OUR Executive Team

Centre Director
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YuanTong leads a large research group in mechanical engineering with particular focus on nanotechnology and nanodevices. He is an expert in advanced experimental and numerical computational modelling for biomechanics. He is an ARC Future Fellow.

Deputy Centre Director
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Peter leads biomechanics research across the Faculty of Science and Engineering at QUT with a focus on transdisciplinary musculoskeletal research. His interests are in mechanobiology, multiscale modelling and bioengineering. He is the Chair of QUT Biomedical Engineering and also serves as the President of the Australia New Zealand Society of Biomechanics.

Centre Manager
Maddie McIntyre
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Maddie is a biomedical engineer with extensive experience in managing business and operations in the medical technology sector. She is passionate about supporting the development of personalized medical technologies and facilitating their effective integration in the clinical setting. In her role as Centre Manager, Maddie guides the multidisciplinary team from academic, clinical and industry partners to reach the strategic goals of the Centre

Clinician
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Ken is an experienced subspecialist orthopaedic shoulder surgeon. He is the current Queensland Chairman of the Australian Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ASOS); an elected member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Queensland Regional Committee; and Scientific Secretary of the Queensland Branch of the AOA .

Clinician
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Ashish is a Brisbane based subspecialist orthopaedic shoulder surgeon. He is the founder of QUASR and has keen biomechanical research interests having completed a Masters in Science. His list of publications includes papers in international peer reviewed journals and numerous book chapters. Ashish actively participates in orthopaedic education and training.

Program Lead
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Program LEAD
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Program Lead
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Justin is the Head of the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ) and Professor of Bioengineering in the UQ School of Chemical Engineering. He is Senior Group Leader in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (UQ), Director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility – Queensland Node (ANFF-Q), Co-Director of the UQ Centre in Stem Cell Ageing and Regenerative Engineering (UQ-StemCARE), Chief Scientific Officer of Scaled Biolabs Inc., a lab-on-a chip start-up based in San Francisco, and Editor-in-Chief of APL Bioengineering, published by American Institute of Physics Publishing (New York). Justin’s research interests are in biomaterials, cell therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. He has over 200 journal papers, published in high impact journals in these fields. He has produced six Worldwide patent families that have reached National Phase Entry in USA, Europe, and Australia in the areas of formulation design for agriproducts, microbioreactor arrays and tissue engineering scaffolds.

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Our Investigators

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Our TEAM

PROJECT LEAD
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Post-Doc Fellow
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Dr Bart Bolsterlee is a mechanical and biomedical engineer with specific expertise in imaging and biomechanical modelling of the human musculoskeletal system. During his PhD he developed and evaluated tools for computational modelling of the human upper limb. As a postdoctoral researcher at NeuRA, he pioneered methods to reconstruct and quantify the three-dimensional architecture of human skeletal muscles from magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging data.

POST-DOC FELLOW
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Maria is a research fellow in the School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering and a research engineer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Robotics, at the Queensland University of Technology. Her research is focused on advanced tissue recognition methods, such as deep learning techniques, for the automatic interpretation of medical imaging.
Maria is currently also a QUT PhD candidate in the Medical Robotics Group at the QUT, focusing on automatic image analysis to provide surgical guidance to autonomous robots in the framework of minimally invasive surgery. Prior to her PhD candidature, she received her BEng. in Engineering Sciences from the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy) in 2014 and MEng. in Biomechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Delft (The Netherlands) in 2016.

Investigating Team
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- Jashint is a clinical researcher with interest in Orthopaedic shoulder bio- and pathomechanics. He has a background in Medicine, Public Health and Clinical Education, and looks to further his interest in orthopaedic research. He is also the Research Co-ordinator of QUASR’s transdisciplinary team.

Investigating team
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Edmund’s background is in mechanical engineering, where he brings a wealth of experience in finite element modelling. Edmund’s research is in the field of mechano-adaption where he focuses on using highly automated numerical models to explore the link between load and the adaptive response in bone. Edmund is a member of the Biomechanics and Spine research group at the Queensland University of Technology.

Post-Doc Fellow
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Eleonore Bolle is a mechanical engineer by education with added expertise in tissue culture. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland. Prior to joining the University of Queensland she undertook a Ph.D. in Tissue Engineering at the Queensland University of Technology. Her research interests lie in additive manufacturing techniques, biomaterials, drug delivery and the development of 3-dimensional tissue models. Specifically, her current research focusses on using novel biomaterials and additive manufacturing techniques to restore and maintain tendon function.

Investigating Team
Marco Branni
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Marco is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at QUT. His research aims at understanding the contribution to support of cortical and trabecular bone structures using high-resolution images of human femurs, microstructural finite-element modelling, and bone loads caused by physical activity. Before his PhD, he completed his B.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering and M.Sc. in Biomechanics Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy). Marco commenced researching in orthopaedics during his visiting student program at the Université libre de Bruxelles and Ghent University Hospital (Belgium), where he was actively involved in biomechanics projects working with horses, sheep, and human knees specimens.

