Biomedical engineer Brooke Odle joined the Hope faculty in 2020 after a year as a faculty fellow. She mentors Hope students who pursue engineering research. Courses she teaches include Engineering Computing, Biomechanical Systems, Dynamic Systems Laboratory and Mechanics of Materials Laboratory.

Dr. Odle’s research focus is biomechanics and assistive technology for people with disabilities. One current project explores the use of functional neuromuscular stimulation to assist individuals whose legs are paralyzed to transfer across surfaces of different heights, such as from a wheelchair to a bed. The goal is to reduce shoulder stress and injuries, and provide a more efficient alternative to sliding boards or immobile and expensive hoists and lifts. In another current project, she is applying experimental and computational biomechanical methods to simulate manual patient-handling tasks. The ultimate goals of this project are to characterize the interactions forces between healthcare workers and patients during such maneuvers and provide insight on efficient assistive technologies to alleviate the physical burden these tasks place on both caregivers/healthcare workers and patients.

From 2015 through 2019, as a postdoctoral scholar and fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University she conducted research in the Motional Study Laboratory at the Advanced Platform Technology Center at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. Dr. Odle is also an Investigator at the Advanced Platform Technology Center.

Dr. Odle is a member of the American Society of Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering Society, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.  

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation engineering
• Spinal cord injury
• Computational modeling

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., biomedical engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University Biomedical and Health Sciences, 2014
• M.S., biomedical engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2009
• B.S., bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2006

GRANTS, HONORS AND AWARDS

• “Feasibility of a Musculoskeletal Model to Simulate Manual Patient-Handling Activities,” Michigan Space Grant Consortium Research Seed Grant, 2020­–2021
• “Feasibility of Neural Stimulation to Facilitate Independent Transfers after Paralysis,” Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation grant, 2019–2020
• “Auto-Regulation of Standing Balance after Spinal Cord Injury,” Craig H. Neilsen Foundation grant, 2017–2019
• Best Trainee Poster Award, Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Educational Conference and Expo, 2019
• First place Postdoctoral Research Poster Award, Case Western Reserve University Research ShowCASE, 2018

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• “Feasibility of Neural Stimulation to Facilitate Assisted Transfers after Paralysis,” presentation at Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Educational Conference and Expo, 2019
• “Experimental Implementation of Automatic Control of Posture-Dependent Stimulation in an Implanted Standing Neuroprosthesis,” with L. Lombardo et al., Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2019
• “Posture Adjustment Strategies while Standing with an Implanted Neuroprosthesis,” presentation with M. Audu and R. Triolo, Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting, 2019
• “Construction and Evaluation of a Model for Wheelchair Propulsion in an Individual with Tetraplegia” (with J. Reinbolt et al.),  Medical & Biological Engineering and Computing, 2018
• “Control of Standing Balance at Leaning Postures with Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation Following Spinal Cord Injury,” with M. Audu and R. Triolo, Medical & Biological Engineering and Computing, 2017
• “Reactive Stepping with Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation in Response to Forward-Directed Perturbations,” with A. Hunt et al., Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2017

View more of Dr. Odle’s publications

OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE 

Brooke is an advocate for K–12 STEM education and outreach. Her favorite outreach event is National Biomechanics Day, an international celebration of all things biomechanics to expose high school students and teachers to biomechanics. Brooke is also a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of America and volunteers with Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. When she is not teaching, conducting research or mentoring, Brooke enjoys cooking, baking and reading. As a new Michigander, she enjoys exploring Holland and Grand Rapids.