’s Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, and Design.
Tamara Lorenz, PhD
Associate Professor
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
UC College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Dr. Tamara Lorenz is an Associate Professor with joint appointments in Psychology, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering at UC. Her research centers on intuitive human-machine interaction (HMI), especially with robots (HRI), AI, and VR, and involves modeling human-human and multi-robot interactions. Using multisensory data, she applies complex systems theory and machine learning to compare human and machine behavior over time. Her work spans healthcare, manufacturing, and early applications in space exploration. Dr. Lorenz directs UC’s Center for Cognition, Action, and Perception and serves on the leadership team for the UC Industry 5.0 Institute.
Ou Ma, PhD
Professor
Alan B. Shepard Endowed Chair for Exploration
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
UC College of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Ou Ma, the Alan B. Shepard Chair Professor at UC’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and director of the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems Lab, specializes in space robotics, intelligent systems, and human-robot interaction. He has led numerous NSF, NASA, and industry-funded projects. Previously, he was the John Nakayama Professor at New Mexico State University and a senior engineer at MDA in Canada, where he contributed to Canadarm2 and DEXTRE for the ISS. Dr. Ma has published over 200 research papers and serves on editorial boards for robotics journals, including Frontier in Robotics and AI and Drones.
Scott Petersen, MS, MA, MBA
Executive Director
Digital Futures – Cyber Development
UC Office of Research
COL (USA, RET) Scott Petersen is an Executive Director of the Digital Futures initiative at
UC, focusing on Cyber, Unmanned Systems, AI R&D, and Department of Defense outreach. A former Army Engineer Officer with 30 years of service, he most recently led Strategy and Policy for the Army Cyber Directorate. Peterson has commanded engineer units at all levels, managed a $4B construction program for US Central Command, and served with US Special Forces. He holds master’s degrees in business, industrial-organizational psychology, and national resource strategy. His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2), and Bronze
Star (3). Active TS (SCI-eligible) clearance.
Michael A. Riley, PhD
Professor
Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise, & Nutrition Sciences
College of Allied Health Sciences
Dr. Riley, Director of UC's Digital Futures Human Performance Lab, has been a UC faculty member since 2000. His research integrates biomechanics, neuroscience, and cognitive science, using AR/VR, motion capture, and modeling to study human coordination and learning. His work, aimed at rehabilitation and performance enhancement, has secured over $10M in funding from agencies like NSF and NIH. Dr. Riley has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles.
Paula Silva, PT, MS, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
UC College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Paula L. Silva, Associate Professor and co-director of graduate training in UC’s Psychology Department, is a primary faculty member at the Center for Cognition, Action, & Perception and collaborates with UC’s Digital Futures, particularly in the Bio-AI and Human Performance Labs. Her research explores human performance through complexity science and ecological psychology, focusing on action strategies across ages and abilities, perceptual adaptability, and resilience in individuals with disabilities or injury risks. Her work integrates theoretical principles with practical applications to enhance human performance.
Tomasz Stepinski, PhD
Professor
Thomas Jefferson Endowed Chair for Discovery
Department of Geography
UC College of Arts and Sciences
Tomasz Stepinski, the Thomas Jefferson Chair Professor of Space Exploration at UC’s Department of Geography and GIS, specializes in planetary science, computation, and data science. With a PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Arizona, he previously worked as a Staff Scientist at NASA’s Lunar and Planetary Institute. His research focuses on automating data extraction from large planetary datasets, including crater identification and landform mapping. Since joining UC in 2010, he has advanced space-based data utilization through intelligent algorithmic exploration, funded by grants from NSF and NASA.
Mary F. Wadel, MS
Director of Technology Integration and Partnerships
NASA’s Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, Ohio
Mary F. Wadel, with a master’s in aerospace and mechanical engineering from Case Western and a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from UC, is the Director of Technology Integration and Partnerships at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. She aligns Glenn’s technology investments with long-term goals and regional economic development. Since starting at NASA in 1988 in rocket propulsion, she has held key roles, including Deputy Director of Aeronautics at Glenn and Deputy Director of Research at Langley. Recognized with the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and Collier Trophy, Wadel has managed projects in aeronautics and technology innovation.
