Gravitational Pull
Gravitational Pull Pioneers in Science Design teams score big – twice – in NASA-sponsored challenge As non-engineers competing in a contest heavily reliant on engineering design skills, TWU’s Team Oneiroi was a huge underdog going into the Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge Showcase in 2021. The team of senior kinesiology majors designed a wearable light therapy device that helps curb disruption to the sleep cycles of astronauts, who experience multiple sunrises per 24 hours in space. Oneiroi won four of five awards in the competition, including best overall team. For an encore, a second Texas Woman’s team in spring 2022 won three of five awards in the competition, including the best overall team title, again. TWU’s The Oneiroi, Andrea Kim, Andrea Martinez, Natalie Wilkinson, Melanie Meek and Casey Rice
Wearable light therapy treatment device Pioneering Research Approaching problems with new perspectives allows TWU faculty to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Jyutika Mehta, PhD Her PTSD research on firefighters may lead to prevention of this occupational hazard in first responders. Ngozi Mbue, PhD Her concept for an electro-stimulation sock to curb chronic foot pain won a National Science Foundation grant. A prototype is in development. Tackles sleep/wake cycle disruption in astronauts Disruptions can cause changes in mental, physical and overall This is often due to improper lighting conditions in space Dayna Averitt, PhD behavioral processes Craniofacial pain is more prevalent in women and linked to hormones. BEST OVERALL TEAM Her research contributes to recommendations for how to better manage this pain. Learn more at twu.edu/research-discovery 11
