People

Karen L Troy, PhD

 

Courses Taught:

  • BME 1001 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
  • BME 3503 Skeletal Biomechanics Laboratory
  • BME/ME 4504 Biomechanics
  • BME 553 Biomechanics of Orthopaedic Devices
  • BME 593 Scientific Communication

Karen L. Troy directs the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory, where she investigates questions related to musculoskeletal health and structure, physical activity, and biomechanics, in healthy and clinical populations. She has expertise in computational biomechanics and finite element modeling, aging and fall avoidance, and medical imaging. She has worked on clinical trials targeting bone health in both healthy women and people with spinal cord injury. She collaborates with physicians in the areas of orthopaedic trauma, radiology, rheumatology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Graduate Students:

Andrew R. Wilzman, MSE

PhD Candidate

Email: arwilzman@wpi.edu

ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Wilzman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew is a PhD candidate in the MBL who started in 2020 with a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He is inspired by innovation and fascinated by numerical representations of life. Andrew uses his knowledge in computational modeling, instrumentation, materials, and mechanics within the scope of the human body to answer questions that explore the optimization of healthcare outcomes.

 

Julia M. Nicolescu, MEng

PhD Candidate

Email: jnicolescu@wpi.edu

Julia is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at WPI. She graduated from Union College in 2022 with her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a minor in Spanish. During undergraduate studies, Julia’s research focused on the biomechanics of heart and brain development of embryos. Her current work focuses on the use of various computational models to understand physiological loading impacts on bone during running. Outside of research Julia enjoys working out, reading, cooking, and spending time outside with her dog, Winnie.

 

Emma Slavin

PhD Student

epslavin@wpi.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at WPI. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2024, where she researched the role of Proteoglycan-4 in aged bone. She is interested in studying how the forces transmitted to bone during running can lead to imbalances and injury. In her free time, Emma enjoys long-distance running, cooking, and reading. 

 

Chris Nguyen 

Master’s Student

Email: chnguyen2@wpi.edu

Chris is an Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering. He graduated from WPI in 2024 with his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. Chris’s current research focuses on utilizing finite element modeling in conjunction with cadaveric specimens to better understand fatigue behavior of bones. Chris is a member of the Track and Field team at WPI and enjoys hiking.

 

Brenna Hadad

Master’s Student

brhadad@wpi.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenna is a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering. She graduated from WPI in 2024 with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in biomaterials. Her undergraduate research was on the rheology of breast milk and mammary cell mechanics during lactation. Brenna’s current research is a longitudinal study on adolescent bone development and mechanics in response to impact loading sports. In her free time, Brenna enjoys print-making, hanging out with her lizard, Frankie, and being outside.

 

 

Collaborators

  • Paolo Bonato, PhD
  • W. Brent Edwards, PhD
  • Irene Davis, PT, PhD
  • Adam Tenforde, MD
  • Rebecca Fellin, PhD
  • Ellen Gravallese, MD
  • Anjana Jain, PhD
  • Leslie R. Morse, DO
  • Ara Nazarian, PhD
  • Thomas J. Schnitzer, MD, PhD
  • Jessica Ventura, PhD
  • Jack Wixted, MD
  • Jodi Dowthwaite, PhD

 

Lab Alumni