Armstrong Fellowship Program
The Institute has established two fellowship programs, one for undergraduates and one for graduate
students. These awards will begin in January 2022.
They are:
- Armstrong Fellowship for Discovery — Undergraduates
- Armstrong Fellowship for Exploration — Graduate Students
More information can be found on our internal funding page.
Armstrong Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Sydney Dobler
Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
Kaaustaaub Shankar
Computer Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Armstrong Exploration Fellows (graduate students)
Prakash Giri
Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Maliha Marzana
Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Rachel Wiggin
Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Sydney Dobler
Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
Ethan McCowan
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Grant Miller
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Steven Kraine
Computer Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Yashvi Srivastava
Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Ross Thayer
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Exploration Fellows (graduate students)
Nicole Carver
Psychology
College of Arts & Sciences
Dylan Roach
Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Rebecca Gilligan
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Liang Zhang
Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Aida Ramusovic-Witham
Political Science
College of Arts & Sciences
Wilhelm Louw
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Prasanna Adhikari
Astrophysics/Mathematics
College of Arts & Sciences
Rebecca Gilligan
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Tri Nguyen
Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Mikhail Nikolaneko
Computer Science
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Nathan Steffen
Aerospace Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Shraddha Barawkar
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Andrew Barth
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Piero Paialunga
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Elizabeth Rochford
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Matthew Verbryke
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Exploration Fellows (graduate students)
Rebecca Gilligan
Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering & Applied Science
SRIDE Discovery Fellows (undergrads)
Anirudh Chhabra
PhD student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences — Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
Daegyun Choi
PhD student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences — Aerospace Engineering
Aida Ramusovic
PhD student, College of Arts and Sciences — Political Science
Benjamin Russ
MS student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences — Mechanical Engineering
Yufeng Sun
PhD Student, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences — Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
SRIDE Exploration Fellows (graduate students)
Rebecca Gilligan
College of Engineering & Applied Science
Recipient of the Inaugural SRIDE Fellowship
Kyle Dunlap
PhD student in Aerospace Engineering
Summer Semester 2021
Office of Research Pilot Studies
The Office of Research offers $25,000 pilot studies for 2-year studies; and they are open to all faculty across UC. SRIDE has two proposal opportunities each year.
2024-2026
Dr. Lindsey Elizabeth Romick (PhD) of the College of Medicine received a pilot study for her project entitled ‘Unraveling the Cosmic Secrets: Why Metabolomics is Essential for Space's Newfound Bacteria?’ Her study will run from May 2024 through August 2026.
2024 Ohio Space Forum
On April 29-30, 2024, JobsOhio conducted the 2024 Space Forum at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. SRIDE was a Silver Sponsor. The Forum, which is held annually, highlights Ohio’s role in contributing to national security and space exploration. Dr. Kelly Cohen was a panelist on Ohio’s Excellence in Space Research, Moderated by Gen. Mark Bartman. This session highlighted the research areas that Ohio academic institutions are involved in that impact Ohio. In addition to Dr. Kelly, and several UC SRIDE Fellows and Dr. Ma’s PhD students attended.
The 2024 event provided an opportunity for student presentations through the Ohio Space Forum University Partner Sponsorship. SRIDE supported two students to attend, Dylan Roach, Sydney Dobler, and Grant Miller. One of Dr. Ma’s PhD students, Conrad Kent, also attended. Mr. Kent’s poster, entitled ‘Hardware Tests of 3D Tumbling Motion Estimation of a Satellite’ received recognition as the 3rd best poster of the event.
Sydney Dobler, SRIDE Discovery Fellow presented here work. Her advisor, Dr. Brianna Simms was also in attendance.
