Sign in

Jenny Leestma, PhD

@jenniferleestma.bsky.social
342 followers 157 following 63 posts

Postdoc @ Harvard 🦿🧠🦾 Neural interfaces + wearable robotics PhD Robotics from GeorgiaTech jenniferleestma.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Danny Davis @ddavis-biomech.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Our lab (Sayu Lab for Biomechanics and Locomotion) at the University of Utah is hiring a PhD Student to start Fall 2026! I can’t speak highly enough of Kota as a mentor, and on top of that we’re doing super neat science! Apply before Dec 1st. Job info below: biomch-l.isbweb.org/forum/biomch...
biomch-l.isbweb.org
PhD position in locomotion, energetics, foot-ankle, prosthetics, footwear - Univ of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) - Biomch-L
Job Summary: Sayu Lab for Biomechanics & Locomotion (https://health.utah.edu/health-kinesiology/research/takahashi-lab), directed by Dr. Kota Takahashi at the University of Utah is seeking highly...
065
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Very excited about our new pre-print on an open-source package that I developed with some of my GT labmates! Epically Powerful (EP) is a modular mechatronics infrastructure and open-source software package for building and operating wearable and general robotic systems. arxiv.org/abs/2511.05033
1133
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Nidhi Seethapathi @nidhise.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Excited that this work discovering cross-species signatures of stabilizing foot placement control is now out in PNAS! pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @antoinecomite.bsky.social
pnas.org
Foot placement control underlies stable locomotion across species | PNAS
Animals navigate their environment stably without inefficient course corrections despite unavoidable errors. In humans, this stability is achieved ...
1499
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Owen Beck @owen1beck.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
11013
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Black Biomechanists Association @blackbiomechs.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Lab funding pays for a lot of things: researchers, equipment, training. Interested in how it all works? Join the new professional development series, hosted by us & @asb-postdocs.bsky.social, to learn from experts & ask questions!🤓💵 Registration is open to all: bit.ly/hiw-funding
Four images in a grid. Image 1: applications and grants binders on a desk. Image 2: pile of $100 bills. Image 3: white piggy bank with black oversized glasses. Image 4: stacked coins next to a light bulb. Text reads, How It Works: Lab Funding. Black Biomechanists Association and ASB Postdoc Affinity Group professional development series. Virtual Panel, Audience Q&A. June 26, 2025. 12:00pm (ET) / 9:00am (PT). Registration link provided.
067
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Excited to be in DC for my first Neural Interfaces meeting! Really looking forward to the program this week.
010
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Denis Wirtz @deniswirtz.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
The NIH has not issued a single new call for proposals since the end of January.
212151
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Thrilled to receive the Harvard Mind Brain Behavior Postdoc Fellowship! This will support my work surgically reconstructing peripheral neuromuscular physiology to bridge human and robotic control. Excited to continue this work with my advisor Dr. Shriya Srinivasan and co-mentor Dr. Matthew Carty.
0100
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
A great new study from my Georgia Tech labmate, Dr. Pawel Golyski, on the influence of a passive elastic hip exo on stability and mechanical energetics. Check it out: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Effects of an elastic hip exoskeleton on stability quantified by mechanical energetics and whole-body angular momentum during walking with treadmill belt speed perturbations
Relative to motorized devices, passive hip exoskeletons with elastic actuation provide cheaper and lower-profile solutions to assist locomotion during…
030
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
An absolutely stellar labmate, scientist, engineer, and friend! Keep killing it, Dr. Davenport!
000
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Black Biomechanists Association @blackbiomechs.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
@gatechengineers.bsky.social @gregory-sawicki.bsky.social @amsocbiomech.bsky.social @blackinengineering.bsky.social @blackinx.bsky.social (2/7)
Dr. Felicia Davenport earned her PhD in Bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, under advisement of Dr. Gregory Sawicki. Her dissertation was entitled ‘Joint Loading in Industrial Lifts: Informing Mitigation Strategies through Joint-level Biomechanics’. Images show a headshot of Dr. Felicia Davenport, her advisor, and the Georgia Institute of Technology academic logo.
