Our Team
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Lou DeFrate, Sc.D. Vice Chair of Biomechanics, Movement, and Imaging Research Laszlo Ormandy Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Material Science Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering Director, Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory mailto:lou.defrate@duke.edu |
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Patrick Bradley, B.S. Patrick is a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering and materials science. His research interests include gait biomechanics, knee joint mechanics during dynamic loading, and the development of osteoarthritis post-traumatic injury. mailto:patrick.bradley@duke.edu |
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Bella Beortegui, B.S. Bella is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science. Her research interests include knee biomechanics, especially pertaining to athletes and the particular injuries they endure such as continuous tearing of the cruciate and collateral ligaments. mailto:bella.beortegui@duke.edu |
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Jefferson Bercaw, B.S. Jefferson is a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering. His research interests include ACL and meniscus injury mechanisms, and sex-related differences in ACL and meniscus injury risk. mailto:jefferson.bercaw@duke.edu |
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Stephanie Danyluk, M.S. Stephanie is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DeFrate Lab. Her role in the lab is mostly regulatory, as she manages all clinical studies involving patients. She makes sure that each study is conducted efficiently, safely, and within the guidelines of ICH’s “good clinical practice.” Within her role, she deals directly with research participants, investigators, and the Institutional Review Board. mailto:stephanie.d.thompson@duke.edu |
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Chris Otap, B.S. Chris is a research technician II investigating the effects of weight loss, ACL, and meniscus repair on cartilage strain and post-traumatic osteoarthritis development mailto:chris.otap@duke.edu |
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Sebastian Pino Sebastian is a molecular biotechnology engineer working as a Research Technician II, currently focused on elucidating how certain systemic molecular biomarkers relate to structural changes observed in the knee joint during osteoarthritis progression in contexts of obesity, as well as, meniscus and ACL injuries. mailto:sebastian.pino@duke.edu |
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Xingqi Su, B.S. Su is a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering. She is investigating the risk factors associated with low back pain by evaluating in vivo lumbar intervertebral disc mechanics in response to dynamic loading and during motion. mailto:xingqi.su@duke.edu |
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Marianne Voigt, B.S. Marianne is a PhD student in biomedical engineering. Her research interests include ACL injury mechanisms and how sex-based differences, particularly in regard to hormonal influence and the menstrual cycle, effect knee mechanics and injury. mailto:marianne.voigt@duke.edu |
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Ucheena Woodfolk, B.S. Ucheena is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. She has a B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College and a B.S. in Bioengineering from North Carolina A&T State University. She is interested in applying biomechanics and mathematics to investigate rehabilitative health in areas such as ACL injury mechanisms, injury rate differences in diverse research demographics and meniscus injuries. mailto:ucheena.woodfolk@duke.edu |
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Nicole Zimmer, B.S. Nicole is a Ph.D. candidate in biomedical engineering investigating biomechanical and biochemical biomarkers of low back pain. Her other research interests include sex differences in lumbar spine biomechanics and low back pain. mailto:nicole.zimmer@duke.edu |
