Human Performance and Neuro-Engineering Laboratory
...from brain to muscle
Ph.D. Students
Hossein Bahreinzad
Hossein Bahreinizad is a Ph.D. student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida and a Graduate Research Assistant in the Human Performance and Neuroengineering Laboratory. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biomedical Engineering–Biomechanics and earned an M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida. His research focuses on traumatic brain injury biomechanics, with particular interest in MRI/DTI-derived head-neck finite element modeling, axonal tract modeling, and multiscale brain injury assessment. His work aims to improve understanding of brain tissue deformation, injury mechanisms, and future injury prevention strategies.
Education:
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Ongoing — Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2026 — M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2015 — M.S. in Biomedical Engineering–Biomechanics, Tabriz University of Technology
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2013 — B.S. in Biomedical Engineering–Biomechanics, University of Isfahan
Awards and Scholarships:
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2026 — Recipient of the Linda Parker Hudson Graduate Fellowship
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2026 — Recipient of the Harold D. Haldeman, Jr. ISE Degree Completion Fellowship
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2026 — Recipient of the Harold D. Haldeman, Jr. ISE Professional Development Scholarship
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2026 — Recipient of Trainee Scholarship for the 2026 Florida Brain Injury Research Symposium
Selected Publications:
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Bahreinizad, Hossein, Gustavo M. Paulon, Leonardo Wei, and Suman K. Chowdhury. "An MRI-derived head-neck finite element model: H. Bahreinizad et al." Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology 24, no. 6 (2025): 2195-2215. Link​
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Bahreinizad, Hossein, and Suman K. Chowdhury. "Implant design and cervical spinal biomechanics and neurorehabilitation: a finite element investigation." Military Medicine 189, no. Supplement_3 (2024). Link
Gustavo Marin Paulon
Gustavo is a Ph.D. student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida, with a background in Mechatronics. His research focuses on computational biomechanics, with emphasis on EMG-informed neuromusculoskeletal modeling, and human movement analysis. He is particularly interested in using experimental data, optimization methods, and biomechanical simulations to better understand movement, joint loading, and occupational injury risk. His broader interests include musculoskeletal modeling, neuromusculoskeletal control, and the development of computational tools to support ergonomics and human performance research.
Education:
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Ongoing - Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2026 - M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2019 - B.S. in Mechatronics Engineering, University of Sao Paulo
Awards and Scholarships:
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2026 – Best computational paper award in Human Factors and Ergonomics OETG
Selected Publications:
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Paulon, Gustavo M., S. Sudeesh, Leonardo H. Wei, and Suman K. Chowdhury. "Firefighter helmets and cervical intervertebral Kinematics: An OpenSim-Based biomechanical study." Journal of Biomechanics 176 (2024): 112364. Link​
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Bahreinizad, Hossein, Gustavo M. Paulon, Leonardo Wei, and Suman K. Chowdhury. "An MRI-derived head-neck finite element model: H. Bahreinizad et al." Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology 24, no. 6 (2025): 2195-2215. Link
Anna Peng Yang
Anna Yang is pursuing  a  doctorate degree specializing in  human factors engineering and computational biomechanics. Her research focuses on physics-based modeling to better understand human performance and injury mechanisms, particularly in the brain and spine. Her work combines computational modeling with interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges in high-risk environments.  She aims to develop integrated human-machine systems that improve injury prediction, inform prevention strategies, and enable safer human-centered designs. Her ultimate goal is to apply advanced computational approaches to improve human safety, performance, and healthcare outcomes in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and occupational systems.
Education:
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Ongoing — Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2025 — B.S. in Mathematics and B.S. in Statistics, University of Florida
Awards and Scholarships:
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2026 — NSF Graduate Research Fellow
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Udaya Sankar Nadendla
Uday is a Ph.D. student whose research focuses on neurobiomechanics, with an emphasis on brain electrical models to understand brain–movement interactions. He primarily uses EEG, EMG, and motion-capture systems to study neural and biomechanical responses during human movement. His broader research interests include computational modeling, exoskeleton applications for improving movement and ergonomics, as well as wearable systems and multimodal human sensing for performance assessment. His work combines experimental data collection and computational approaches to better understand how neural signals, muscle activity, and movement patterns interact in human motor performance and applied biomechanics.
Education:
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Ongoing - Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida
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2025- M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida
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2023 - B.Tech. in Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Undergraduate Students
Davyn is an undergraduate researcher in Industrial and Yystems Engineering with hands-on experience in biomechanical experimentation, neurophysiological data collection, and AI-enabled IoT system design for human-performance monitoring. Their research interests lie at the intersection of biomechanics and industrial ergonomics, inspired by a personal interest in athletic performance and occupational environments. Davyn applies signal processing and data analysis techniques in MATLAB and Python to extract meaningful insights from EEG, EMG, and motion capture data. They have contributed to peer-reviewed IEEE publications and presented research at the Nelms IoT Conference.
Davyn Pan
