Charles M. Oman
Senior research engineer and senior lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; director, Man Vehicle Laboratory
areas of expertise: human space exploration, scientific utilization of the international space station, space physiology, human factors and performance, space telerobotics, aircraft cockpit systems and flight simulation
Charles M. Oman is a senior research engineer, senior lecturer and director of the Man Vehicle Laboratory in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT.
Oman’s group studies the physiological and cognitive limitations of humans in aircraft and spacecraft, and tries to develop new ways of improving human-vehicle effectiveness and safety. The laboratory takes an interdisciplinary approach, utilizing techniques from manual and supervisory control theory, estimation, signal processing, biomechanics, cognitive, computational and physiological neuroscience, sensory-motor physiology, human factors, and biostatistics.
Oman received his BSE from Princeton University and his PhD from MIT. He conducted experiments visual and vestibular function in spatial orientation on nine shuttle missions, including six Spacelab flights. Since 1997, he has lead the Sensorimotor Adaptation research team of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. Oman previously served on the NASA Advisory Council’s Biological and Physical Research Advisory Committee and the National Research Council Panel on Robotic Access and Human Planetary Landing Systems. He chaired the NASA Space Station Utilization Advisory Subcommittee from 2004-2005. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
request an interview: Sarah McDonnell | 617-253-8923 | s_mcd@mit.edu