Graduate Student Researcher

I’m a Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. student at Wake Forest University, part of the Wake Forest/Virginia Tech Joint School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, working with Dr. Jillian Urban. My research focuses on injury biomechanics related to head impacts in football, with the goal of better understanding injury mechanisms and improving athlete safety. I have experience analyzing tackle form, head kinematics, and injury risk in youth football, as well as utilizing tools such as motion capture and wearable sensors. I’m especially interested in how engineering principles can be applied to prevent sports injuries, refine strength and conditioning programs, and guide the design of safer equipment and rehabilitation protocols. Beyond injury prevention, I’m passionate about enhancing post-injury recovery and performance through biomechanical feedback and data-driven tools. I’m also excited by the potential of wearable technology, computational modeling, and translational research to improve real-world outcomes for athletes. After completing my Ph.D., I hope to continue this work in either industry or an applied research lab, pursuing innovations at the intersection of biomechanics, human performance, and safety.