Lucinda Williamson, PhD
Biomedical Engineering
Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Research Associate
Pronouns: she/they
About
Lucinda Williamson, PhD, is a dedicated biomechanical engineer and Chicago native who received her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa. Dr. Williamson's research was conducted as part of a highly interdisciplinary team comprising engineers, orthopedic clinicians, rehabilitation scientists, and traumatologists. This collaborative approach facilitated significant advancements in translational orthopedic biomechanics research and provided crucial insights through the implementation of advanced biomechanical models.
Dr. Williamson's graduate work focused on multi-scale computational stress analysis, traditionally performed independently of musculoskeletal modeling. Her innovative research combined whole-body musculoskeletal modeling and joint-level stress analysis into a cohesive framework capable of determining articular contact stress taken from measurements in the gait lab. These models have been instrumental in evaluating the effectiveness of ankle foot orthotics in preventing early-onset post-traumatic osteoarthritis following severe joint injuries, such as intra-articular fracture. Additionally, Dr. Williamson has extensive experience in designing and implementing cadaveric studies to validate and corroborate these computational models.
Beyond her research, Dr. Williamson has expertise in rapid prototyping and fabrication, having worked as an additive manufacturing engineer. In this role, she oversaw the operation of a wide array of 3D printers, ranging from high-grade medical printers to basic FDM printers. She also served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee for the College of Engineering. During which she developed open-ended translational biomechanics curricula that not only covered technical skills but also emphasized the ethical social responsibilities that engineering professionals face – this approach encouraged students to think critically, wholistically, and creatively.
Looking ahead, Dr. Williamson aims to leverage biomechanics to understand, predict, and enhance individual function and performance. She is passionate about pushing the boundaries of modeling human motion, particularly with markerless motion capture technologies. Her goal is to democratize the benefits of advanced biomechanical research by making it more accessible.