Prof. Thais Russomano has over 20 years experience in Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology and Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, and Telemedicine & eHealth research and development. She has participated in two parabolic flights campaigns, investigating CPR performance in microgravity and the validation of a device for the safe collection of arterialized blood in space. Her research includes studies related to space motion sickness, microgravity, hypogravity and hypergravity simulations, and the use of Lower Body Negative Pressure boxes, having developed the first LBNP box in Brazil.
She qualified and practiced as a medical doctor in Brazil, specializing in Internal and Emergency Medicine, before completing an MSc in Aerospace Medicine at Wright State University, Ohio, USA and a PhD in Space Physiology at King's College, London.
She founded the Microgravity Centre at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1999 and continues to coordinate what has grown and developed into a unique and internationally recognized reference centre of Latin America in the study of Human Space Physiology and Space Biomedical Engineering. She has a wealth of international experience, having participated in numerous scientific events in over 30 different countries with 200+ scientific papers presented. She also lectures at King's College, London, contributing to Aviation and Space related Courses, and is a guest scientist at the German Aerospace Centre. She is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine and invited participant in many international working groups addressing space flight issues and space tourism.
"I am truly delighted and excited to be contributing to the Mars One project. Like many thousands of young children, my dream from age 6 was to be an astronaut and explore space and this motivated my entire career choice. Mankind has only scratched at the surface of space exploration so far and I believe that a manned mission to Mars is the next natural progressive step. With enough enthusiasm and desire, and a committed international multidisciplinary team ready to think outside the box to come up with new ideas - anything is possible".