185
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Kelsey Tyssowski @kelseytea.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
This hasn’t been reported as much in the media, but this attack on international scholars at Harvard seems to also affect postdocs: ~40% (3/4 of international postdocs) are on J visas (based on FAS postdoc association data) www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
thecrimson.com
Trump Admin Revokes Harvard’s Authorization To Enroll International Students | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Trump administration revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll international students on Thursday, dramatically escalating the administration’s fight with the University and threatening thousands of cur...
184
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Bailey Bowcutt @baileybowcutt.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
I'm a current Harvard graduate student and I found out today that I had my NSF GRFP terminated without notification. I was awarded this individual research fellowship before even choosing Harvard as my graduate school
45893310
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 22/05/2025
Harvard today, your institution tomorrow. It's all part of the Project 2025 plan to destroy high education in America. All leading US universities depend on federal funding and tuition dollars from international students. They severely curtailed the former. Now they're eliminating the latter.
The Trump administration on Thursday halted Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, taking aim at a crucial funding source for the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college in a major escalation in the administration’s efforts to pressure the elite school to fall in line with the president’s agenda.
461513628
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Mark Price @markprice.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
The main benefit of these is that we can study ground stiffness perturbations on a fully instrumented treadmill, as well as conduct experiments overground. I'm hoping to share results from a study investigating adaptation to a stiffness perturbation applied by these shoes very soon!
193
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Go Jo!!! Thrilled to be working with Jo and the rest of the crew at Harvard Robotics to plan an NBD event this year. Huge thanks to the Disability Biomechanics Outreach program for the support! Looking forward to a fun event next month.
060
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Dynamic Walking 25 @dynamicwalking25.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
It's what you've all been waiting and hoping for; the deets on Dynamic Walking 2025! 🚶🎉 The when: July 14th - 17th The Where: Aachen (Germany, but bordering the Netherlands) The submission process: dynamicwalking2025.org The deadline: April 25th 🚶‍♀️Hope to see you soon <3 🚶
dynamicwalking2025.org
DW25 Abstract Submission
The conference will take place in Aachen, Germany (on the border with the Netherlands) from July 14 to 17, 2025. We’ll be based in one location, with easy access to three different countries! Contact:...
2128
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Paper Skygest Team @paper-feed.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Welcome to your personalized Paper Skygest, a curated feed showing posts from your network. 📌 To pin this feed, select the pin icon at the top right of the feed. When you pin it, you'll see it up above here! ➡️ Follow this account for Skygest updates!
212335
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Fantastic to hear Dr. Edward Chang from Berkeley discuss their work in restoring speech with neuroprostheses using high-density speech/motor cortical decoding!
020
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Great start to the week visiting UMass Amherst yesterday to give a talk at the Kinesiology Graduate Seminar! Big thanks to @sarahroelker.bsky.social for hosting and to everyone who took the time to chat—so fun learning about the exciting biomechanics and wearable robotics projects happening there!
070
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Meghan E. Huber @mehuber.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Postdoc opportunity to do digital twin research for human and humanoid agile locomotion with myself, Wouter Hoogkamer @umill.bsky.social and Donghyun Kim! See forms.gle/FRFtLNiY7j3z... for more info and to apply by 3/19.
forms.gle
01513
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Daniel P. Ferris @dpferris.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
If you are interested in learning about the state of the art in robotic exoskeletons to assist human movement, this is an incredible lineup of speakers at #ICRA!!! @doctorbobg.bsky.social @rai-maclean.bsky.social @helenhuang.bsky.social @mehuber.bsky.social sites.google.com/umich.edu/ic...
sites.google.com
ICRA 2025 Workshop
FULL DAY WORKSHOP: Monday, May 19, 2025
0135
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
It was wonderful to have Jim Ewing visit our group! Jim was the first person to receive the Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI) procedure. We got to chat with him about research participation, rehab, wearable tech, and innovation. Read more: www.brighamandwomensfaulkner.org/about-bwfh/n...
