Eric Meyer

Meyer leads the LTU Experimental Biomechanics Laboratory (EBL) to provide practical training to engineering and premedical students and to advance the boundary of biomechanics knowledge through translational research and wearable technology design. To achieve these goals, he combines in vivo testing of human and animal subjects with cadaver and surrogate in vitro models and computer simulations to understand normal health, acute injury and degenerative mechanisms. Meyer enthusiastically cultivates collaborations with clinicians and the medical device industry to develop preventative and regenerative treatments for bone and soft tissue damage and disease. Recently, he has partnered with to develop a Wearable Technology Innovation Center (WTIC) that provides practical, hands-on experiences to students focused around the topics of sensing, perception, and control in next generation robotics, haptics, quantified-self, and protective devices.

Meyer has published one book chapter and 42 peer-reviewed journal and conference proceeding articles that have received more than 1900 peer citations. Recently, he has presented and published a seminal biomechanical validation study of Osseodensification, a novel implant osteotomy preparation technique that increases implant stability with Salah Huwais,PhD, a practicing Periodontist, inventor and founder of Versah LLC. He has given more than 100 conference, workshop and invited presentations.

As an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Meyer teaches undergraduate required courses; Introduction to Biomechanics and Biomechanics Lab, and Tissue Mechanics, as well as the elective Engineering Applications in Orthopedics and the graduate course Cellular and Molecular Mechanobiology. He helped the College of Engineering faculty committee to implement a cohesive, four-year multidisciplinary engineering design program focused on creating entrepreneurially minded engineers. Meyer has developed entrepreneurial-minded learning course modules and trained other faculty to use similar modules in their courses as part of grants from the Kern Family Foundation. He has also developed Course Based Research Experiences for Undergraduates (CRE) projects as part of a LTU grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In addition, Dr. Meyer offers a number of outreach programs for high school students and advises many projects for undergraduate and graduate students.

Meyer grew up in Oakland Co., MI and graduated from Brandon HS and OSMTech charter HS in Clarkston. He received his BS, MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanics) from Michigan State University, while also spending a semester at the Katholiek University of Lueven, Belgium for a study abroad program. The primary topic of his research was lower extremity biomechanics during sports injury. He then completed post-doctoral training at the Centre for Bioengineering at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in cartilage tissue engineering and mechanobiology.

Research Interests

• Engineering Education
• Biomechanics
• Tissue mechanics
• Engineering mechanics
• Mechanobiology
• Tissue engineering / stem cell therapy
• Mechanical property measurement
• Injury mechanisms
• Gait analysis
• Orthopaedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
• Knee and ankle joint function
• Dental biomechanics and implant stability
• Spine biomechanics and surgical techniques
• Wearable technology

Courses Taught

• BME 6303 “Cellular Mechanobiology” *Newly developed course*
• BME 5303 “Engineering Applications in Orthopedics” *Newly developed course*
• BME 4313 “Tissue Mechanics” *Newly developed course*
• BME 3303 & 3301 “Introduction to Biomechanics” & Lab *Newly developed courses*
• BME 3002 “Biomedical Best Practices”
• BME 1002 “Introduction to BME”
• EGE 1001 “Fund. of Eng. Design Projects” *Newly developed course*
• BME 4013 & 4022 “Biomedical Projects 1 & 2
• BME 4993 “Biomedical Eng. Directed Research”
• BME 6503 “Advanced Experimental Methods in BME” *Newly developed course*
• BME 6803 & 6903 “Master’s Design Project” & “Master’s Thesis”
• DIS 8613 "PhD Dissertation"

Recent Publications

Rossman S, Meyer EG, Rundell S. Development of a Finite Element Lumbar Spine Model to Predict Intervertebral Disc Herniation Mechanics. Comp Methods Biomech, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2021.1922677

Lewis L, Jaussen P, Scrivener M, Shargel D, Meyer E, Delogu F, Shamir L, Collins S. Frankenstein 200 Years Later: Chemistry, Literature and Pop Culture. J Chem Education 24;1-4:2019.

