Background

• Intern, Facilities Mechanical Engineering, Port of Portland
• Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Portland
• BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Portland

Current Responsibilities

I am a Graduate Assistant for a new research project that focuses on the study of focal cartilage defects in the hip. The long-term goal of this new research program is to develop a detailed, quantitative understanding of the effects of focal cartilage defects in the hip on stress and strain in the surrounding cartilage, to predict the likelihood of progression of defect size and development of OA, and to provide patient-specific recommendations for treatment based on location, size and technique. The first two anticipated short-term goals of the project will be:

1. Determine the incidence of chondral defects in hips with clinically relevant structural deformities and quantify the size, location, shape and severity/depth arthroscopically
2. Validate finite element model predictions of transchondral cartilage mechanics in the hip with simulated cartilage defects. The results of these two goals will form the basis of our longer term research program, focusing on patient-specific analysis.

Research Interests

• Experimental and Computational Biomechanics