Associate Research Faculty in Human Health and Performance in Space

Department of Integrated Systems Engineering

College of Engineering

The Department of Integrated Systems Engineering (ISE) at The Ohio State University invite applications for an Associate Research Faculty appointment in the area of Human Health and Performance in Space. The research area must complement ISE's Human Systems Integration research portfolio. This position will start as early as Fall 2026.

Position Overview

Human presence in space creates career-defining scientific opportunities and challenges. The position will support ongoing research and academic work at Ohio State in areas related to health and human performance, stressful/extreme operational environments where humans are immersed and with high consequence for failure, complex engineered systems, aerospace engineering, sensors, and flight operations. The following research areas are of particular interest:

• Joint human/clinician/automation system architectures for wellness management, comprising health monitoring, symptom detection, diagnosis, care planning, prognosis, and care delivery

• Human-centered AI development, including the utility of new algorithms and techniques

• Issues and mitigations for increased time lag in communications between team members

• Advanced sensors and monitoring tools to increase effectiveness of health and wellness management

• Novel application of human performance optimization tools to enhance / sustain wellness

• Specialization of care modalities, including mental health, disease management, injury management

• Prevention / public health capabilities to prevent or minimize impact of infectious disease, workplace injuries

The work will involve a combination of research and service, with the expectation of mentoring undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students, and postdoc researchers studying and performing research at the intersection of human performance and engineered systems. Work will require collaboration with entities across The Ohio State University, including, but not limited to:

• Deep engagement within the Human Systems Integration group located in the Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, with research and teaching in human factors, including a 30+ year history of leading-edge research on human systems as increasingly autonomous capabilities are developed and deployed.

• The Human Performance Collaborative, which focuses on building and deploying interdisciplinary teams of investigators to advance the science of human performance in high stress environments including athletics, military, first responders, and space;

• Research leadership in Ohio States strategic role as the lead research university within the Starlab Space partnership, which is being designed to build, launch, and perform research aboard a next-generation space station to follow the International Space Station;

The incumbent will be expected to develop their own research program and inquiry efforts, fortified through proposal writing, collaboration with other faculty and universities in multi-investigator research projects, and engagement with corporate and philanthropic giving. The incumbent will also work closely with Ohio State faculty in development of joint proposals for funding.

The incumbent will serve on a twelve-month, Research Faculty appointment, with funding for salary to be fortified through research proposals, grants, and awards. The term will be five years and can be renewed by the agreement of all parties. In the initial year of the incumbents time, Ohio States Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) will provide salary and start-up funding to enable ramp-up of specific research areas. This person is expected to generate sufficient funds to cover their salary and benefits through external funding for their research.

Performance Objectives

As a research faculty member, the incumbent is expected to contribute to the universitys mission via research.

The incumbent will be expected to secure funding to support their salary, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. This includes developing and submitting research proposals independently and in collaboration with ISE faculty and other partners.

The incumbent is also expected to disseminate research findings through conference presentations and publications in relevant peer-reviewed journals, in collaboration with research partners.

In addition, as a research faculty member, the incumbent is expected to devote approximately 10% of their effort to service activities for the ISE Department, the College of Engineering, ERIK, and the University.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required:

• Doctorate (Academic) or equivalent combination of education and experience with a major in Science, Engineering, or related field. A specialty area of focus in Bioastronautics, Aerospace Medicine, Human Performance, and Operations will be considered desirable.

• Professional experience in relevant research areas. Relevant areas can include but are not limited to research on human spaceflight, aerospace hardware systems, bioastronautics, under-sea operations, aviation, control-room operations, emergency medicine. Experience can be evidenced by peer-reviewed research funding, publications in conference or journals, patents and similar evidence of technological innovation, and/or honors for research achievements.

• Proven interdisciplinary leadership and collaboration: We seek individuals with a demonstrated track record of interdisciplinary leadership and collaboration in an academic environment.

• Engagement with academia, government, and industry: We seek individuals with a track record of working at the intersection of academia, government agencies, and/or commercial industry. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience working directly with federal agencies (inclusive of National Science Foundation, International Space Station National Lab, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Air Force, Space Force, and other associated federal agencies).

• Communication skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required, with a focus on working constructively, decisively, and collegially with both external and internal colleagues and interdisciplinary teams.

• Proven independence and initiative: We value individuals who can work independently and are proactive self-starters with strong project leadership skills.

• Innovative thinking: A successful candidate will display innovative thinking, be open to sharing ideas, and have a willingness to continuously learn.

• Service on editorial boards, conference committees, and policy-making panels and boards

Desired:

• Operational experience in human spaceflight, Antarctic/Arctic, deep-sea, or other constrained environments is highly desirable.

• A history of engaging in industry partnerships and external fundraising is also desirable.

Additional Information

The final offer for this position will be determined based on the candidates qualifications and experience. Salary and start-up packages are negotiated by the department chair and may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply

Please include all and only the following required application materials in the Application Documents section, found in the My Experience step (Step 2 of the application process):

• Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1-2 page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background and why you are interested in this opportunity.

• Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae)/Resume (do not include pictures in your CV/resume): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications.

• Attachment 3: Research Statement. Write 1-2 pages, single spaced narrative that includes:

• Your research questions and their importance; how your research contributes to your field

• Research plan and future research directions

• Identify potential collaborations and funding sources

• Broader impacts of your research (the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes)

• Plan for student engagement in your research program.

• Attachment 4: Leadership Statement. Write 1-2 pages, single spaced narrative that includes:

• Describe your vision for managing staff, projects, and lab culture

• Describe past experience and future vision for development of university/government/industry collaboration

• Attachment 5: Mentoring Statement. Write 1-2 pages, single spaced narrative that includes:

• Your mentoring philosophy

• Describe previous mentoring training and/or experience

• State mentoring skills you consider fundamental, including those necessary to effectively mentor students from any cultural background.

Please do not include a list of references with your application. We will request this information when we need it.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Dr. Mike Rayo at rayo.3@osu.edu.

Application review:

Review of applications will begin on June 1st, 2026.

Department Information

ISE offers degrees (BS, MS and Ph.D.) in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and its undergraduate and graduate programs are consistently among the top programs ranked by USNWR. The ISE Department has a long history of research and teaching in human factors, including a 30+ year history of leading edge research on human systems as increasingly autonomous capabilities are developed and deployed, and the CSE group teaches Undergrad and Grad courses on this theme and related areas including human systems integration, the design of distributed work systems and resilience engineering. OSU offers a wealth of collaboration opportunities through cross-disciplinary programs with artificial intelligence, ethics, data analytics, cognition & decision making, and industrial design.

The College of Engineering

Faculty Development: The Ohio State University and the College of Engineering are committed to support and develop faculty as well as the work-life balance of its faculty. These resources include The Engineering Faculty Mentoring Program, the Better Research through Better Mentoring program, and an institutional membership to the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning. To learn more visit: https://engineering.osu.edu/faculty-development.