Hometown: La Grange Park, Illinois 

Studies: PhD student, Mechanical Engineering

Katie has been drawn to innovation since childhood, when she first began designing and building projects at a science center where her mother taught STEM labs. Now a PhD student in mechanical engineering, she channels that same creativity and problem-solving into research that supports rehabilitation and assistive technologies.

Katie works in the University of Iowa’s Robotics and Assistive Devices Laboratory, where she leads research on lower-limb orthotic devices. Her current focus is on developing a standardized method for testing ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) stiffness, with the goal of improving clinical outcomes and tailoring treatments for users with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. She brings experience from industry as well, having worked on human factors studies and product development during a medical device internship.

With a strong foundation in prototyping, biomechanics, and co-design, Katie hopes to continue advancing medical device innovation through user-informed research and development. She’s especially passionate about bridging the gap between engineering and end-user needs to create accessible, intuitive solutions.

Outside of her academic and professional life, Katie enjoys being active outdoors, running half marathons, biking, and hiking. She’s also an avid reader and loves attending concerts.