Kathleen Sienko

Kathleen Sienko, Ph.D., is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. Her research focuses on sensory augmentation technologies, rehabilitation engineering, and global health medical device design, with an emphasis on task-shifting solutions for low-resource settings. She also contributes significantly to engineering education, particularly in contextual design methodologies and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Her work integrates biomechanics principles with wearable sensor systems to address challenges in balance disorders, vestibular rehabilitation, and maternal health. Notable projects include developing a contraceptive implant insertion device for low-income countries and systems for automatic balance evaluation using IMUs. Sienko emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural sensitivity in design, and the intentional use of prototypes to engage stakeholders effectively.

• Key Research Themes: Biomechanics, Medical Device Design, Human Factors, Global Health Engineering
• Design Philosophy: Contextualized solutions prioritizing user needs, sustainability, and scalability
• Education Focus: Training students in culturally adaptive design processes through immersive global health projects

Her publications span machine learning applications for fetal movement detection, gait analysis frameworks for vestibular disorders, and pedagogical strategies for engineering design education. Sienko's work bridges clinical needs with engineering innovation, often involving collaborations across medical, mechanical, and biomedical disciplines.