Dr. Kathleen Bieryla
Associate Teaching Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- Scott Hall 6117
- 412 268 4203
Scott Hall 6117
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Education
- B.S., Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2004
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2006
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2009
Bio
Kathleen Bieryla earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She began her academic career as a faculty member at Bucknell University and most recently served as Associate Professor of Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portland (Portland, OR). Her teaching experience includes engineering design, biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, and first-year engineering courses. Bieryla’s recent scholarly interests have centered on ballet biomechanics and the development of engineering identity among undergraduate students.
Research
Dr. Bieryla’s research focuses on biomechanics and engineering education, with an emphasis on understanding human movement and supporting engineering identity development. Her recent work examines how different training techniques influence jump mechanics in ballet dancers to better understand injury mechanisms and inform injury prevention strategies. Earlier research in biomechanics includes analyzing age-related balance control in older adults and using wearable technologies to characterize activity profiles and performance in collegiate field hockey athletes. In parallel, she investigates the first-year engineering curriculum, exploring how early design experiences shape students’ engineering identity and choice of major.
Research Interests: human movement, ballet biomechanics, aging and balance, engineering education
Awards and Recognitions
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Member, Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society.