Centre Administration Officer
Sophia Power
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Before joining the team Sophia worked as an Employee Services Assistant in Human Resources at the University Queensland. Prior to that Sophia worked as an Administration, Communications and Events Officer at the University of Melbourne, in both the Chancellery (Research and Enterprise) and the Indigenous Knowledge Institute.

Post-Doc Fellow
Jing Peng
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Dr. Jing Peng works as a Research Fellow in Robotic Surgery within Program 2. Her research interests include computer vision, machine learning, robotics and pneumatic control. Jing completed her BEng in Measurement, Control Technology and Instruments and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University. During her PhD studies, she also carried out research in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales as a Professional Practicum student. After graduation from Tsinghua University she worked at the University of Hong Kong as a Post-doctoral Fellow in Surgical Robotics and Soft Robotics. In 2019 she joined QUT as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Design Robotics for Advanced Manufacturing. Jing has several patents granted to her and she has published articles in materials and processing technologies, soft robotics and surgical robotics.

Post-Doc Fellow
Laith Alzubaidi
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Laith Alzubaidi is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering.
He is currently also a Ph.D. candidate in his last year in the field of medical imaging analysis with deep learning at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia. He holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Missouri (2016), USA. He has been awarded two scholarships: the Prime Minister of Iraq’s Outstanding Students Scholarship, received during his master’s degree, and a second scholarship awarded by the QUT for his Ph.D. He has published more than 40 refereed research papers. He is collaborating with other researchers around the world including USA, UK, Spain, Australia, and Malaysia, leading to more than 25 joint research publications.
He reviews papers for multiple journals more than 40 journals including PLoS ONE, IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, and Cancers MDPI, etc. He has been chosen by a journal of electronics as a guest editor. For more about Laith’s publications and interests, please follow the link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=TqoZSacAAAAJ&hl=en

Post-DOC FELLOW
Dermot O’Rourke
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Dr Dermot O’Rourke has started as a Post-doctoral Fellow in Program 1 and brings expertise in orthopaedic biomechanics, primarily focused on the biomechanics of diseased and implanted bones. He received his PhD at Flinders University during which he developed computational tools for population-based studies of acetabular components in total hip replacement. Since, he has developed computer methods to quantify changes in hip BMD and strength in exercise, used statistical shape models to investigate the relationship between knee shape and motion, and used advanced experimental techniques to examine the contribution of ligaments to the mechanics of healthy and implanted knees.
Dermot is based at Gardens Point campus of QUT.

Post-Doc Fellow
Jing Peng
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Dr. Jing Peng works as a Research Fellow in Robotic Surgery within Program 2. Her research interests include computer vision, machine learning, robotics and pneumatic control. Jing completed her BEng in Measurement, Control Technology and Instruments and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University. During her PhD studies, she also carried out research in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales as a Professional Practicum student. After graduation from Tsinghua University she worked at the University of Hong Kong as a Post-doctoral Fellow in Surgical Robotics and Soft Robotics. In 2019 she joined QUT as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Design Robotics for Advanced Manufacturing. Jing has several patents granted to her and she has published articles in materials and processing technologies, soft robotics and surgical robotics.
Our Students

PhD Student
Max Lavaill
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“Investigation on patient-specific features of shoulder MSK modelling. Study of an MRI-based EMG-driven model.”
Max is doing his PhD through the ARCITTC-JB at QUASR/QUT. His expertise is in the analysis of soft tissues actions implied in shoulder stability and motion. Computational modelling as well as human kinematics and EMG recordings are the key tools he works with. His project focuses on studying the influence of patient-specific modelling features on the joint simulations.

PhD Student
Xiaolong Fan
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“Evaluation of proximal humerus bone density on implant fixation in Shoulder Arthroplasty”
Xiaolong is our PhD student in shoulder biomechanics at QUT. He takes a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses the modelling and experiment to support surgery selecting suitable implant for independent patients basic on CT image. He holds master’s degree from QUT which focused on understanding of biomechanical properties of red kangaroo shoulder humeral cartilage.’

PhD Student
Michael Lennon
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“Developing 3-dimensional statistical shape models that represent the natural variability of the human shoulder joint across populations. Examine applications of statistical shape models to enhance planning for shoulder joint replacement surgery. Exploring the use of population representative statistical shape models for in-silico implant trials to improve the design cycle of the artificial shoulder prosthesis”.
Mike is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, and a first year PhD student at QUT, with an interest in the improvement of patient outcomes from joint replacement. Utilising computational methods, and machine learning techniques, he hopes to contribute to the development of diagnostic tools, and innovative implant design, that will enable safe long term joint replacement solutions for a younger cohort of patients affected by Osteoarthritis.

