People
Principal Investigator (PI)
Jason R. Franz, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
10206C Mary Ellen Jones Building
Post-Docs
Kavya Katugam-Dechene, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
PhD Kinesiology-Biomechanics, Penn State, 2023
MS Kinesiology-Biomechanics, Penn State, 2020
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, 2018
My research sits at the intersection of biomechanics, health, and innovation. I study how aging, injury, and disease influence walking and balance, with the goal of improving mobility and reducing fall risk. I am particularly committed to developing accessible health solutions that address the needs of at-risk and underserved populations. My postdoctoral work bridges academic and industry collaborations, combining rigorous biomechanics with early-stage commercialization efforts to ensure discoveries translate into real-world impact.
Graduate Students
Emily Eichenlaub, Ph.D. Student
Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 2020
My research aims to characterize how the interaction between neural control and muscle mechanics forms the basis for balance control. My overarching goal is to translate this knowledge to the design of assistive devices and rehabilitation therapies.
Megan Spencer, Ph.D. Student
Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University
I seek to leverage an improved basic science understanding of foot neuromechanics toward the design and implementation of footwear modifications to augment foot function and thereby enhance physical function. Ultimately, my goal is to engineer scalable solutions to improve the mechanical efficiency of the human foot.
Ethan Simaitis, Ph.D. Student
Biomedical Engineering
BS Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Tech
I am interested in enhancing the functionality of wearable technologies to broaden access to communities for individuals with mobility impairment and thereby increase independence and quality of life.
Olivia Stepp, Ph.D. Student
Biomedical Engineering
MS Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State
BS Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State
I am exploring the intersection of musculoskeletal health, biomechanics, and wearable technology to drive innovation in precision monitoring and rehabilitation in individuals with or at risk for knee osteoarthritis. Ultimately, I aim to translate these findings to the field of health technology for broader consumer access.
Undergraduate Students
Kaemon Silas Edmonson, Biomedical Engineering
Lea Klissouras, Biomedical Engineering
Shyam Patel, Biomedical Engineering
Roberta Muraira, Biomedical Engineering
Kevin Lima, Biomedical Engineering
Anh Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering
Virginie Ruest, Biomedical Engineering
Ava Cook, Biomedical Engineering
Kabir Dewan, Biomedical Engineering
Aidan Hoffman, Biomedical Engineering
Manasvi Marthala, Biomedical Engineering
Jeremy Picado, Biomedical Engineering
Ranti Olatosi, Biomedical Engineering
Max Trbonja, Biomedical Engineering
Alumni
Ross Smith, Post-doc
Elizabeth Bjornsen, Post-doc
Rebecca Krupenevich, Post-doc
Hoon Kim, Post-doc
Brian Selgrade, Post-doc
Mu Qiao, Post-doc
Aubrey Gray, Ph.D., 2025
Andrew Shelton, Ph.D., 2024
Ricky Pimentel, Ph.D., 2023
Amanda (“Mandy”) Munsch, Ph.D., 2023
William (“Billy”) Clark, Ph.D., 2020
Katie Conway, Ph.D., 2020
Michael Browne, Ph.D., 2019
Jessica Thompson, M.S., 2017
Alexander Paz, Visiting Scholar (University of Eastern Finland), 2023
Constantin Beyer, Visiting Scholar (Technische Universitat Ilmenau), 2023
Yujin Kwon, Visiting Scholar (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology), 2022
Daniel Duque Urrego, Visiting Scholar (Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia), 2021
Jeroen Waanders, Visiting Scholar (University of Groningen, Netherlands), 2017