About

The Division of Biomechanics and Research Development houses all research conducted by the Department of Biomechanics, the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, and associated programs. The Division is an interdisciplinary enterprise that features collaboration between scientists, engineers, mathematicians, surgeons and clinicians to advance the understanding of healthy and abnormal movement patterns. The department is also home to the Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics, Master of Science in Biomechanics, and PhD in Exercise Science with concentrations in Biomechanics and Motor Development and Control.

Department Mission

Our mission is to provide a new understanding of the dynamical aspects of human movement via multidisciplinary approaches. In particular, we aim to achieve the following specific objectives:

1. Quantitatively characterize the complex behavior in healthy and abnormal movement patterns via innovative analyses.

2. Educate and train students, clinicians, and basic scientists so that they may apply concepts of human movement variability in their careers as educators and researchers.

3. Improve our understanding of basic healthy and abnormal movement patterns using an interdisciplinary approach in clinically oriented research.

4. Develop new diagnostic & prognostic tests and related biotechnology for a variety of movement disorders and aging.

5. Provide biomechanically related services to interested parties as well as to University and community partners.

6. Participate in community outreach activities that involve biomechanically related educational opportunities.

Department Vision

The vision of the department is to advance research and scholarship at the University of Nebraska. In doing so, the department will establish a global reputation as an outstanding academic environment that shapes the future of healthcare by solving complex biomedical problems and improving quality of life through the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies. These strategies will be based on innovations arising from collaborative research in areas such as biosciences, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, prosthetics, and nonlinear mathematics.

Housed within the Center is the Machining and Prototyping Research Core. The Machining and Prototyping Research Core involves the use of three major facilities within the University of Nebraska at Omaha Biomechanics Research Building: The Machine Shop, Electronics Workshop, and the 3D Printing Laboratory. The most basic function of the Core is to provide services that utilize these spaces and their personnel and equipment. These services are for professional in the University of Nebraska system, the local area, but also to people outside our state to progress their research or other projects. This core can design, prototype, manufacture and repair, maintain, or install a wide range of devices and instrumentation.