Alexandra 'Sasha' Portnova

Sasha Portnova is a Research Scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. Her work focuses on understanding and enhancing the functionality of human hands through rehabilitation, assistive technology, and prosthetics. Utilizing machine learning and biomechanical analysis, she develops innovative solutions to bridge biology and engineering, aiming to improve accessibility and human-computer interaction.

Her research spans diverse projects, including open-source orthoses for spinal cord injury patients, myoelectric prosthetic control systems, and accessible hand-tracking technologies. Publications highlight her expertise in dimensionality reduction, neural signal processing, and user-centered design for individuals with upper-body disabilities. She actively explores how low-dimensional controllers can manage high-dimensional prosthetic systems.

Sasha's email address is alexandra.portnova@gmail.com. She holds a PhD from her work under Drs. Mussa-Ivaldi and Rombokas, preceded by undergraduate research with Dr. Kat Steele, and postdoctoral studies in accessible therapeutic technologies.