Katherine Saul

Katherine Saul is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University's College of Engineering, where she also serves as Director of Graduate Programs. Her research focuses on dynamics and neural control of the musculoskeletal system, upper limb biomechanics, orthopaedic rehabilitation, computational simulation of movement, and musculoskeletal imaging.

Dr. Saul directs the Movement Biomechanics Lab (MoBL), which investigates musculoskeletal structure-function relationships in the upper limb through integrated approaches combining MR imaging, strength assessments, functional testing, and computational simulations. The lab characterizes neuromuscular control mechanisms in both healthy populations and those with impairments such as brachial plexus injuries and cerebral palsy.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal consistent focus on upper limb biomechanics across diverse conditions including birth brachial plexus injuries, transtibial amputation, and hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Key methodological themes include computational modeling of musculoskeletal systems, analysis of motor unit properties, and development of rehabilitation frameworks that bridge engineering principles with clinical applications.

Scientific awards were not explicitly mentioned in the source material.

As Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Saul oversees MAE's graduate curriculum and mentorship while leading externally funded research. Her active grants portfolio includes projects on brachial plexus birth injury mechanisms, neural interfaces for rehabilitation, military injury evaluation frameworks, rotator cuff repair analysis, MRI segmentation for clinical applications, and exoskeleton control for post-stroke rehabilitation.

The Movement Biomechanics Lab (MoBL) serves as the primary research vehicle, employing interdisciplinary teams to translate engineering principles into clinical orthopaedic solutions through advanced imaging and simulation techniques focused on upper limb function.