040
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Monica Daley @birdbiomech.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
We are recruiting trainees for the Integrative Movement Sciences Summer Institute. Students will gain research experience in dynamic muscular control of movement across organizational scales from molecular mechanisms to whole-body movement in complex environments. Learn more: tinyurl.com/5n7w6pey
cims.uci.edu
IMSI Summer Institute 2025: Now Recruiting Trainees! – Center for Integrative Movement Science
02025
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Just submitted my first research proposal from 35,000 feet. Feels like an academic milestone? Are there bonus points for hitting submit 30 seconds before the “put away your laptops” announcement?
1100
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Taylor Dick @taylorjmdick.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
@jexpbiol.bsky.social Special Issue is now out... Integrating Biomechanics, Energetics and Ecology in Locomotion Was fun to be part of this paper led by Glen Lichtwark "Integrating muscle energetics into biomechanical models to understand variance in the cost of movement" tinyurl.com/2xvkwbra
journals.biologists.com
Integrating muscle energetics into biomechanical models to understand variance in the cost of movement
Summary: This Review considers how muscle energetics knowledge is integrated into biomechanical models and how this might be improved to better predict how changing locomotion requirements impacts met...
0218
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Our new paper is out! This was a fun collaboration across labs at Georgia Tech, led by Dr. Felicia Davenport. Title: Electromyography-informed estimates of joint contact forces within the lower back and knee joints during a diverse set of industry-relevant manual lifting tasks shorturl.at/tdl3B
050
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Had a fantastic visit at UMass Lowell to give the Mechanical Engineering Grad Research Seminar! Loved seeing the incredible robotics and biomechanics research happening there—thanks to everyone for the great discussions and for showing me around!
190
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Kip Ludwig @wildpiguk.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
They put people with zero relevant experience in charge of this, they aren't talking to the agencies to have analyses done on consequences and how to minimize unnecessary pain, they've given zero warning and zero transparency, and proposed no alternative to offset the key NIH supported work (1/2).
151
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 08/02/2025
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%. I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov
NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates NOT-OD-25-068. OD
25469974077
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Mali Halac @malihalac.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Excited to share our perspective article, published in Pain Medicine Journal , showcasing how interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship can drive holistic solutions for patient care. academic.oup.com/painmedicine...
academic.oup.com
Transforming pain medicine: the power of collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation
The etiology of chronic pain can be difficult to pinpoint, and the condition often resists many treatments. Conservative approaches using non-opioid medica
041
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
This was always was one of my favorite projects happening in my PhD lab. A hip exoskeleton provides force-feedback/haptic guidance to help the user navigate through obstacle-rich environments. Check out this new paper from Carlos Carrasquillo and team! ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/108...
060
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
It’s been great to attend talks at the NSF Workshop on Reinforcement Learning, including a particularly awesome keynote this morning from Andy Barto on the history of RL!
060
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Monica Daley @birdbiomech.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Getting excited for #SICB2025! We have a jam-packed line up of talks from ourIntegrative Movement Sciences Institute (IMSI) students and faculty! See the full schedule here: cims.uci.edu/imsi-faculty...
cims.uci.edu
IMSI faculty and student researchers at SICB 2025 – Center for Integrative Movement Science
1226
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Jacob Robinson @jacobrobinson.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
What is or isn't a "BCI"? We argue in Nature BME today that if the tech stimulates or records brain activity AND does computation, it's a BCI. www.nature.com/articles/s41... But we still need a way to discuss different types of BCI separately... 🧵 #BCI #BrainComputerInterface
nature.com
An application-based taxonomy for brain–computer interfaces - Nature Biomedical Engineering
Naming brain–computer interfaces according to their intended application will assist stakeholders in the evaluation of the benefits and risks of neurotechnologies.
64816
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Owen Beck @owen1beck.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
The metabolic cost of producing joint moments is greater at the hip than the ankle @jexpbiol.bsky.social doi.org/10.1242/jeb....
journals.biologists.com
The metabolic cost of producing joint moments is greater at the hip than the ankle
Older adults walk using their hips relatively more and their ankles relatively less than young adults. This “distal-to-proximal redistribution” in leg joint mechanics is thought to drive the age-relat...
