Bardiya Akhbari

1 Hoppin Street, CORO West, Ste. 404 ● Providence, RI 02903 ●  bardiya_akhbari@brown.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D. – Biomedical Engineering                                                                                      May 2021

Brown University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Providence, RI

• Thesis Topic: Biomechanics of the Wrist and Total Wrist Arthroplasty (TWA)

• Advisor: Prof. Joseph (Trey) Crisco

M.Sc. – Mechanical Engineering                                                                                        July 2016 

The University of Kansas Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lawrence, KS

• Thesis Topic: Biomechanical analyses of head acceleration during contact sports and ankle joint complex injury

• Advisor: Prof. Lorin P. Maletsky

B.Sc. – Mechanical Engineering                                                                                         May 2014

Sharif University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tehran, Iran

• Thesis Topic: Using a biomechanical model to investigate the effect of variations in muscle parameters on estimated spine loads

• GPA (senior years): 18.07/20 (3.92/4.0) | GPA: 17.00/20 (3.61/4.0)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT                                                                                   January 2017-May 2021 

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI

Research Focus: Osteoarthritis, upper extremity, motion capture, and joint replacement

• Designing a machine learning model to predict the individual motion of carpal bones from the wrist motion

• Defining alignment of total wrist arthroplasty based on X-ray which led to a grant proposal in Rhode Island Hospital

• Determining the importance of correct total wrist arthroplasty alignment for improving biomechanical outcomes

• Developing an application to track bone/implant models in images, specifically radiographs

• Devising a biplanar videoradiography experiment and validating its accuracy to study the wrist arthroplasty

• Supervising undergraduate and graduate students in projects that improve the current motion capture technologies

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT                                                                                   September 2014-July 2016 

Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Research Focus: Lower extremity, robotics, joint replacement, concussion

• Evaluated biomechanics of ankle sprains

• Measured knee joint laxity using different prostheses and surgery techniques by conducting experiments on cadavers

• Designed an experiment and apparatus to measure the laxity of motion in patellofemoral joint kinematics

• Upgraded the controller system of the Kansas Knee Simulator and programming a customized platform with LabVIEW to control the servo-hydraulic machine and produce different gait cycles

• Supervised undergraduates to design rigid bodies with infrared, light-emitting diode markers

• Designed an apparatus for simulation of impact with high acceleration in helmets  

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT                                                                     August 2012-June 2013

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Research Focus: Lower back pain, spinal column

• Developed a mathematical model of lumbar spine and employing it to study effects of variations in muscle parameters on estimated disc loads

• Found the effects of movement in instantaneous center of rotation and its effects on spinal forces

• Analyzed the architectural of human abdominal wall muscles

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT                                                                                   January 2018-May 2018 

Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI

Courses: Statistical Analysis for Biological Data (BIOL 0495)  under supervision of Dr. Sohini Ramachandran

• Developed, conducted, and supervised weekly lab sessions for programming with R 

• Designed a specialized auto-grader program in R for students programming assignments

• Taught a session about Linear Regression and Regression analysis and mathematics behind it

• Held office hours and problem sessions outside of the classroom for the class and lab

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT                                                                                   August 2014-May 2015 

Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, KS

Courses: Dynamics (ME 320), and Dynamics Simulation (ME 321) under supervision of Dr. Luchies and Dr. Fang

• Developed, conducted, and supervised laboratory activities (Dynamic Simulation Lab) 

• Wrote, administered, and graded tests and quizzes

• Taught Adams software and helped students improve their modeling skills

• Held office hours and problem sessions outside of the classroom for the class and lab

• Worked with visiting scholar to set up an ADAMS simulation competition

UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT                                                                      August 2013-January 2014 

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Course: Applied Electronics

• Assisted to design the course materials and schedule for digital section

• Assisted in designing and grading the exams for analog, digital, and electrical motors sections

• Held teaching and problem sessions to prepare students for exams

• Prepared and implemented daily lesson plans and assignments

MEMBERS/AFFILIATION

• Graduate Students Rep. for International Students Advisory Committee           May 2018-Current

• Founder and President of Iranian Students Association at Brown University     January 2017-Current

• BioMed Division Rep. in Graduate Students Council                                               May 2017-Current

• American Society of Biomechanics (ASB)                                                                   January 2018- Current 

• Orthopedic Research Society (ORS)                                                                            November 2017- Current 

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Biomedical Engineering Department Travel Grant                                                                        November 2017, 2018, 2019

• Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU          April 2017

• Recipient of Graduate Program Ph.D. Fellowship, Brown University                                          September 2016-2017

• Recipient of the Wilbur E. & Mina Wyatt Memorial Scholarship, University of Kansas (KU)    August 2014-December 2015

• Government Merit Scholarship (Iran)                                                                                               September 2009-May 2014

• Ranked 124th (+400,000) in nationwide universities entrance exam (Iran)                               May 2009

• Semifinalist in National Olympiads in the Chemistry (Iran)                                                          February 2008

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programming 

• MATLAB, Simulink, R

• LabVIEW (Certified Associate Developer)

• C, C++, Dreamweaver, and HTML

Language

• English (TOEFL: 105/120)

• Farsi (native speaker, advanced verbal and written proficiency)

Modeling

• MSC ADAMS

• Geomagic Studio, Materialize Mimics

• ANSYS Fluent, Workbench

• SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor

Mechanical

• Mill

• Lathe

• 3D Printing

• Band Saw, Sand Casting

INVITED TALKS

• COBRE & Orthopaedic Research Meeting "Biomechanics of Total Wrist Arthroplasty"        September 25th, 2019

• Continua Research Society (CRS) "Biomechanics of Total Wrist Arthroplasty"                       September 28th, 2019

• Biomechanics Talk at Roger Williams University                                                                            March 19th, 2018