Spotlight: Natalie Brattain Aviation Week's 20 Twenties Winner 2026

Natalie Brattain is a 2026 20 Twenties winner and an undergraduate student in Aerospace Physiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her pioneering work focuses on protecting astronaut vision during long-duration spaceflight. 

As principal investigator, Brattain developed a wearable biosensor using self-healing polymers embedded with silver nanowires to monitor intraocular pressure, securing competitive internal research funding. Her work resulted in a published paper demonstrating the potential of self-healing materials for biomedical applications in both spaceflight and defense. She also contributed to studies examining vision-related physiological changes in simulated microgravity and serves as colead of the Tardigrade BioExploration Reproduction Research Satellite, an International Space Station payload mission examining extremophile adaptation to radiation. 

A Goldwater Scholar who supports peer mentorship and undergraduate research initiatives, Brattain plans to pursue a doctorate in bioastronautics, advancing biomedical countermeasures for future exploration missions.