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[Core Tech] Doctors Without Gravity: A New Student Community for Space Medicine

Published at: 2026-10-21 22:00 Last updated: 2026-10-22 01:04
#Machine Learning #optimization #Data Structure

Since its launch two years ago, MIT’s Doctors Without Gravity club has grown to over 100 members. It was co‑founded by graduate students Anna Wadhwa and Nicole McGaa, who serve as president and vice‑president. The club welcomes undergraduate and graduate students from MIT and Harvard, operates as the student chapter of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) and the Aerospace Medical Student and Resident Organization (AMSRO), and accepts all majors—from mechanical engineering to biology and pre‑med.\ \ The club’s mission is to raise awareness of aerospace medicine as a viable field of study and career. It connects existing Harvard, MIT, and Boston communities by hosting social events, lightning talks, and an annual symposium.\ \ To foster community, Doctors Without Gravity organizes casual gatherings, workshops, and fireside chats with faculty, researchers, physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital, and residents, giving students a chance to ask questions, learn about cutting‑edge research, and receive career advice.\ \ Science communications director Maryam Hiradfar, a Harvard Biophysics graduate student, highlights the interdisciplinary makeup as a key strength. Members span a wide range of interests; some are not actively doing space research but are sparked to explore it. Alumni pursue diverse paths—medical consulting, clinical practice, academia, mission‑control health monitoring, and contract work for SpaceX, Axiom Space, and others.\ \ The club also circulates job and internship alerts from SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin, and similar organizations. Faculty advisor Lonnie Petersen, associate professor and director of the Aerospace Physiology Lab, says he is proud to support curious students, expand their networks, and provide opportunities.\ \ On the research front, Hiradfar works in the Integrated PET/MRI lab at the Martinos Center, handling whole‑body scans and developing analysis pipelines. Wadhwa conducts research in the Aerospace Physiology Lab with Petersen, focusing on how the brain responds to fluid shifts experienced by astronauts in microgravity, studying both cellular and systems‑level effects.\ \ During a study, Wadhwa rode a centrifuge that accelerated from 1 G to 4 G (≈ 88 mph) to simulate jet maneuver dynamics. She described the experience as feeling like a roller coaster and noted she had to remain still for several minutes afterward.\ \ Looking ahead, the club is planning its 2027 symposium during Massachusetts Space Week (April 19‑25, 2027). Past keynote speakers include MIT professor Dava Newman—former Apollo Program professor and director of the Human Systems Lab—and Erik Antonsen, director of the Mass General Brigham Space Medicine Fellowship (2025). Students interested in aerospace medicine can join the mailing list for updates.\ \ Review: By offering an open, interdisciplinary platform that links research, industry, and mentorship, Doctors Without Gravity provides a clear pathway for students eager to explore the health challenges of space travel.

Original Source: https://news.mit.edu/2026/mit-doctors-without-gravity-takes-flight-1021

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