B.S. Mechanical Engineering – Michigan State University
M.S. Kinesiology – Seattle University
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Katie is fascinated by all things related to human movement. With previous experience in professional sports and footwear biomechanics industries, she has now directed her passion towards enhancing the quality of life for individuals with limited mobility. Currently, her focus lies in the utilization of mobility devices and non-invasive technologies to make a positive impact in this area.
Dr. Katherine M. Steele is the Albert S. Kobayashi Endowed Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. She earned her BS in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Her research focuses on using novel computational and experimental tools to enable human movement, in all its forms to improve treatment and quality of life for individuals with cerebral palsy, stroke, and other neurological disorders.
Her team strives to connect engineering, medicine, and accessible design to create solutions that can advance our understanding of human mobility and translate research results to the clinic and daily life. She has previously worked as an engineer in multiple hospitals including the Cleveland Clinic, The Children’s Hospital of Colorado, and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.
For her research and innovations, she has been awarded a Career Development Award in Rehabilitation Engineering from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation CAREER Early Faculty Development Award, and the American Society of Biomechanics Young Scientist Award. In 2020, she co-founded and serves as Associate Director of CREATE (create.uw.edu), the Center for Research & Education on Accessible Technology & Experiences with partners from industry and academia in engineering, rehabilitation medicine, disability studies and information sciences supported by an inaugural $3 million investment from Microsoft. She is also the co-founder of AccessEngineering (uw.edu/doit/accessing), an NSF-supported program that supports individuals with disabilities to pursue careers in engineering and trains all engineers in principles of universal design and ability-based design to create more inclusive products, environments, and experiences. She serves as the Director of the AMP Lab, a shared motion analysis laboratory between Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington.
Education
PhD, Mechanical Engineering – Stanford University
MS, Mechanical Engineering – Stanford University
BS, Engineering with a Mechanical Specialty (Minors in Bioengineering and Public Affairs) – Colorado School of Mines
Experience
Professor, Mechanical Engineering – University of Washington (2013-present)
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering – University of Washington (2018-2023)
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering – University of Washington (2013 – 2018)
Acting Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering – University of Washington (2012 – 2013)
Research Associate, Sensory Motor Performance Program – Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (2012 – 2013)
