Alexandra (Alex) Kemp, Ph.D.

Dr. Alexandra (Alex) Kemp earned a Ph.D. in Technology, Aviation Human Factors in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology/Polytechnic Institute at Purdue University, with a focus on Space Human Factors. She is currently an adjunct professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University teaching space human factors for the Worldwide campus. Kemp is interested in working with the next Moon and Mars crews to get them to the surface of each and back safely.

At Purdue, she researched human factors within the aviation field. Alex's dissertation, titled “Evaluation Modeling for Energy Management in General Aviation Airplanes,” focussed on energy management within general aviation airplanes. Alex’s previous internships include one with Lockheed Martin, three with Honeywell Aerospace, and three with NASA. 

Kemp joined the Leading Women Toward Space Careers program because she feels that oftentimes working in space careers can feel limited, intimidating, there is not enough information or lack of information available about the field (such as working in engineering and not knowing much about the medical side of space), and ever evolving. Looking back on her undergraduate years, she reflected that she did not have a mentor or anyone cheering her on. Alex Kemp faced several obstacles that a mentor could have recognized or even provided guidance. She aims to help mitigate these issues for women so that their process working in the space industry is welcoming and encouraging.