Research Operations
& Integration
The Research Operations and Integration (ROI) element provides planning, integration, and implementation services for research tasks by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP).
Meet the ROI Team
Element leaders integrate and coordinate science, as well as handle project costs, schedules, technical work, and resources. Across HRP, all leadership teams work hand-in-hand to ensure that research proposed by the other HRP elements is implemented using the best method possible while maintaining the health of crew members.
Meet the leadership team for HRP’s ROI element.
ROI Leadership
Suzanne McCollum, Element Manager
McCollum began her career at NASA as a cooperative education student in engineering, developing flight hardware prototypes. Through that work, she became interested in human research payloads.
Nichole Schwanbeck, Deputy Element Manager
Schwanbeck manages the team that implements studies for NASA’s HRP that fly on the International Space Station and other space-based platforms.
Kelle Pido, Deputy Element Manager
Pido manages human research studies conducted in spaceflight analogs—NASA’s simulations of life in space. These simulations include the Human Exploration Research Analog, long-duration bedrest studies, and parabolic flight.
Brandon Vessey, Element Scientist
Vessey provides scientific oversight for spaceflight and ground-based analog studies conducted by NASA’s Human Research Program. His research focuses on the dynamics of teamwork over long durations, team leadership, and collective leadership in mission scenarios.
Cherie Oubre, Deputy Element Scientist
Oubre oversees human research activities conducted before, during, and after spaceflight, working with NASA teams and international partners to integrate and collect science data.
Sara Whiting, Deputy Element Scientist
Whiting provides scientific planning and oversight for ground-based spaceflight analog studies conducted by HRP. These studies include the Human Exploration Research Analog, as well as research involving head-down tilt bed rest, Antarctic, and parabolic flight platforms.
