Principle Investigator Stephen Sprigle, PhD, PT
Stephen Sprigle is a Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology with appointments in Bioengineering, Industrial Design and the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.A biomedical engineer with a license in physical therapy, Sprigle directs the Rehabilitation Engineering and Applied Research Lab (REARLab), which focuses on applied disability research and development. The REARLab’s research interests include the biomechanics of wheelchair seating and posture, pressure ulcer prevention, and manual wheelchair propulsion. Its development activities include standardized wheelchair and cushion testing and the design of assistive and diagnostic technologies. Sprigle teaches design-related classes in both the Schools of Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering.
Sharon Sonenblum, PhD
Sharon Sonenblum is a Senior Research Scientist in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. Dr. Sonenblum has been studying wheelchair seating and mobility for over a decade. Her work focuses on two primary areas: the use of assistive technology in everyday life, and tissue health and pressure injury prevention. Dr. Sonenblum has investigated how people use their power tilt-in-space wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and more recently their power adjustable seat height wheelchairs in their everyday lives. Dr. Sonenblum’s work on tissue health has investigated tissue response to loading and weight shifts, and the role of weight shift behaviors in pressure injury development
