Our lab had a great time sharing our research at the College of Engineering Discovery Days. Our booth was entitled, “The Ultimate Machine” because we think of the human body as a complex system with our brain as a controller/computer and our muscles as our motors. Elementary and middle school students used their neural pathway, from brain to muscle, to control a robot gripper by either relaxing or activating their muscle. 
Orthoses
Sasha Portnova Presents Poster in DC
Sasha Portnova is presenting her research at the 20th Annual Posters on the Hill in Washington DC today, April 20th. Out of 300 received applications, Sasha was one of 60 posters chosen for the presentation. She is sharing her work on: 3D-Printed Wrist-Driven Orthosis for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury. Congratulations and Go Biomechanics!
Sasha Presents at the Northwest Chapter of AAOP
After presenting her work at the national American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) in Orlando, FL, Sasha was invited to present her work locally at the Northwest chapter of AAOP here in Bellevue. Great job sharing about your research, Sasha!
2015 Levinson Emerging Scholar
Sasha Portnova has been named one of ten 2015 Levinson Emerging Scholar’s! This is a highly competitive program supporting talented and highly motivated undergraduates who want to pursue creative and advanced bioscience and related research. As a Levinson Emerging Scholar, she will receive funding to support her research, including funding to present their findings at a professional conference. The award will support Sasha’s on-going research to improve the design of affordable, 3D-printed orthoses for individuals with spinal cord injury and other neurologic disorders. She will also be presenting this work at the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists in Orlando, March 9-11, 2016.
Congratulations Sasha!
Ivan Owen: Washington Access Fund 2015
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ongratulations to one of our collaborators, Ivan Owen from UW Bothell, for being selected as one of the top nominees for the Washington Access Fund 2015 Innovation Award! Ivan was one of the original co-creators for the 3D-printed prosthetic hand and released the designs open-source which has led to the formation of the global Enable movement.
You can also learn more about Ivan’s recent work on this recent news story from King 5
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We will find out on Nov. 12th if Ivan is the 2015 awardee. Good luck Ivan!