One of Dr. Ma’s student, Conrad Kent (not a SRIDE Fellow), tied for 3rd place in a student poster presentation during the Ohio Space Forum University Partner Sponsorship
SRIDE Fellows participate in the UC’s Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase
On April 16 2024, the SRIDE Fellows of Discovery participated in UC’s annual Undergraduate Showcases in Tangeman University Center. SS2024 Fellows Sydney Dobler, Steven Kraine, Ethan McGowan, and Grant Miller presented their work either in an oral
presentation or a poster session. This event marked the culmination of their SRIDE Fellowship of Discovery. Professor Doarn, SRIDE Director, recognized each Fellow with a memento of their fellowship.
SS2024 SRIDE Fellows (l-r) Professor Doarn, S Dobler, G Miller, S Kraine and E McGowan
SRIDE Fellows participate in SRIDE's Annual Symposium
On November 16, 2023, the SRIDE held its annual symposium at Digital Futures. The keynote speakers were Ms. Mary Wadel, Director, Technology Integration and Partnerships and Ms. Jeanne King, Partnership Specialist & Technology Manager, NASA Glenn Research Center. Class 2 (Exploration Fellows) presented their final work (2022 – 2023). Class 2 included Shraddha Barawkar, Andrew Barth, Piero Paialunga, Elizabeth Rochford, and Matthew Verbryke. Class 2.1 (Discovery Fellows) Yashvi Srivastava and Ross Thayer presented their work (FS 2023). Class 3 (Exploration Fellows for 2023 – 2024) included Nicole Carver, Dylan Roach, Rebecca Gilligan, Liang Zhang, Aida Ramusovic-Witham, and Wilhelm Louw. They each gave a quick update on their work. This event marked the culmination of the SRIDE Fellows work. Professor Doarn, SRIDE Director, recognized each Fellow with a memento of their fellowship.
SS2023 SRIDE Fellows (l-r) M Verbryke, Y Srivastava, R Thayer, P Paialunga, A Barth Professor Doarn (not shown S Barawkar, E Rochford)
SRIDE Fellows participate in the UC’s Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase
On April 20, 2023, the SRIDE Fellows of Discovery participated in UC’s annual Undergraduate Showcases in Tangeman Hall. SS2023 Fellows (Prasanna Adhikari, Rebecca Gilligan, Tri Nguyen, Mikhail Nikolaneko and Nathan Steffen) presented their work either in a poster presentation or podium presentation – Exploring the Beyond. This event marked the culmination of their SRIDE Fellowship of Discovery. Professor Doarn, SRIDE Director, recognized each Fellow with a memento of their fellowship. ’
SS2023 SRIDE Fellows (l-r) R. Gilligan, M. Nikolaneko, N. Steffen, Professor Doarn, R. Nguyen and P. Adhikari ’
Internship Opportunities
The NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH (https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home/index.html) has several internship opportunities. To find out more about these, please visit https://intern.nasa.gov.
Diversity and Inclusion
One of the Institutes key objectives is to encourage all students to get involved in the many facets of aerospace and space exploration. Virtually every discipline at UC has a role to play in preparing leaders for these growing fields. The are several organizations here at UC that encourage students, especially women, to purse careers in engineering, science, and medicine. These include the following:
Women in Flight
Women in Flight at UC is a student organization whose mission is to create a close network of students with interest in the aviation/aerospace industries and to provide support academically, professionally, and socially while promoting the future generation of female students in STEM fields. Our members come from a wide variety of engineering disciplines with a like mindset of unity and support within the organization. The contact for this group in Rachel Wiggins wigginre@mail.uc.edu. Additional information can be found at www.ucwif.com.
Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS)
UC’s College of Medicine has a group entitled ‘Women in Medicine & Science (WIMS)’. This group is dedicated to the recruitment, advancement and retention of women faculty and trainees. Additional information on WIMS can be found at https://med.uc.edu/landing-pages/wims/. Dr. Heather Christensen is the current president. She can be reached at heather.christensen@uc.edu.
Potential Partners
Partnerships and collaborations are predicted on both need and interest. The following is a growing list of potential collaborators with which our faculty and students can become engaged with in pursuit of their academic training and potential future initiatives.
