Laboratory Directory
PhD/Master Positions Open
The BEL is seeking highly qualified PhD/Master students interested in the field of biomechanics/ergonomics with applications on human locomotion and muscle fatigue, wearable technologies, and personalized medicine. Candidates with a background in mechanical, industrial, or computer engineering, applied statistics, or related areas are welcome to apply. Candidates are expected to have:
- Strong background and interest in biomechanics or Ergonomics
- Experience with programming using Matlab, python, or related languages.
- Skills in the analysis of data (e.g., from kinematics and kinetics systems, and inertial measurement units)
- Good communication and collaboration skills
Applicants are encouraged to send a copy of resume and transcripts to Dr. Ehsan Rashedi.
Faculty
Ehsan Rashedi
Dr. Ehsan Rashedi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, and Director of the Biomechanics and Ergonomics Lab. His research focuses on human-centered engineering at the intersection of biomechanics, ergonomics, rehabilitation, wearable sensing, artificial intelligence, and human-technology interaction. His work combines theoretical and applied approaches to better understand human movement, physical performance, fatigue, fall risk, and safety in workplace and healthcare settings. Current and recent projects include sensor- and AI-enabled assessment of human locomotion and fall risk, digital health tools for rehabilitation and coaching, wearable motion assessment systems, human-robot interaction, and the design and evaluation of assistive technologies such as exoskeletons to improve safety, function, and efficiency.
PhD Students
Masoud Abdollahi
(2017-present)
Masoud completed his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. He is interested in human movement science, neuroscience, and data analytics. Currently, he is working on a project that aims to develop a machine-learning-based fall risk assessment model for stroke survivors.
Pranav Madhav Kuber
(2017-present)
Pranav earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India. Pranav is interested in occupational biomechanics and ergonomics. Particularly, his research focuses on applying Human Factors for developing user-centric product designs to improve the comfort, safety and efficiency of systems.
MS Students
Swapnali Babasaheb Karvekar
(2017-present)
Swapnali received her BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, India. She is interested in developing a method to objectively identify the different level of muscle fatigue in an industrial environment using gait analysis and motion sensors embedded in smartphones.
Nicole Nugent
(2018-present)
Nicole is a current BS/MS student at RIT. Her research focuses on theoretical and applied topics related to human muscle fatigue, in particular, quantification of the impact of blood flow on the rate of recovery from a fatiguing state.
Ketan Prakash Thakur
(2018-present)
Ketan pursued his undergraduate studies in Mechanical Engineering from University of Mumbai, India. His research is focused on the field of sports and healthcare.