Amy L. Lerner

Amy L. Lerner is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the founding Academic Director of the Center for Medical Technology & Innovation (CMTI) at the University of Rochester's Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She holds a PhD and post-doctoral training from the University of Michigan, with prior experience as a design engineer for NASA's Shuttle Space Suit program. Her research focuses on computational biomechanical modeling of the knee joint, emphasizing gender/ethnic differences in anatomy, meniscal pressure distributions, and obesity-related osteoarthritis risks. She leads design education initiatives nationally (BME-IDEA) and locally, shaping curricula for biomedical engineering programs. Her work bridges clinical needs with engineering solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research interests include orthopaedic biomechanics, cornea mechanics, and finite element modeling using medical imaging (MRI/micro-CT). Her lab develops personalized computational models to predict treatment outcomes and improve medical device design. Key projects involve studying obesity's biomechanical impacts, corneal collagen fibril dispersion, and gender differences in post-surgical gait asymmetry. She has pioneered design education curricula, including Rochester's MS in Medical Technology & Innovation program.

Her research is funded by NSF, NIH, and industry partners, with over 80 publications in top journals. While no specific awards are listed, her leadership roles and programmatic contributions highlight her institutional impact. Advising includes supervising all graduates from CMTI's MS program to date. Current efforts focus on efficient modeling techniques for personalized medicine and advancing biomechanical education standards.