PhD Student
Asawari Parulekar
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“Exploring the role of mechanotransduction in producing inferior surgical outcomes for aged patients with Rotator Cuff Tears (RCTs)”.
Asawari is currently undertaking her PhD with ARCITTC-JB at UQ. She entered the fields of biomechanics & regenerative medicine as a research assistant during her time as an undergraduate Chemical and Biological Engineer. Her current research in interfacial tissue engineering investigates the complexities of attaching mechanically mismatched, soft (tendon) and hard tissues (bone) from a cell biological lens. Her project focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which cells respond to mechanical cues in the context of ageing tissues within the human shoulder.

PhD Student
Yilan Zhang
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“Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols and analysis pipelines for automated reconstruction of shoulder anatomy.”
Yilan is a first-year PhD student in biomedical engineering at UNSW. Her main research interest centres around image-based anatomical modelling of human shoulder muscles. Her PhD project aims to develop magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols and analysis pipelines for automated reconstruction of shoulder anatomy. Using statistical shape modelling techniques, population-representative three-dimensional shoulder models will be generated that can be used in computational models of the shoulder.

PhD Student
Arun Jolly
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“Relating anatomy, laxity and stability of the glenohumeral joint”.
Arun is currently undertaking his PhD within the Training Centre, based at QUT.
Arun is a Mechanical Engineer with postgraduate degree in Mechanical Design Engineering from Deakin University, Australia and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He has experience in numerical modelling and experimental studies for various different mechanical engineering applications. Arun’s PhD project focuses on exploring the relationship between anatomy, laxity, and stability of the glenohumeral joint across the population to assist with developing improved shoulder reconstruction planning, surgical procedure and rehabilitation.

PhD Student
Morgan Windsor
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“High precision robotic surgery for the shoulder”.
Morgan is currently undertaking his PhD within the Training Centre and QUT’s Centre for Robotics.
Morgan completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) at QUT and has a background in industry as an electrical engineer. Morgan’s research interests include developing enabling technologies to provide tools to assist surgeons in precisely executing preoperative plans.

PhD Student
Ahmed Sewify
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“Automatic Advanced Ultrasound Imaging-Based Tomographic Dynamic Tracking of Shoulder Bony Structures”.
Ahmed is currently undertaking his PhD within the Training Centre, based at QUT’s Faculty of Health.
Ahmed graduated with a Master of Engineering (Electrical) and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronics) from QUT. He has real-world experience as a Mechatronics Engineer at five different companies (BiVACOR, AOS, KIW, QUT and Netaware) working on task automation, computer vision, AutoCAD, GUI designs, web development and product design. His current project is focused on improving the availability, quality and understanding of 3D physical body structures, in particular the shoulder, by reconstructing 3D ultrasound images directly from raw channel transducer array data. Ahmed hopes to employ ultrasound imaging in a way that revolutionizes existing medical imaging techniques, increasing their field of view, speed, safety and dynamism.

PhD Student
Sepideh Shemshad
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Sepideh is currently undertaking her PhD with ARCITTC-JB at UQ. Her project aims to develop a delivery platform for controlled release of biochemical signals for rotator cuff tissue regeneration. Sepideh completed her Master of Science at Iran University of science and Technology in Biomaterial Engineering, where her research was focused on Fabrication and Characterization of Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
Moreover, she worked as a Research Assistant at Sabanci University in Turkey, where she focused on fabrication of polymeric nanofibers and nanotubes for sustained and targeted drug delivery.

PhD Student
Hossein
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Hossein is a PhD candidate in the Prince of Wales Clinical School at Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales.
His project aims to develop a 3D finite element model of the shoulder muscles to examine the effects of soft tissue tensioning and muscle activation on joint loading and stability. With a MSc degree at University of Tehran focusing on Injury Biomechanics, He joined University of Technology Sydney as a Research Assistant working on Inertial Microfluidics with the potential application in disease diagnostics.
He has a strong foundation and high level of expertise in Computational Modelling and Simulation across different industries.

PhD Student
Jinshuai Bai
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Jinshuai is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Yuantong Gu at QUT. He has finished his master by research degree at QUT, majoring in data-driven computational mechanics.
Currently, he is investigating the possibility of combination of deep learning techniques and computational mechanics for biomechanics applications. Jinshuai has been working on computational mechanics for many years. He has solid foundations for mechanics and good experiences in various computational methods.

PhD Student
Jinshuai Bai
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Jinshuai is a PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Yuantong Gu at QUT. He has finished his master by research degree at QUT, majoring in data-driven computational mechanics.
Currently, he is investigating the possibility of combination of deep learning techniques and computational mechanics for biomechanics applications. Jinshuai has been working on computational mechanics for many years. He has solid foundations for mechanics and good experiences in various computational methods.