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
Kristie Verniel
Program Administrator, Helmet Lab
Institute for Critical Technology and Science
Ryan Gellner, MS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
PhD expected 2024
Nicole Stark, MS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
PhD expected 2024
Kristin Dingelstedt, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
MS expected 2024
Travis Miller, BS
Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics
PhD expected 2027
Andrew Calis
Undergraduate Student, Neuroscience
BS expected 2023
Caitlyn Jung
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2024
Matthew Wood
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2024
Ethan Harris
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2023
Adam Gillespie
Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
BS expected 2024
Ethan Henley
Undergraduate Student, Computational Systems Neuroscience
BS expected 2025
Jonah Winistorfer
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2023
Susanna Gagliardi
Undergraduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
BS expected 2024