Amanda Stack

Research Engineer at MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE)
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Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, US

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Experience

    • United States
    • Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Research Engineer
      • Sep 2021 - Present
    • Philippines
    • Higher Education
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • PhD Candidate
      • Sep 2015 - Dec 2020

      Led the experimental design of 4 studies for the purpose of understanding healthy and impaired gait, as well as for the design biomimetic prosthetic rehabilitation technology ▫ Provide first characterization of ankle mechanical impedance during powered push off ▫ Expanded knowledge of ankle mechanical impedance to include running, and examined the biomechanical differences between ankle impedance during running and walking ▫ Determine how ankle mechanical impedance during walking is altered by chronic stroke and the implications for rehabilitation strategies and patient care ▫ Identify an optimal prosthetic ankle-foot stiffness to minimize compensatory contributions from other lower limb joints across a range of non-steady state walking tasks  Collaborated with practitioners, clinicians, and researchers in a cross-disciplinary team to ensure relevance and accessibility of experimental results Applied system identification techniques to characterize ankle impedance using MATLAB Leveraged impedance data to establish the parameters for a biomimetic impedance controller for robotic prostheses and exoskeletons  Adapted published experimental techniques to accommodate unique experimental parameters leading to more accurate data collection for impaired populations and different locomotor tasks Worked with robotic perturbation device and custom variable stiffness ankle-foot prosthesis, providing hardware and software (Python) repairs and modifications as necessary to improve performance. Show less

    • Canada
    • Hospitals and Health Care
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Research Assistant
      • May 2015 - Sep 2015

      Design and kinematic analysis of MRI compatible bone biopsy robot ▫ Mechanical design and structural analysis of the MRI compatible intervention device in the bone biopsy configuration ▫ Completed a kinematic analysis implementing clinically relevant restrictions, producing an analytical solution to the inverse kinematic problem previously not possible ▫ Performed a workspace and dexterity analysis to characterize the robot’s utility for the intended application, identifying singular and highly dexterous regions of the workspace ▫ Completed the initial design of a graphical user interface for integration of live MR image streams, robot simulation, and robotic control; streamlining use of the device in surgery. Show less

    • Surgical Tools Research Intern
      • May 2014 - Sep 2014

      Design of surgical tools and actuator for concentric tube neurosurgery robot. ▫ Sized components of the actuator and design connections with the concentric tubes ▫ Preform stress analysis on the assembly to ensure reliable use throughout the robot’s predicted life Design of surgical tools and actuator for concentric tube neurosurgery robot. ▫ Sized components of the actuator and design connections with the concentric tubes ▫ Preform stress analysis on the assembly to ensure reliable use throughout the robot’s predicted life

    • Surgical Simulation Research Intern
      • Sep 2013 - Dec 2013

      Simulate a real-time laparoscopic removal of a type 1 choledochal cyst and cholecystectomy procedure using SOFA physics engine ▫ Determined mechanical properties of abdominal tissues through OR observation and literature review ▫ Manipulated .xml and .scn files to achieve realistic behaviour of the gallbladder, liver, common bile duct, cystic duct and connective tissue. ▫ Adjusted collision sphere models to obtain accurate interaction between tissues and tools ▫ Created 3D mesh, object and collision models of the cystic artery including graphical design. ▫ Provided mechanical support for repairs of the simulator Show less

    • Canada
    • Oil and Gas
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Mechanical Engineering Co-op Student
      • Jan 2013 - Apr 2013

      -Performed pressure vessel calculations to confirm vendor design -Designed new fire-water line and confirmed existing hydrants adequate for new area requirements - Created and altered Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, and Plot Plans using AutoCAD. - Updated mechanical equipment data sheets in preparation for project close-out - Assisted in document control; taught fellow employees the new document management software Newforma -Performed pressure vessel calculations to confirm vendor design -Designed new fire-water line and confirmed existing hydrants adequate for new area requirements - Created and altered Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, and Plot Plans using AutoCAD. - Updated mechanical equipment data sheets in preparation for project close-out - Assisted in document control; taught fellow employees the new document management software Newforma

    • Canada
    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Biomechanics Research Assistant
      • May 2012 - Aug 2012

      - Preformed motion capture to obtain motion data for a jump-landing model with high risk of ACL strain. - Determined the appropriate parameters for maximum isometric force of muscles, maximum muscle excitation, and tracking weight of markers and coordinates for OpenSim algorithms required to obtain a stable and accurate jump-landing model - Preformed a comparative analysis of biomechanical modeling software OpenSim and AnyBody in terms of ease of use and accuracy of biomechanics and physiological properties Show less

    • India
    • Solar Electric Power Generation
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Industrial Engineering Intern
      • Sep 2011 - Dec 2011

      Drum Decanting Improvement Project: Transferring additives from drums into lubricant mixtures ▫ Analyzed current drum decanting process and examined hard-piped and portable metering system solutions based on both initial and long term costs and benefits ▫ Worked with the vendor (RJ Machinery) to design a portable metering system suitable for decanting a wide variety of additives from drums Dye Room Safety Improvement Project: ▫ Determined current issues with the dye room and worked with vendors to design a working platform (Deboer Contracting), and an external sight glass (Tyco Flow Control) Show less

Education

  • Northwestern University
    Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Biomedical/Medical Engineering
    2015 - 2020
  • University of Waterloo
    Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc, Mechanical Engineering
    2010 - 2015
  • University of Waterloo
    Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc, Mechanical Engineering
    2010 - 2015
  • Univerity of Waterloo
    Bachelor of Applied Science - BASc, Mechanical Engineering
    2010 - 2015

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