Brian Stemper

Brian Stemper is a Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin, and Professor in the MCW Department of Neurosurgery. He serves as Director of the Neuroscience and Biomechanics Research Laboratories at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, where his research bridges engineering principles with clinical applications in trauma biomechanics.

Dr. Stemper holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University (2004) and a BS from Milwaukee School of Engineering (1998). His career progression includes positions as Assistant Professor (2004-2008), Associate Professor (2008-2017), and Professor (2019-present) across both institutions, with tenure awarded in 2023.

His research focuses on biomechanics of traumatic brain injury, spine injury mechanisms, and automotive safety. Stemper's work examines how mechanical forces translate to biological damage in neural and spinal tissues, with particular interest in repetitive head impacts in sports, military aviation injuries, and automotive collision biomechanics. His laboratory develops experimental models to characterize injury thresholds and mechanisms.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on spinal biomechanics (60%), traumatic brain injury (30%), and military/aerospace applications (10%). His work increasingly integrates computational modeling with experimental validation, particularly in personalized injury prediction and the effects of repetitive impacts.

• 2004 Best Paper by a Young Researcher, International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impact
• 2006-2008 Listed in Who's Who in Science and Engineering
• 2007-2010 Listed in Who's Who in America
• 2008 Listed in Who's Who in the World
• 2009 Best Student Paper, Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium
• 2010 NASS Best Poster Presentation, North American Spine Society

Dr. Stemper has secured significant grant funding from NIH, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and Air Force Research Laboratory. His current research examines head impact exposure in athletes, neck and back pain in high-performance aircrew, and factors influencing addiction outcomes following brain injury. He has mentored numerous graduate students and serves on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the Zablocki VA Medical Center.