Karen Troy

Dr. Karen Troy is the John Woodman Higgins Professor and Department Head of Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). She holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering and Systems Science and Mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis, a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her research focuses on understanding how mechanical forces influence bone and joint health, using computational modeling, medical imaging, and clinical studies. Key projects include examining biomechanical risk factors for bone stress injuries in runners and studying bone strength changes in spinal cord injury patients.

She leads the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Troy is an award-winning educator, recognized with the Biomedical Engineering Teacher of the Year (2019) and the American Society of Biomechanics Founder’s Award (2021). She actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students on projects at WPI’s Digital Repository, including developments in assistive devices and injury prevention technologies.

• Education: PhD, Biomedical Engineering (University of Iowa, 2003); BS, Biomedical Engineering & Systems Science (Washington University, 1999)
• Affiliations: Affiliated with Mechanical & Materials Engineering Department at WPI
• Professional Roles: Board member of the American Society for Biomechanics and Orthopaedic Research Society
• Grants & Patents: NIH-funded studies on stress fractures; patent on fracture healing detection systems