Publications (2015 - Present)
Our faculty and students participate in a wide variety of disciplines which result in scholarly output, including edited books, book chapters, peer-reviewed manuscripts, federal reports, perspectives and editorials. This output is listed here as a key reference list to current and future researchers. It also highlights the broad knowledge base ensconced here at UC that can serve as an enabling tool for collaboration.
Student-Led Papers (Student's Name is underlined)
- Gilligan R, Cohen K. “Design of an All-Terrain Aerial Robotic Interface (ATARI) as a Collaborative Platform for UAVs”, AIAA Student Competition, Region III, Purdue University, IN, March 25-26, 2022, Winner of first place for best undergraduate student paper.
- Dunlap K, Mote M, Delsing K, Hobbs KL. Run Time Assured Reinforcement Learning for Safe Satellite Docking. AIAA SciTech Forum. San Diego, CA. January 2022.
Charles Doarn
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Doarn CR. An Interview with Dr. Stanley White, One of NASA's First Flight Surgeons. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024 Apr 1;95(4):223-225. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6353.2024. PMID: 38486320.
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Nicogossian AE, Doarn CR. An American Perspective on the Legacy of Anatoly I. Grigoriev in Space Medicine. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023 Sep 1;94(9):723-727. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6252.2023. PMID: 37587635.
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Doarn CR. Skylab Biomedical Accomplishments – Paving the Way to the International Space Station. Space Educ Strategic Appl. 2024;4(3):13-13; doi:10.18278/sesa.4.3.3.
- Doarn CR. Interview with Dr. Stanley White, One of America’s First NASA Flight Surgeons. Aerosp Med Human Perf. 2024;95(4):223-25.
- Book - Space Physiology and Medicine – from Evidence to Practice, 4th edition. Editors: A Nicogossian, CL Huntoon, RS Williams, CR Doarn, V Schneider, and JD Polk. 2016. Springer, New York. DOI-10.1007/978-1-4939-6652-3. ISBN 978-1-4939-6650-9 / e-book - ISBN 978-1-4939-6652-3
- Doarn CR, Shimada K, Shepanek M. The Legacy of the Wright State University Aerospace Medicine Residency Program. Aerosp Med Human Perf. 2021;92(9):744-50.
- Doarn CR, Polk JD, Grigoriev, Comtois J-M, Shimada K, Weerts G, Dervay JP, Taddeo TA, Sargsyan A. A Framework for Multinational Medical Support for International Space Station: A Model for Exploration. Aerosp Med Human Perf. 2021;92(2):129-34.
- OCHMO Mishap Investigation Flight Surgeon Handbook – NASA. Editors – JD Polk, CR Doarn. NASA SP-2020-5006891. NASA, Washington, DC. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/spaceflight-mishap-investigation-flight-surgeon-handbook
- Simpson AT, Doarn CR, Garber SJ. Interagency Cooperation in the Twilight of the Great Society: Telemedicine, NASA, and the Papago Nation. J Pol History 2020;32(1):25-51.
- Doarn CR. Polk JD, Shepanek M. Health Challenges Including Behavioral Problems in Long Duration Spaceflight. Neurol India. 2019;67(8):S190-95.
- Doarn CR, Travis TW, Currie-Gregg NK, Nicogossian AE, Weyland M, Shepanek M, Null C, Buckland D, Miller S, Liskowsky D, Fuller D, Francisco D, Walton M, Antonsen E, Rochlis J, Witt EG, Williams RS. Engineering, Life Sciences, and Health/Medicine Synergy in Aerospace Human Systems Integration: The Rosetta Stone Project: An Executive Summary. New Space. 2019;7(2):110-13. ePub – December 13, 2018
- Book – Engineering, Life Sciences, and Health/Medicine Synergy in Aerospace Human Systems Integration. The Rosetta Stone Project. Editors. RS Williams and CR Doarn. NASA SP-2017-633. NASA, Washington DC. ISBN 978-1-62683-044-8. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20180001256.pdf
- Doarn CR. Evolution of Space Medicine at NASA. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024;95(10):797-805. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6472.2024. PMID: 39431696.