Space Career Profile: Nolan Herssens

Who are you and what exactly do you do?

I am Nolan Herssens, a Human Exploration Scientist at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) of the European Space Agency (ESA). Together with my team, I coordinate scientific research involving human participants, both on Earth and aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. Much of this research takes place on Earth, in so-called “analog” environments that simulate the effects of space: volunteers who remain in bed for weeks or “float” in water to mimic weightlessness, the remote Concordia station in Antarctica, and parabolic flights that create short periods of weightlessness. This allows us to learn a great deal before even sending someone into space.
Our goal is to send our current and future astronauts into space as safely and healthily as possible—today to the ISS, and in the future also toward the Moon. We focus on astronaut health and performance: studying how the human body adapts to weightlessness, addressing health risks related to behavioral changes and radiation, and developing countermeasures and medical care for long-duration missions.
In addition, we work on sustainable living environments that enable humans to live and work effectively in space and on other surfaces, such as the Moon: we optimize crew comfort and ensure the supply of oxygen, water, and food.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day invariably starts with a cup of coffee, good motivation, and a full inbox. Most of my time is spent following up on ongoing projects or those about to start. I do this through emails and video conferences with all stakeholders: (inter)national space agencies such as BELSPO or NASA, scientists from across Europe, colleagues in Noordwijk (the Netherlands), and many others.
In essence, I act as a bridge—between the scientists who design the experiments and the space agencies that make them possible. I represent ESA within the scientific community and help these two worlds speak the same language. Documentation is just as crucial: drafting contracts, defining how scientific measurements can be made comparable across projects, and preparing documentation for ISS experiments.
Finally, together with other teams—Physical Sciences, Biology, and Moon & Mars—we determine the direction of ESA’s research and decide which projects to support.

What are the most rewarding things about your job?

The diversity of topics and tasks we work on is especially stimulating. One moment you’re working on a project about brain activity, and the next hour you’re in a meeting about a workshop we are organizing later in the year.
Contact with different scientists and organizations creates a very dynamic environment—no two days are the same. It is also always rewarding to inform a scientific team that their submitted project has been selected for one of our studies. It is a highlight whenever we give people the opportunity to participate in our activities and thus help pave the way for future space missions. I also truly enjoy mentoring young researchers within ESA. Sharing your knowledge and then seeing them develop and grow is very fulfilling.

And the most challenging?

The heavy administrative workload, as in so many roles, and occasionally having to deliver bad news when a scientific team is not selected, are unfortunately part of the reality. Sending (sometimes multiple) reminders to absent-minded professors can also become a bit frustrating, but in the end, they always respond.

How did you get there?

After my PhD, I was looking for the next step in my career. The most logical choice seemed to be a postdoctoral position at one of the many universities, but by chance I came across a vacancy at ESA that perfectly matched my profile—though I never thought I would be selected.
With each selection round I passed, I gained a little more hope, and eventually the long-awaited phone call came: I was offered the opportunity to start working at ESA.

What did you study?

I obtained a degree in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, with a specialization in neurological rehabilitation, at the University of Antwerp. I then started a PhD at the Faculty of Medicine of the same university.
My thesis focused on balance during walking, both in healthy adults (aged 20 to 89) and in patients with “bilateral vestibulopathy” (a loss of function of the balance organ on both sides). Without realizing it at the time, this was the perfect preparation for my postdoc at ESA, where I studied how humans move in reduced gravity environments, such as on the Moon or Mars.

What skills are needed for your job?

Good communication skills are essential to interact with a wide range of profiles, along with strong collaboration abilities. Anticipation is equally important—foreseeing problems or solving them before they even arise.
It also helps to quickly absorb new information, work independently, and be willing to make decisions. Finally, having an open attitude and being approachable is a major advantage.