Grace Ray

R&D Engineer

Grace is a biomedical engineer passionate about advancing human health and performance in everyday and austere environments through purposeful and personalized solutions. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia (2016) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and graduate certificates in Data Analytics and Future Professoriate from Virginia Tech (2021).

Grace’s dissertation research, funded by a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, focused on applying psychophysiological monitoring to extravehicular activities, using wearable bioinstrumentation and machine learning to predict cognitive workload during virtual reality spacewalk simulations. Inspired by her dissertation research, Grace developed a project-based course on Wearable Bioinstrumentation to teach undergraduate students about the science, engineering, and data analytics behind non-invasively measuring human physiology and behavior with technology. She continues to teach the course as an Adjunct Professor at Virginia Tech.

Grace joined Adaptive Aerospace Group after serving over three years as a technical analyst in the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy at NASA Headquarters. In her role at NASA Headquarters, Grace conducted strategic studies to inform NASA leadership on pressing technology and policy issues related to the future of research and development in low-Earth orbit, quantum sensing, and a sustained lunar presence. Grace worked closely with space partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community through the Space Science and Technology Partnership Forum to identify synergistic efforts and technologies and to facilitate cross-agency collaboration.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys being outside, exploring new foods, and spending time with her family and friends. She can often be found planning her next adventure to a National Park or tracking her own wellness data with the latest in wearable tech.