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The Utah Wearable Robotics Laboratory (uwrl.mech.utah.edu) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to oversee and coordinate a multi-year NIH-funded clinical biomechanics study on powered neck exoskeletons for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This position is supported by an NIH R01 (NICHD) and will involve close collaboration with clinicians in neurology, biostatisticians, and graduate students. The postdoc will play a central role in executing human-subject experiments, managing study operations, and contributing to high-impact publications.
Project Overview
The project evaluates a powered neck exoskeleton designed to restore head–neck mobility, quantify neck muscle strength, and adapt to disease progression in ALS. The study includes:
The University of Utah offers an outstanding research environment with close integration between engineering and clinical programs. The project is conducted in partnership with the University of Utah ALS Clinic, providing direct exposure to multidisciplinary clinical care and translational research. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training (grant and paper writing, teaching, project management, student mentoring, etc.) from Dr. Haohan Zhang directly. Cost for travelling to relevant domestic or international conferences will be covered.
Appointment Details
Interested applicants should email the following as a single PDF to Dr. Haohan Zhang:
Haohan Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
University of Utah
Email: haohan.zhang@utah.edu
Project Overview
The project evaluates a powered neck exoskeleton designed to restore head–neck mobility, quantify neck muscle strength, and adapt to disease progression in ALS. The study includes:
- Cross-sectional laboratory experiments on activities of daily living
- Validation of robot-based neck strength measurements against clinical standards
- A longitudinal cohort study tracking device use and functional outcomes over time
- Serve as study coordinator for NIH-funded human-subject research
- Oversee experimental execution across lab- and clinic-based studies
- Lead participant scheduling, protocol adherence, and IRB compliance
- Supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers
- Coordinate data collection, quality control, and documentation
- Work closely with clinical collaborators in the ALS clinic at the University of Utah
- Contribute to data analysis and preparation of journal manuscripts and conference papers
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomechanics, Robotics, or a closely related field
- Experience with human-subject research (IRB protocols, informed consent, data collection and analysis)
- Strong background in biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering, or wearable robotics
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team spanning engineering and clinical environments
- Experience with motion capture systems, IMUs, or human movement analysis
- Prior work with clinical populations or assistive/rehabilitation devices
- Familiarity with statistics or collaboration with biostatistics teams
- Interest in translational research and device-based clinical studies
The University of Utah offers an outstanding research environment with close integration between engineering and clinical programs. The project is conducted in partnership with the University of Utah ALS Clinic, providing direct exposure to multidisciplinary clinical care and translational research. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training (grant and paper writing, teaching, project management, student mentoring, etc.) from Dr. Haohan Zhang directly. Cost for travelling to relevant domestic or international conferences will be covered.
Appointment Details
- Full-time postdoctoral position
- Initial appointment of 1-year, renewable contingent on performance
- Competitive salary and benefits consistent with NIH and University of Utah guidelines
- Start date is flexible, available July 2026.
- Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Interested applicants should email the following as a single PDF to Dr. Haohan Zhang:
- Cover letter indicating your experiences and interests relevant to the proposed project
- Curriculum vitae
- One peer-reviewed publication (Please choose the one most relevant to this position, or the one you feel best represents the quality of your work and writing. In the cover letter, please identify what part(s) of the paper you were responsible for.)
- Names and contact information for 2–3 references
Haohan Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
University of Utah
Email: haohan.zhang@utah.edu