Apply as test person for parabolic flight-experiment

Dr. Jaap Swanenburg and his team conduct micro- and hypergravity research with the aim of improving spinal health. The projects integrate different approaches to investigate the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic back pain: from biomechanics and pain neurophysiology to cortical representations of the spine and their alterations in recurrent pain. Find more information here

For his research, Jaap measures curvature of the spine and spinal muscle activity under altered gravity conditions. Measurements are done on healthy test-persons during the parabolic flight maneuvers. The experimental setup has been established and used already in a parabolic flight campaign, you can get an impression in these 3 videos about Jaap' s research on the ESA Parabolic Flight Campaigns. 

Video 1 Swanenburg research at 71st ESA Parabolic Flight

Video 2 Swanenburg research at 71st ESA Parabolic Flight

Video 3 Swanenburg research on Parabolic Flight

The UZH Space Hub is looking for UZH students to volunteer as test persons for the next measurements during the 83rd ESA parabolic flight campaign from  19.-24.November 2023.

If you want to apply as test person, you need to meet the following selection criteria, required by Novespace (airplane-operator) and the experiment-specific requirements. Additionally, none of the exclusion criteria (se below) may apply to you. 

Selection criteria

•           Healthy person 

•           Enrolled at the UZH as student

•           Aged from 18 to 65

•           Holding a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, see  backside of a swiss health ensurance card) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

•           Willing to attend the flight campaign from 19.-24, November 2023 in Bordeaux, France

•           If you get selected as a test person, you have to undergo and pass a medical examination similar to a standard aviation medical examination for private pilot aptitude (JAR FCL3 Class 2 medical examination). This medical examination is a mandatory procedure, applied to any person on board the parabolic flight aircraft. The costs for the examination is covered by the project.

Exclusion criteria

The following persons can not be admitted as  test-persons :

•           Persons who took part in a previous biomedical research protocol, of which exclusion period is not terminated

•           Pregnant or nursing women (urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential is performed prior to flight)

•           Protected adults (guardianship, curatorship, safeguard of justice)

•           Persons with acute backpain (thoracic or lumbar) at parabolic flight date

•           Persons who have undergone a surgical intervention in the thoracic and lumbar spine

•           Persons suffering from local infections of the spine or the surrounding tissue

•           Persons with pronounced scoliosis

•           Persons with heart disease

•           Persons who suffer from claustrophobia

You can apply until May 31st. If you get selected you will be informed in June.