Prof. Thais Russomano graduated in medicine from the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil (1985), specialising in internal and emergency medicine. She has a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Medicine - Wright State University, USA (1991), and PhD in Space Physiology - King's College London (1998). She worked for 3 years as a Space Scientist at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cologne, Germany, before founding the Microgravity Centre, PUCRS, a unique international reference centre in the study of human space physiology and space biomedical engineering, which she coordinated for 18 years. Thais has been academically linked for more than 10 years to CHAPS, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, having acted as the Deputy Course Director/Senior Lecturer of the Space Physiology & Health MSc degree course (2009-2020). In addition, she is a visiting professor at Aalto University, Finland, in Space & Design; Deggendorf Institute of Technology, European Campus, Germany, contributing to the MSc in Medical Informatics; UCFSPA in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in the areas of human physiology in extreme environments & digital health; and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon in space physiology & aviation medicine.
Thais has more than 30 years of experience teaching and researching in the fields of Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology, Aerospace Biomedical Engineering and Telemedicine & Digital Health. She participated in two European Space Agency (ESA) sponsored parabolic flight campaigns in Bordeaux, France, researching a new technique for administering extra-terrestrial CPR, and testing a medical device (Earlobe Arterialised Blood Collector – EABC) for the collection of arterialised blood in space.
Thais is an active participant in the international scientific community, being an elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), in which she serves on the Board of Trustees (2019-2021). She continues to contribute to international working groups in the field of manned space flight, most recently as a part of the International Space Committee’s ISO Space Systems – Man-Life Activity Support Systems and Equipment Integration in Space Flight, and the IAA, Medical Safety Guidelines for Space Crews Involved in Short-Duration Commercial Orbital Flight Operations.
Thais further holds patents related to Space Life Sciences and Aerospace Biomedical Engineering. She is currently acting as a voluntary Mentor for Space4Women, an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
Thais has more than 30 years of experience teaching and researching in the fields of Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology, Aerospace Biomedical Engineering and Telemedicine & Digital Health. She participated in two European Space Agency (ESA) sponsored parabolic flight campaigns in Bordeaux, France, researching a new technique for administering extra-terrestrial CPR, and testing a medical device (Earlobe Arterialised Blood Collector – EABC) for the collection of arterialised blood in space.
Thais is an active participant in the international scientific community, being an elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM) and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), in which she serves on the Board of Trustees (2019-2021). She continues to contribute to international working groups in the field of manned space flight, most recently as a part of the International Space Committee’s ISO Space Systems – Man-Life Activity Support Systems and Equipment Integration in Space Flight, and the IAA, Medical Safety Guidelines for Space Crews Involved in Short-Duration Commercial Orbital Flight Operations.
Thais further holds patents related to Space Life Sciences and Aerospace Biomedical Engineering. She is currently acting as a voluntary Mentor for Space4Women, an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.