Benjamin Wheatley

Benjamin Wheatley is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell University, where he leads the Mechanics and Modeling of Orthopaedic Tissues Laboratory (MMOT Lab). His research integrates experimental and computational biomechanics to understand soft-tissue and musculoskeletal mechanics, with applications spanning orthopaedics, rehabilitation engineering, and bio-inspired design.

Education

• B.S. in Engineering, Trinity College, 2011
• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2017

Research Interests

Wheatley’s work centers on finite-element modeling and experimental characterization of biological soft tissues, particularly skeletal muscle, tendon, and bone. He investigates structure–function relationships in orthopaedic tissues, neuromuscular biomechanics, and bio-inspired protective structures such as bighorn sheep horns. Applications include improving prosthetic gait, understanding knee-joint loading, and designing impact-mitigating materials.

Publication Trends

Across more than 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2015, Wheatley’s scholarship exhibits two dominant trajectories: (1) high-fidelity computational modeling of skeletal muscle and orthopaedic tissues under multiaxial loading, and (2) experimental biomechanics studies combining motion capture, EMG, imaging, and mechanical testing. Recent work increasingly couples optimal-control theory with gait simulations to predict clinical outcomes for individuals with limb loss.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• (none explicitly listed in provided text)

Advising & Funding

Wheatley actively mentors undergraduate and graduate researchers in the MMOT Lab; interested students are invited to attend weekly lab meetings after contacting him via email. Grant and funding details are not provided in the supplied text.

Laboratory & Team

He directs the Mechanics and Modeling of Orthopaedic Tissues Laboratory located in Academic East 302, Bucknell University. The lab emphasizes student-led collaborative research that bridges mechanical engineering, orthopaedics, and biology.