معرفی
Yi-Ning Wu, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology within the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, concurrently holding the position of Scientific Lead in Physiological Measurement at the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center. Her institutional affiliations extend to multiple research centers including HEROES, FDC, and SCORE, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation science.
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (2000), National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
- Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (2007), National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan (Dissertation: Quantification of Abnormal Muscle Tone in Animal Model and in Clinical Setting)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan Ability Lab)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Neuroscience Department, Brown University
Dr. Wu's research program spans neurorehabilitation technology development, with evolving focus from pediatric cerebral palsy interventions to military rehabilitation applications. Her early work pioneered robotic assessment of spasticity mechanisms in children, while recent investigations address human performance limitations during Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operations with heavy personal protective equipment (PPE). This trajectory demonstrates strategic adaptation from clinical rehabilitation to defense-related human performance optimization, maintaining core expertise in biomechanics and physiological measurement. Current projects integrate exoskeletons, wearable sensors, and AI-driven home rehabilitation systems.
Analysis of her publication record reveals three distinct phases: (1) foundational work on spasticity quantification in cerebral palsy (2005-2015), (2) expansion into home-based rehabilitation technologies (2013-2018), and (3) military human performance applications (2018-present). The most recent publications (2021-2024) show strong emphasis on EOD operational ergonomics, exoskeleton integration with PPE, and neurophysiological monitoring for adaptive human-robot collaboration, indicating successful pivot toward Department of Defense funding priorities while maintaining clinical rehabilitation expertise.
- Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence (2015)
- Sarah Baskin Award for Excellence in Research (2010)
- Switzer Fellowship Award (2009)
- Student Travel Scholarship, American Academy for Cerebral Palsy (2007)
- Li Foundation Fellow (2005)
- Podium Paper Award, Biomedical Engineering Society (2003)
- TiC100 Design Award (2002)
Dr. Wu has secured substantial research funding across multiple domains, including $1.2M from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command for EOD performance studies, NIH/NIDRR fellowships for cerebral palsy rehabilitation, and industry partnerships with Biogen Idec. Her mentorship includes directing graduate students in the NERVE Center's robotics validation programs, with recent focus on developing AI-driven home rehabilitation systems for children with cerebral palsy. Current projects bridge military and civilian applications through wearable sensor networks and adaptive exoskeleton control systems.
As Scientific Lead at the NERVE Center, Dr. Wu directs the Physiological Measurement Core, developing novel methodologies for quantifying human performance under extreme conditions. Her laboratory integrates motion capture, EMG, force sensing, and neuroimaging to evaluate rehabilitation interventions, with recent expansion into EOD operational environments. The HEROES initiative focuses on human-robot teaming for hazardous operations, while SCORE develops sensor-based outcome measures for clinical rehabilitation.
