Austin Wilson has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a goal inspired by Ohio's rich space history. Growing up near NASA’s headquarters, his fascination with space evolved into a creative and technical driver in his life. After graduating from Case School of Engineering in 2022 and working on startups, Wilson decided to return to pursue a master’s degree while working full-time at Zomedica, developing remote monitoring technology for animals.

His ambition to contribute to space exploration led him to collaborate with the Ohio Space Grant Consortium, where his award will allow him to work on a NASA-backed project, providing mental health support for astronauts during Mars missions. His work focuses on using AI to deliver real-time emotional care despite communication delays with Earth, integrating robotics and generative AI to enhance astronaut well-being.

Wilson continues pushing boundaries, and in pursuit of his ultimate goal he is driven by the question, "Would my younger self be proud?" Today, he believes the answer is yes.

Learn more about Wilson’s work.