Spacesuits for preserving human health and mobility: Ruth Bunford’s groundbreaking PhD Journey

For nearly 20 years, Ruth worked as a pattern maker in the fashion industry, with the last eight years spent teaching at RMIT.

Her decision to pursue a PhD at RMIT was driven by a desire to elevate her career and expand her impact from industry practice to academic research.

“I wanted to take my career to the next level, and embarking on a PhD allowed me to explore an academic field while leveraging my extensive professional experience,” Ruth explained.

Her PhD journey began with a serendipitous opportunity that perfectly aligned with her skills and interests.

A position was advertised at RMIT seeking someone with pattern-making expertise to contribute to a project developing spacesuits.

This industry-funded research project became the foundation of her PhD, titled ‘Spacesuits for Preserving Human Health and Mobility’.

"The spacesuits shown in the photos are a type of Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS)," explained Ruth.

"These particular suits have been designed to help combat the deconditioning of an astronaut's sensorimotor system which can be an effect of spending prolonged periods in a reduced gravity environment.

These garments are specialised compression garments which are designed to apply a partial gravity-like loading through the length of the body, which has been suggested could also help maintain an astronaut's spine health."

Different versions of Ruth's spacesuits.

Ruth said the spacesuit project was the ideal opportunity to apply her skills to solve a real-world problem in a cross-disciplinary research team.

Preparing for the milestones of her PhD was a process of learning and adaptation. The initial milestone was particularly daunting, requiring extensive preparation and practice.

However, as Ruth progressed, her confidence grew, and she learned to manage her research through incremental achievements and mini milestones.

“The first milestone was the hardest. I had to prepare extensive documentation and practice my presentation repeatedly. By the second milestone, I felt more confident and had developed a routine of working on smaller projects that contributed to my overall progress,” she recalled.

Throughout her research, Ruth faced a series of small but constant challenges—framing her work’s context, acquiring necessary equipment, and publishing her findings. Each challenge contributed to her development as a well-rounded, independent researcher.

PhD research involves numerous small hurdles that you need to navigate. These challenges, while demanding, help you grow and become a more capable researcher.

(L) Ruth holding one of her spacesuit designs. Image: Nirma Madhoo. (R) Ruth during during a research presentation at the RMIT Design Hub. Image: Aayushi Badwar.

Balancing her research with personal commitments was another significant aspect of her journey. Ruth began her PhD shortly after having her first child and had her second child during her candidature. Managing a demanding research schedule alongside family life required her to become adept at efficient work planning.

“Starting my PhD after having my first child, and then having another child during my candidature, taught me how to work efficiently and plan my timeline effectively. My supervisors have been instrumental in sharing their extensive knowledge and helping me refine my focus.”

"As part of the same industry-funded research project with Human Aerospace we have developed a new design for an Orthostatic Intolerance Garment (OIG).

An OIG is another type of compression garment which astronauts wear during re-entry procedures when transitioning to the full gravity environment of Earth."

Her involvement in the industry partnership with Human Aerospace provided additional benefits, such as access to a broad research network and opportunities to present her work to influential organisations, including NASA.

"During the project's research and development phase we worked with members from NASA to understand the requirements of a suit that targets sensorimotor deconditioning," she said.

For those considering an HDR degree, Ruth offers this advice: “Ensure you have a genuine passion for your research area. A PhD can be all-consuming, but if you truly love what you're working on and are driven to find answers, it makes the journey worthwhile.”

Ruth’s PhD journey exemplifies how integrating professional experience with academic research can lead to innovative and impactful outcomes, particularly in fields where cross-disciplinary collaboration is key.

09 September 2024

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Spacesuits for preserving human health and mobility: Ruth Bunford’s groundbreaking PhD Journey