055
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Monica Daley @birdbiomech.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
A fun collaborative paper out in Nature on RAVEN: a bird-inspired robot that uses it’s legs to propel flight take off. An example of how robots can test ideas about integrated function in animals. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Fast ground-to-air transition with avian-inspired multifunctional legs - Nature
A bird-inspired robot that can jump into flight, walk on the ground and hop over obstacles shows that jumping for take-off is more energy efficient than taking off without the jump.
34418
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Peter Fino @pcfino.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
We're hiring a postdoc to work on several projects related to balance control and concussion! Please spread the word! tinyurl.com/bdz9tnat
tinyurl.com
Jobs | University of Utah
Founded in 1850, The University of Utah is the flagship institution of higher learning in Utah, and offers over 100 undergraduate and more than 90 graduate degree programs to over 30,000 students. Uni...
01420
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Journal of Biomechanics @jbiomech.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Here we are, ready to share the latest research in biomechanics! We're excited to connect with our readers, authors, reviewers, and editors here - follow us to stay updated on cutting-edge advancements!
25225
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Hello to all the new Bluesky-ers! I’m a postdoc at Harvard working to improve neural interfaces using implantable devices and neurosurgical reconstruction. I wrapped up my PhD in Robotics earlier this year, where I worked on augmenting human locomotor balance using intelligent wearable robots.
1262
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Armita R. Manafzadeh @armanafzadeh.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Thrilled to share: out in @natureportfolio.bsky.social (!) just in time for Thanksgiving, the dinosaurian history of how your turkey does the twist. Fibular reduction enabled mid-drumstick mobility, unlocking extreme knee long-axis rotation in theropods 🍗🦖🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08251-w
261217324
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Anthony A. Gatti @aagatti.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Hey all! I started a biomechanics starter pack. Let me know who I missed so I can add them and follow them myself! And check in to see who you might want to follow. go.bsky.app/5maK8X6
225020
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Peter Fino @pcfino.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
A while ago, we got interested in why we choose to move the way we do. Pulling from behavioral economics, we started to explore how assessments of risk influence behavior. Here, we experimentally tested whether compensatory changes in balance and gait are aligned with these risk models.
1144
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
Chris Rozell @crozell.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
While I understand the pull to come here, the people who can advocate for the resources science needs are not on this platform. I'm choosing to stay on other socials to keep advocating for support of science. I welcome you to join me there! x.com/crozSciTech/... www.facebook.com/christopher....
x.com
x.com
041
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Awesome event today at Harvard SEAS - “Robotics in Age & Assistive Tech”. It was great to hear from and connect with a lot of the startups in the Boston wearable tech ecosystem! Thanks to the many organizers - MassRobotics, Harvard Grid, Harvard Move Lab, and Medtronic.
090
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
He (Helen) Huang @helenhuang.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
The IEEE TNSRE announces a Special Issue on Modeling in Neurorehabilitation, inspired by last year’s NSF DARE Conference sites.usc.edu/dare2023/. Led by guest editors David Lin, @allenjl12.bsky.social, and other DARE Fellows, we invite manuscript contributions from researchers working in this area!
embs.org
1156
Reposted by Jenny Leestma, PhD
psudingwelllab.bsky.social @psudingwelllab.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Recruiting Ph.D. Students!! The Penn State Locomotor Control (LoCo) Lab is actively recruiting highly qualified graduate students interested in starting in Fall (Aug) 2025 to study the biodynamics and motor control of human walking.
41817
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Got a quick starter pack going for folks who work in the realm of wearable robotics & sensing! Let me know if you'd like to be added. go.bsky.app/LZEpTa6
1111
Jenny Leestma, PhD @jenniferleestma.bsky.social · 12/04/2024
Check out our recent work with the folks from GT LIDAR Lab! One of the great parts about having biped roboticist next door neighbors is projects like this. It’s been fun to see chats about human and robot locomotion evolve to full studies! Paper: arxiv.org/pdf/2403.159...
youtube.com
YouTube
100