E. Peter Washabaugh receives NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Award

Post date: Mar 30, 2016 2:33:30 PM

Edward Peter Washabaugh has been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Award (2016). NSF Fellows are selected based on their potential to become globally engaged knowledge experts and leaders who can contribute

significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. Peter was selected competitively among 17000 applicants, by a panel of experts for his proposed research work on a novel gait training paradigm for stroke survivors. Specifically, the proposed work involves developing a wearable resistive robotic brace for gait therapy, and performing a series of experiments to (1) test the efficacy of the device versus other methods of resistive gait training, (2) evaluate the device's potential to induce neural plasticity, and (3) evaluate the take home potential and cumulative therapeutic effects of robotic functional strength training. Peter is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering under the mentorship of Dr. Chandramouli Krishnan at Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is one among two who received the fellowship this year in BME and is the first in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation to earn this distinction. The mission of the University of Michigan Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (http://pmr.med.umich.edu/) is to maximize the health, function and quality of life of individuals with acute and chronic illness and disability in the local and global community throughout their life span through innovative research, education, advocacy and interdisciplinary clinical practice. Peter's work fits well with this mission and we wish him more success in his endeavors!