Charles M. Oman

Charles M. Oman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. He holds dual appointments through his roles as Director of the Man Vehicle Laboratory (1992–2013) and Helmholtz Associate Professor in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (1977–1979). His work intersects aerospace engineering, neurobiology, and cognitive science, focusing on spatial orientation in microgravity environments and human factors in complex systems.

Education:

• B.S.E., 1966, Princeton University, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences
• S.M., 1968, MIT, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Ph.D., 1972, MIT, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Research & Teaching: Dr. Oman’s research emphasizes aerospace human factors, space telerobotics, and mathematical modeling of spatial disorientation. He teaches courses such as 16.767 (Airline Transport Aircraft Systems), 16.459 (Bioastronautics Seminar), and 16.430J (Sensory-Neural Systems). His work also involves leadership roles in organizations like the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s Sensorimotor Adaptation Research Team (1996–present).

Affiliations: Member of the Aerospace Medical Association, Barany Society (vestibular research), and IEEE. He has contributed to the National Research Council’s Railroad Operational Safety Committee.

Labs: Former Director of MIT’s Man Vehicle Laboratory and affiliated with the Human Systems Lab.