Deanna Gates

Deanna Gates, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Movement Science BME at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. Her research focuses on prosthetic design, biomechanics, and neural interface technologies to improve mobility for individuals with amputations. She leads the Rehabilitation Biomechanics Laboratory, advancing clinical applications of neuroprosthetics and regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (RPNIs).

Education: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (2009), M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University (2004), and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical minor from the University of Virginia (2002).

Research interests include sensory feedback systems for prostheses, musculoskeletal modeling, and translational approaches to enhance prosthetic control. Her work emphasizes clinical validation and user-centered design, addressing challenges in functional task performance, joint loading, and gait stability. Recent studies investigate bidirectional neural interfaces and RPNIs for restoring motor and sensory function in amputees.

Publications highlight advancements in prosthetic alignment optimization, haptic feedback integration, and comparative analyses of body-powered vs. myoelectric prostheses. Her contributions bridge engineering innovation with clinical outcomes, aiming to reduce metabolic costs and improve mobility for amputee populations.