Emily A. Bywater
Hi! I’m Emily. I am a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, working in the Neurobionics Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Elliott Rouse.
My research lives at the intersection of robotics and human biomechanics. I work with wearable robotic systems—specifically lower-body orthoses, exoskeletons, and prostheses—to augment human mobility. My current work focuses on the evaluation of a Variable Stiffness Orthosis (VSO) in assisting individuals with foot drop. This is project is funded under an NIH F31 National Research Service Award that I received in 2024.
I hold an M.S. in Robotics from Michigan and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me running, cycling, and exploring Michigan’s outdoors.
Latest Updates
- Feb. 2026 I launched this website!
- Dec. 2025 I passed my dissertation proposal exam. Committee members: Dr. Elliott Rouse, Dr. Robert Gregg, Dr. Levi Hargrove, and Dr. Leia Stirling.
- Nov. 2025 I got to share my graduate student experiences with Michigan undergraduates at Women and Gender Minorities in Mechanical Engineering (WaGMiME) mentorship night.
- Nov. 2025 I welcomed two new students, one undergraduate and one master’s student, to the VSO embedded electronics team. I will be mentoring these students through the spring semester.
- Oct. 2025 I attended the research expo and poster presentations at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in Chicago, IL.
- Aug. 2025 I virtually attended NIH’s Rehabilitation for All conference.