People
Principal Investigator (PI)
Jason R. Franz, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
10206C Mary Ellen Jones Building
Post-Docs
Ross Smith, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
PhD Human Movement Science, University of Queensland, 2022
MS Exercise and Sports Science, University of Memphis, 2017
BS Exercise and Sports Science, University of Memphis, 2015
I examine how aging affects foot and ankle power contributions during everyday ambulation, and aim to identify specific tissue adaptations to explain age-related changes in locomotor performance.
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
I am a trained biomechanist with experience in both human and animal-comparative research in both the academic and industry settings. I’m interested in furthering our understanding of the fundamental mechanics of movement to improve health outcomes, specifically in at-risk and marginalized populations.
Elizabeth Bjornsen, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
PhD Human Movement Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2024
MS Exercise Science, University of Arkansas, 2020
BS Exercise Science, Taylor University, 2019
My research interests are to quantify healthy tibiofemoral joint loading for individuals at high-risk for and those with established knee osteoarthritis. A comprehensive understanding of altered biomechanical profiles will lead to the development of real-world interventions to restore healthy movement and improve long-term patient outcomes.
Aubrey Gray, PhD, Post-doctoral Fellow
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, UNC Chapel Hill / NC State, 2025
BS Physics, Rhodes College, 2020
My research aims to quantify age-related deficits at the foot and ankle during walking and how those deficits can be mitigated using footwear modifications. My overarching goal is to translate this knowledge to athletic populations and optimize human locomotion and performance.
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 Weaver, 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.
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
Rebecca Krupenevich, Post-doc
Hoon Kim, Post-doc
Brian Selgrade, Post-doc
Mu Qiao, Post-doc
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., 2020
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