Dr. Anand “Sunny” Narayanan is currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Florida State University (FSU). As a first-generation, immigrant, Indian American, Sunny has held a life-long interest in encouraging diversity through educational outreach and interdisciplinary projects. Sunny holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Medical and Space Physiology, and B.S. degrees from West Virginia University in Mechanical Engineering and Biology. 

 

Sunny took his first professional steps with NASA supporting systems engineering computational projects at the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility, completing team-based design-build-fly projects through NASA’s Microgravity University program, and conducting nanotechnology biomedical research as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. He continued his academic steps at Texas A&M University, supported by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute for his doctorate to study physiological adaptations of astronauts during their journey in space. While his research focus was of the lymphatic and immune systems’ adaptations to spaceflight and clinical conditions, Sunny also led and supported interdisciplinary projects on topics including musculoskeletal, digestive, and cerebral science. His doctoral work also involved opportunities at Brookhaven National Labs, International Space Station spaceflight biomedical projects (Rodent Research-3 and 9), and NASA Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers. Now as a Post-doc, he continues his support of NASA’s space program, leading and supporting multiple biomedical studies investigating the physiological effects of deep space radiation, Lunar, and Martian gravity, relevant to our human space exploration goals as we return to the Moon and beyond through the Artemis program. 

He has presented these multi- and inter-disciplinary projects at 50+ local, national, and international venues, and is passionate about sharing his experiences with the next generation of scientists, clinicians, engineers, any individual interested in STEAM careers and industry.