RAD People

Lab Director

Deema Totah, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Deema Totah is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa, and director of the Robotics and Assistive Devices Laboratory (RAD Lab). Dr. Totah’s research interests lie in improving the efficacy of assistive devices for customized patient care through experimental, musculoskeletal biomechanics research. She is passionate about building robotic and mechatronic systems with integrated wearable sensing to test assistive device properties, study human movement and behavior, and understand how humans and devices interact with each other. Prior to joining UI in 2021, Dr. Totah completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan’s School of Kinesiology. Dr. Totah received her Ph.D. in 2020 and M.S.E. in 2014, both in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Michigan. She received a B.S. from the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT in 2012.

Graduate Research Assistants

Samira Afshari

Graduate Research Assistant

PhD Student

Samira is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa. She got her B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering by the major of Industrial Safety at Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran, Iran, and graduated in Fall 2019 from Kharazmi University of Tehran, Iran with an M.S.c in Mechanical Engineering. Her research has been focused on hand gesture recognition and classification using electromyography and acceleration sensors.

George Elias

Graduate Research Assistant

George Elias is a graduate student studying biomedical engineering with an interest in biomechanics. His work in the RAD lab involves designing a powered ankle foot orthosis that employs twisted and coiled artificial muscles as novel actuators for the AFO. Outside of school, he enjoys golfing and tennis.

Braeden Harrell

Braeden is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. He is interested in musculoskeletal biomechanics and coding. His focus in RAD is developing a new innovative powered AFO. For Fun, Braeden loves playing Spikeball, pickleball, and Magic the Gathering. In addition, he is always trying to make new things in the kitchen (#1 dish Bulgogi Beef Tacos).

Katherine (Katie) Vaiciulis (U2G)

Graduate Research Assistant

PhD Student

Katie is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, and she graduated with a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering in May 2023. She is interested in musculoskeletal biomechanics and medical device design, with plans to pursue a career in research and development. Her work in the RAD lab focuses on the measurement of mechanical properties of ankle-foot orthoses. Outside of school, Katie enjoys running and going to concerts.

Zachary Williston

Graduate Research Assistant

PhD Student

Web Master

Zachary Williston is a graduate student studying Mechanical Engineering with a focus in kinematics and dynamics. From a mechanical design standpoint, he is interested in anything with at least two wheels, with plans to pursue a career in research and development. His work in the RAD lab focuses on a multi-planar AFO Testing device. Additionally, he is involved in sports clubs, including the Triathlon and Cycling.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Xandra Abel McGlasson

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Xandra Abel is an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering. She was awarded a kickstart grant from the engineering library for her work in the RAD Lab, where she is designing and building a table for individuals in wheelchairs. These individuals often struggle to sit comfortably at low tables at home or in restaurants, so her design would allow them to sit at the table while being close and comfortable.

Alumni

Oluwaferanmi (Feranmi) Badejo (U2G)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Oluwaferanmi Badejo is a former undergraduate student who studied Mechanical Engineering. He is from Shoreview, MN but was born in Nigeria. Feramni is in the U2G program and plans on getting his Master's in Mechanical Engineering. His interest includes basketball and soccer as well as coding, and career goals are to work in the design field of Mechanical Engineering after finishing his Masters. His work in the RAD lab as an undergraduate assistant involved working with facemasks and EMG sensors to see what effect facemasks have on facial muscles.

Elizabeth Barski (2022 REU Program)

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Wilensky Coleau

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Wilensky Coleau is an undergraduate student studying Electrical Engineering at Stony Brook University (SBU) , NY. He was part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Iowa where he worked on creating the first-generation prototype of the wrist-hand exoskeleton at the RAD lab. Additionally, he is part of the E-board of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at SBU and is interested in weightlifting and volleyball. Being part of the REU program has influenced him to potentially pursue a Ph. D. in the future after graduation.

Rose Foley

Web Editor

Rose is a graphic design BFA student at the university working in the department of Mechanical Engineering where she assists Professor Totah in matters of design, marketing, and management. In her free time she loves to spend time with family and friends, read, and watch Formula 1 racing.

Marissa McFadden

MS Student, Primary Advisor: Caterina Lamuta

Marissa is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering. She got her BSE in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in Biomaterials and Biomechanics from the University of Iowa in May 2023. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in the medical device industry. Her research is focused on controlling the actuation of artificial muscles to vary the stiffness of a powered ankle-foot orthosis. Outside of school, Marissa enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and traveling.

Ian Silva

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ian will complete a duel B.S. degree in mechanical and electrical engineering in the Fall of 2023. At the RAD Lab, he worked on revamping and designing a new clamping mechanism for an AFO stiffness measurement apparatus. After graduation, he would like to pursue a career as a design engineer in the medical or aerospace field. Outside of school, he enjoy playing tennis and building rockets.