Dear Colleagues,
The Office of the Vice President for Research is excited to host a one-hour virtual town hall to discuss a potential research initiative exploring the application of bionics, robotics, sensing mechanisms, and other advanced engineering technologies for medical rehabilitation, mobility, and human well-being. This initiative will primarily focus on integrating bionics into medicine, engineering, and societal well-being. For purposes of this town hall, bionics is defined as the science of merging natural biological systems with artificial systems, such as technology.
The primary goal of this event is to foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary community of scientists, engineers, and clinicians dedicated to advancing human well-being through bionic science. Specifically, this initiative aims to:
- Unite, catalyze, and support local, national, and global engineering and medical experts driving innovation in human bionics research
- Identify, define, and catalogue strengths, resources, and capabilities within this research space at the University of Utah
- Leverage existing strengths and resources to drive societal impact and human well-being
- Develop institutional-wide response teams for high-impact, large-scale external funding opportunities (e.g., NIH, Department of Defense, NSF, NIDILRR).
Town Hall Speakers:
- Jake Jensen, Associate Vice President for Research
- Bruce Gale, Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- David Steinberg, Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Gale and Dr. Steinberg will discuss current efforts within this research space at the University of Utah, highlight key research pillars in this field, and seek input from attendees. The session will include dedicated time for discussion on the initiative’s shape, scope, and structure. Researchers already engaged in this area, those interested in learning more, and individuals looking to contribute are encouraged to attend.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, February 21
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (MST)
📍 Location: Virtual (RSVP required for access details)
Please share this announcement with research faculty, staff, community partners, industry professionals, and other interested affiliates. Questions can be directed to vprgrants@utah.edu.
Thank you.