The extreme environments of aviation and outer space present unique challenges to human capabilities.  Recognition of the need to optimize human performance in the aerospace environment has prompted the development of a functional fitness curriculum as a component of training for future aerospace travelers.  This course will introduce physical, mental, and cognitive concepts underlying performance optimization with potential to promote resilience for the aerospace traveler. 

While space exploration has pushed the boundaries of human existence beyond planet Earth, it has also presented challenges to human physical, mental, and cognitive function.  This course will review the history of space exploration and with an emphasis on physiology, focus on a variety of topics and issues relevant to health of the aerospace traveler. 

The study of the psychological and physiological limitations of humans operating in complex environments is essential for reducing the incidence of errors in the aviation and space arenas.  This course will provide a basic understanding of human factors concepts relevant to the aerospace environment including the importance of effective communication, situational awareness, decision-making, team effectiveness, crew/cockpit resource management, and safety management.  Students will gain proficiency in identifying the various aspects of human sensory, motor, and cognitive attributes influencing human performance.  Topics to be discussed will include physiologic contributors to human error including fatigue and stress, as well as life events, mission demands, technology, system design, administrative policies, and environmental influences.  Mitigation and countermeasures to decrease risk will be discussed.  A critical analysis of selected NTSB aircraft accident reports will serve as examples for students to evaluate ways to detect, prevent, and manage various human factors issues that sustain, enhance, and optimize human performance and safety.

This course will cover major principles of the scientific method with an application to mishap investigation.  Students will gain an understanding of the human, environmental, technological, and material factors which directly or indirectly contribute to manned and unmanned aviation and space mishaps.  Special emphasis is placed on aerospace-related physiologic contributors covered in PHOL 422, such as hypoxia and spatial disorientation.  Additional topics will include proper classification of incidents; establishment of investigation teams and their roles and responsibilities; preservation of evidence based on industry accepted standards; hypothesis development and analysis; accurate data management; root cause analysis, and corrective actions influencing administrative policy and guidance changes.  Analysis of selected past aviation and space craft mishaps will facilitate determination of possible causal and non-causal factors and how they relate to the incident origin.  The importance of mishap prevention efforts such as data extraction, identifying trends, educational efforts to the operators, and other mitigation strategies such as automation, mission preparedness, crew composition, and predictive and real time risk assessments are reviewed.  Related concepts include the contribution of human factors, site safety for the investigator, defining safety privilege, casualty identification, and the aeromedical role in investigations.

Guided program of study using physiology textbooks, research reviews, and original research articles.  An independent laboratory research project may also be included.

Aerospace physiology laboratory research activities that are based on faculty and student interests.

Cognitive performance emerges from interacting neural circuits under state-dependent conditions, rather than isolated brain regions or “skills.”  This course examines the variety of neural circuits underlying cognitive processes such as attention, memory, learning, decision-making, and executive function, placing a specific emphasis on the performance of these pathways under aerospace-relevant stressors.  Topics progress weekly from structural neuroanatomy to functional neural circuits to operational considerations in aviation and spaceflight performance. 

The principal goal of this course is to help students learn and develop practical and applicable skills in order to enhance their leadership and interpersonal skills. This course leverages the knowledge that one's effectiveness and success, especially professionally, are tied directly to one's capability to work well with others and to communicate ideas in ways that others can easily understand and support. Main course topics include resonant leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, and team development. Even though this is an asynchronous, online course, it includes experiential activities. In addition to coursework, students will engage in Learning Team activities, including peer coaching, to enhance their self-awareness while supporting their development of course concepts.

This course is constructed to reinforce normal anatomy by imaging modalities of plain film, CT, and MRI images.  Imaging anatomy will reinforce the student's knowledge of anatomy and introduce the field of radiology.  Students would be motivated to broaden their understanding of anatomy by being exposed to the application of that knowledge.  The curriculum would introduce radiologic concepts, while stressing the normal anatomy of organ systems by imaging modalities.  Anatomical structures will be recognized by projectional and cross-sectional modalities. The student will be expected to demonstrate the anatomical characteristics of that structure, for example course, area of supply, relations, morphology, etc.  Primarily for medical and graduate students who have a comprehensive knowledge of human anatomy.

This course provides an in-depth review of the structure and function of the human musculoskeletal system through lectures and cadaver-based dissections. Topics will include a review of the connective tissues, basic biomechanics, osteology and regional and functional anatomy of the back and spine, lower limb, and upper limb. This course will be useful for students interested in pursuing study in the areas of medicine, anatomy, bioengineering, sports medicine, orthopaedics, biological anthropology or organismal biology.

This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of neural communication and central nervous system structure. Special attention is placed on common neurological illnesses and their psychopharmacological treatments. Neural systems underlying sensory/perceptual, motor, and higher-order cognitive processes are also explored.

Clinical (patient-oriented) and translational science has emerged as a new scientific discipline aimed to accelerate scientific discovery into effective practice. This course provides an overview of the theoretical framework, rationale, process, methodologies, and ethics of clinical and translational research. An integral feature of this course is the participation of a multidisciplinary teaching team, whose expertise and perspective will contribute to providing real-world insights into the complexities of translational and patient-oriented research.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the knowledge of theoretical and applied concepts of exercise physiology. Students will gain an understanding of the acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations of the cardiovascular, metabolic, hormonal, and neuromuscular systems in response to exercise. Additional topics include factors effecting performance, assessing cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, designing exercise programs for health and wellness, special populations, and athletes, environmental considerations and nutrition's role in sport and exercise performance.

This course will introduce students to key ethical requirements and issues that arise in the design and implementation of scientific research. Historical developments leading to the establishment of national and international guidelines for ethical conduct in research with human subjects will be addressed. Specific international and national guidelines for ethically responsible research will be explored with attention to their merits and limitations in the conduct of research. Informed consent, a fundamental requirement for ethical research will be examined. The function and role of institutional review boards (IRBs) will be described with attention to challenges faced by investigators in adhering to regulatory requirements. Ethical issues associated with risk assessment and recruitment strategies will be examined. Ethical issues that arise in the implementation of biobanks and stem cell research will be discussed. Challenges associated with the development and production of pharmaceuticals will be assessed. The importance of scientific integrity in the conduct of research will be examined with special attention to conflicts of interest and scientific misconduct such as research fraud. The role of advocacy in promoting research will be addressed. Research ethics and human rights will be explored. The course will end with a discussion of emerging issues in research ethics. Case examples will be used to illustrate ethical complexities surrounding the topics discussed.