Our Team

The ÆON Team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Nicoletta Fala

Assistant Professor

Personal Webpage

LinkedIn

Dr. Nicoletta Fala Dr. Nicoletta Fala's research focuses on solving aviation problems through data-driven cognitive human factors approaches. She is particularly interested in optimizing human and system performance and safety in flight traning operations, and aims to simultaneously increase the accessibility and safety of flight.

Dr. Nicoletta Fala obtained her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. Her doctoral work evaluated cognitive biases that impact how pilots respond to risk-related post-flight debrief.

Dr. Fala is also an instrument-rated single- and multi-engine commercial pilot and flight and ground instructor with aerobatics and cross-country air racing experience and has helped operate a flying club for five years. Through her research and teaching, she aims to bring aviation and engineering closer to effectively connect designers to the end-user experience.

Ph.D. Students

Aayush Bhattarai

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Luis Alarcon Aneiva Aayush is originally from Nepal and is pursuing his PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Prior joining ÆON, he worked as an Assistant Professor at Institute of Engineering (IOE)- Pulchowk, Tribhuvan University. He has almost 11 years of combined experience in the aviation industry, especially in technical operations and academia. He is also one of the pioneering faculties to establish aerospace engineering in Nepal. He received his B.E in Aeronautical Engineering from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China and M.Eng in Manufacturing Engineering and Management from University of Technology Sydney, Australia. His research in the lab focuses on analyzing cognitive stress amongst pilot using data driven methods and psycho-physiological measures to improve aviation safety. His research interests are cognitive systems, predictive analysis, psycho-physiological measures and human factors.



Luis Alarcon Aneiva

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Luis Alarcon Aneiva Originally from Bolivia, Luis Jose Alarcon Aneiva is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanichal and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. With a strong academic background and a track record of excellence, Luis is well prepared for the challenges ahead. His research interests align with Dr. Nicoletta Fala's lab, focusing on aviation safety and the transfer of skills from virtual reality to real aircraft. His commitment to making aviation safer and more accessible makes him a valuable addition to the team. When he's not immersed in research, you'll find him passionately practicing karate and volunteering his time.



Md Mijanur Rahman

LinkedIn

Md Mijanur Rahman Md Mijanur Rahman is a Ph.D. student at AEON lab with a focus on Flight Performance, Systems Engineering and Human Factors research. He has 10 years of combined experience in Airline Engineering (Aircraft Maintenance, Airworthiness Management, ERP Implementation and Aircraft Leasing-Trading) and Academia (Teaching and Research). Md Mijanur received his B.Sc and M.Sc in Aeronautical Engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Bangladesh. He also received his M.B.A. from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) – University of Dhaka. He is also a Licensed Aircraft Engineer with a B1.1 type rating on ATR 72-500 aircraft.



Niklas Schulmeyer

LinkedIn

Niklas Schulmeyer Niklas Schulmeyer is a P.h.D student at AEON lab with a research focus on Situational Awareness, Flight Data and Machine Learning. He obtained his master’s degrees in aerospace engineering and mechanical and process Engineering from Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany. Besides, he spend two semesters at University of Toronto researching Machine Learning Applications in combination with System Modelling for the Controls of Flight Simulators. He also has work experience for a company developing digital flight controls and has interned at the German Civil Aviation Authority. In his free time he enjoys aviation photography, hiking, cycling and travelling.



Elahe Oveisi

LinkedIn

Elahe Oveisi I am a passionate and dedicated PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering, with a deep-rooted fascination for the intricate interplay of Human Factors, Situation Awareness, and Workload management within the aerospace domain. My journey in academia revolves around unraveling the complexities of human cognition and performance. I am committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge aerospace technology and the human element that drives its success.




Undergraduate Students

David Reenders

LinkedIn

David Reenders David Reenders is an undergraduate Aerospace Engineering student from Spring, Texas assisting with Virtual Reality Flight Simulation research. He is an instrument rated pilot with flight experience in seven different aircraft types and a former member of the OSU Flight Team for three seasons. He has represented OSU at National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Competitions in Cleveland, Mississippi, Columbus, Ohio, and Durant, Oklahoma where he took 1st place in the Ground Trainer Precision Flight Event in 2022. He aims to use his experience to increase the fidelity of virtual reality flight simulation systems and enhance their use in training pilots.



Ty Kuehl

LinkedIn

Ty Kuehl Ty Kuehl is an undergraduate Professional Flight student hailing from Liberty, Missouri. Leveraging his classroom knowledge and training experience at OSU as a flight student, he actively contributes to research in Virtual Reality Flight Training simulators. Ty currently represents the OSU Flight Team in National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) competitions, excelling particularly in the Computer Accuracy (E6B) event. His primary focus so far has been on exploring the viability and potential applications of VR technology in pilot training. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Ty finds joy in playing tennis, exploring new destinations, and avidly following sports.



Previous Group Members

Scout Hernandez WINDMAP MS, 2023
Rose Nastaran Arzamani Flight Scoring GRA, 2022-2023 Ph.D. Student in Marketing at Oklahoma State University
Garrett Martin WINDMAP, Abnormal Flight Conditions BS, 2023 Manufacturing Engineer at Sierra Space
J.W. Wallace WINDMAP MS, 2022 Mission Systems Engineer at Boeing
Matthew Petty Loss of Control In-Flight BS, 2022 New Production Manufacturing Engineer at GE Aerospace
Nathan Janda Loss of Control In-Flight BS, 2022 F135 MRO Engineer at Pratt & Whitney