CAMPUS FEATURE
DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA CAMPUS Our East Coast campus is only minutes from the beach and adjacent to an international airport and speedway.
Natalie Brattain (’26) and Grace Gratton (’27) are shaping the future of space science through undergraduate research that addresses some of the most pressing challenges in human spaceflight. From space weather and systems engineering to astronaut health and biomedical countermeasures, their work reflects a shared commitment to advancing safety and performance beyond Earth. This year, their work earned national recognition when both students were named recipients of the 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a highly competitive award that recognizes exceptional undergraduate researchers pursuing careers in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious undergraduate STEM scholarships in the United States, the award supports students whose research demonstrates both academic excellence and long-term impact. Gratton, a Space Physics major, has focused her research efforts on understanding solar wind and its broader impacts on space systems. While earning her undergraduate degree, she expanded her work into systems engineering and completed a summer internship at the Air Force Research Lab in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her research experience also includes presenting work on drone swarm management and satellite networks — modeled after natural processes such as turtle hatchling behavior — at the Conference on Systems Engineering Research (CSER) in Los Angeles, California.
Gratton was also named a 2025 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Gratton says she was inspired to study Space Physics after seeing the colorful aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, move across the sky in her home state of Minnesota. “It was a life-changing event for me to be able to see that,” she said. “Something about all the energy dancing through the sky — I needed to know how that works.” Brattain’s work centers on astronaut health and space physiology, with a focus on developing countermeasures that support long-duration spaceflight. Currently pursuing a degree in Aerospace Physiology, she plans to continue her academic path with a Ph.D. in Bioastronautics after graduating. Over the summer, Brattain worked alongside faculty mentor Dr. Foram Madiyar, assistant professor of chemistry, on a NASA-funded research project involving self-healing polymers. Dr. Madiyar emphasized Brattain’s ability to translate complex research into meaningful outcomes. “Her ability to synthesize hands-on experiments and collaborative leadership into tangible progress is rare at the undergraduate level, and it leaves no doubt that she will make meaningful contributions to human-spaceflight health in the years ahead,” Madiyar said. Both Gratton and Brattain were recently recognized among six Embry-Riddle Students Honored in Aviation Week’s Prestigious 20 Twenties List, highlighting their growing impact within the aerospace and aviation fields. Their combined achievements reflect a trajectory defined by curiosity, collaboration and real-world research — positioning both students as future leaders in space science and astronaut health.
CAMPUS PROFILE
s 7,900+ Undergraduate Students s 50 States / 98 Countries Represented s 12% International Students Student Clubs + Organizations Our Florida Campus houses hundreds of student clubs, including the Mars Society, Musicians Club, Muscle Car Association and Microgravity Club, as well as intramural and recreational sports. NCAA Division II Athletics Women’s Men’s s Basketball s Baseball s Cross Country s Basketball s Golf s Cross Country s Lacrosse s Golf s Rowing s Lacrosse s Soccer s Rowing s Softball s Soccer s Tennis s Tennis s Track & Field s Track & Field s Volleyball Coed s Cheerleading
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19 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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