APL is a part of the Human-Systems Collaboratory at the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Laboratory funded by:
Open positions:
We are looking for motivated graduate students with interest in bioastronautics and countermeasure development. Hands-on skills and experience in hardware development is a plus as well as enthusiasm for human testing.
What We Do
Welcome to the Aerospace Physiology Lab (APL), a clinical physiology research lab in the Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics at MIT. We are a team of physicians, scientists, and engineers interested in studying how stressful physical conditions such as those in microgravity environments or during exercise affect the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems of human beings. We also develop new and novel devices and therapies to combat the physical effects of these real-world problems.
Dr. Lonnie Petersen is a leader in space physiology research. She is the Charles Stark Draper Chair and Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is also core faculty at IMES and the MIT Lead Scientist at TRISH.
APL is located in E25-238, where we develop and employ the newest technologies and techniques while seeking to train the next generation of scientific leaders in human physiology and medical devices.
APL is involved in a multitude of research fields such as NASA funded gravitational physiology projects, Department of Defense funded emergency medicine research, and COVID-19 related ventilator research as a member of Acute Ventilation Rapid Response Taskforce (AVERT).
News
The Huginn Mission Ambassador Corps
Prof. Petersen joined the Ambassador corps for the Huginn Mission (increment 69 and 70) with resposibilities for science dissemination before, during, and after launch.
Together with SAGA Space Architects we will be investigating the influence of circadian light on astronaut health, performance, and sleep.
Arnold D. Tuttle Award - Dr. Petersen
by Aerospace Medical Association
Established in memory of Col. Arnold D. Tuttle, USAF, MC. Awarded annually for original research that has made the most significant contribution toward the solution of a challenging problem in aerospace medicine and was published in Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance.
Presented to Dr. Petersen in 2020 for her paper "Mobile Lower Body Negative Pressure Suit as an Integrative Countermeasure for Spaceflight."