The Space Training for Enhanced Performance (STEP) Lab
The Space Training for Enhanced Performance (STEP) Lab can help with your human performance and space health research and assessment needs. We can provide physiological assessments, preflight training experiences, and human-in-the-loop testing.
STEP Lab Service Examples
- Pre-, in-, and postflight human performance assessments, including neural mechanisms, kinematics, kinetics, cognitive function, and more
- Imaging assessments, including point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for optic nerve sheath diameter, cardiac output, hemodynamic assessment, pulmonary assessment, and skeletal muscle architectural changes.
- Preflight and gravitational transition training, including galvanic vestibular stimulation, virtual reality, and more
- Consulting / educational workshops
The STEP lab will operate via research contract with the University of Florida. The university’s default is to retain publication rights for data generated under these conditions; exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis.
Training for a Spaceflight?
Come to STEP for space health and performance assessments, training, human in the loop testing, and more!
The STEP laboratory will be located at the Space Life Sciences Laboratory, 505 Odyssey Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953, adjacent to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Much of the equipment is portable and can be brought to your location for testing / training.
STEP Lap Personnel
Rachael D. Seidler, PhD
Director
Rachael D. Seidler, PhD
Director
Dr. Seidler is a professor of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology and Neurology and is Director of the Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida. She has nearly 30 years’ experience conducting research supported by NASA, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health, the NIH and the NSF on human performance and its neurophysiological correlates. Her expertise includes measurement of human cognition, perception, and action, brain imaging, noninvasive brain stimulation, vascular and neurovascular assessments. She also has extensive expertise with understanding and enhancing human skill learning.
Eric Jing Du, PhD
Co Director
Eric Jing Du, PhD
Co Director
Dr. Du is the Steve and Wendy Blum professor of Civil and Coastal Engineering; he is also affiliated with the departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research is funded by NASA, the NSF, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. His expertise includes human–AI trust and decision-making, human–robot collaboration, intelligent training systems, soft robotics, and augmented reality technologies for enhancing human performance in complex and high-risk environments.
Fang Xu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Fang Xu, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Xu is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Florida. His research focuses on advancing human-robot collaboration through perception enhancement (visual and haptic sensing), human factors analysis, and realistic simulations. His work integrates multimodal data analysis, including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), physiological sensing, and behavioral data, to better understand human performance and decision-making in complex human-robot environments.
Ryan Gamberino
Graduate Student
Ryan Gamberino
Graduate Student, BS, Bachelors and Masters of Music
Mr. Gamberino is a MD/PhD candidate at the University of Florida. His research focuses on human performance, noninvasive brain stimulation, and pose estimation analyses of video data.
Interested in learning more?
Contact Rachael Seidler with “STEP lab” in the subject line or call (734)-834-0385