The Helmet Lab specializes in injury biomechanics, with particular emphasis on investigating human tolerance to impact loading. Rather than studying how to treat injury, we explore ways to prevent injury. This research involves identifying and characterizing injury mechanisms, quantifying the biomechanical response to impact, determining tolerance levels, and evaluating protective design. We study injuries to the whole body but primarily focus on advancing the understanding of concussion and how to decrease the incidence of injury. Applications of our research include sports, automobiles, and military injury prevention.
Studying concussions is challenging because it is impossible to produce human brain injury in a laboratory environment. To work around these challenges, we instrument populations (athletes) at elevated risk of sustaining a concussion. This approach allows us to collect biomechanical data characterizing concussion in an observational manner. We aim to quantify concussion mechanisms and how they vary with age, sex, and environment through this work. The translational outcomes of our research have led to improved helmet design and new rules in football.
Steve Rowson, PhD
Director, Helmet Lab
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
Stefan Duma, PhD
Founder, Helmet Lab
Director, Institute for Critical Technology and Science
Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
Mark Begonia, PhD
Director of Testing, Helmet Lab
Institute for Critical Technology and Science
Barry Miller, PhD
Director of Outreach and Business Development, Helmet Lab
Institute for Critical Technology and Science
Nicole Stark, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
Kristie Verniel
Program Administrator, Helmet Lab
Institute for Critical Technology and Science
Ryan Gellner, MS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
PhD expected 2024
Matthew Wood, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
MS expected 2025
Susanna Gagliardi, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
MS expected 2025
Andrew Calis, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
MS expected 2026
Adam Gillespie, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
MS expected 2026
Travis Miller, BS
Graduate Student, Engineering Mechanics
PhD expected 2027
Caitlyn Jung, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
PhD expected 2028
Lauren Duma, BS
Graduate Student, Neuroscience
PhD expected 2028
Ethan Henley
Undergraduate Student, Neuroscience
BS expected 2024
Lee Edwards
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2025
Adam Adas
Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
BS expected 2025
Brianna Reilly
Undergraduate Student, Clinical Neuroscience
BS expected 2026
Anthony Navarette
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2026
Ryan Ordway
Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
BS expected 2027
Katie Metrey
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2025
Ethan Burt
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2025
Jack Nowinski
Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
BS expected 2025
Rylee Langdon
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2026
Macy Calhoun
Undergraduate Student, Chemical Engineering
BS expected 2025