Huwais S, Meyer EG. A Novel Osseous Densification Approach in Implant Osteotomy Preparation to Increase Biomechanical Primary Stability, Bone Mineral Density and Bone to Implant Contact.International J Oral & Maxillofacial Implants 2016. Doi.10.11607/jomi.4817

Shimokochi Y, Ambegaonkar JP, Meyer EG. Changing sagittal-plane landing styles modulates impact and tibiofemoral force magnitude and directions relative to the tibia. J Athletic Training 2016. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-51.10.15

Meyer EG, Ulrey BL. Sensing Angular Kinematics by Embedding an Open Hardware Design Project into a Required Biomechanics Course. ASEE Annual Conf Proc. 2016.

Rust M, Nasir M, Meyer EG. Using Quantified Self as a Learning Tool to Engage Students in Entrepreneurially Minded Learning and Engineering Design. ASEE Annual Conf Proc. 2016.

Nasir M, Weaver BT, Meyer EG. Project-based Learning in a Forensic Engineering Course. ASEE Annual Conf Proc. 2016.

Meyer EG, Nasir M. Fostering the entrepreneurial mindset through the development of multidisciplinary learning modules based on the “Quantified Self” social movement. ASEE Annual Conf Proc. 2015.

Nasir M, Seta J, Meyer EG. Introducing high school students to biomedical engineering through summer camps. ASEE Annual Conf Proc 2014.

Gerhart A, Meyer EG. Combining discipline-specific “Introduction to Engineering” courses into a single multi-discipline course to foster the entrepreneurial mindset with entrepreneurially minded learning. ASEE Annual Conf Proc 2014.

Rundell SA, Weaver B, Guiang A, Meyer EG. Characterization of occupant lower extremity behaviour during moderate-to-high speed rear impacts. SAE Technical Paper. 2013-01-0222.

Button K, Wei F, Meyer EG, Haut RC. Specimen-specific computational models of ankle sprain produced in a laboratory setting. J Biomech Eng. 2013;135(4):041001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023521

Shimokochi Y, Ambeganonkar JP, Lee SY, Meyer EG, Shultz SJ. Sagittal plane body positions influence risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries during a single-leg drop landing. Knee Surg Sports Trauma Arthroscopy. 2012;21(4):888-897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2011-9  

Meyer EG, Wei F, Button K, Haut RC. Determination of ankle ligament strain using a rigid body computational model for sports injury scenarios. IRCOBI Conf. Proc. 2012;36:277-288. 

Wei F, Post JM, Braman JE, Meyer EG, Powell JW, Haut RC. Eversion during external rotation of the human cadaver foot produces high ankle sprains. J Orthop Res. 2012;30(9):1423-1429. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.22085  

Wei F, Meyer EG, Braman JE, Powell JW, Haut RC. Rotational stiffness of football shoes influences talus motion during external rotation of the foot. J Biomech Eng. 2012; 134(041002): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4005695

Meyer EG, Buckley CT, Kelly DJ. The influence of construct scale on the functional properties of cartilaginous tissues engineered using bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. Tissue Eng. 2012; 18(3-4): 382-396. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2011.0145

Vinardell T, Rolfe RA, Buckley CT, Meyer EG, Murphy P, Kelly DJ. Hydrostatic pressure and TGF-β3 interact to regulate the induction and maintenance of a chondrogenic phenotype in joint tissue derived stem cells. European Cells & Materials J. 2012; 23: 121-134. 

Meyer EG, Buckley CT, Steward AJ, Kelly DJ. The effect of cyclic hydrostatic pressure on the functional development of cartilaginous tissues engineered using bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. J Mech Behav Biomed Mats. 2011; 4(7): 1257-1265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2011.04.012

Haugh MG, Meyer EG, Thorpe SD, Vinardell T, Duffy GP, Kelly DJ. Temporal and spatial changes in cartilage-matrix specific gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells in response to dynamic compression. Tissue Eng. 2011; 17(23-24): 3085-3093. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2011.0198

Meyer EG, Baumer TG, Haut RC. Pure passive hyperextension of the human cadaver knee generates simultaneous bi-cruciate ligament rupture. J Biomech Eng. 2011; 133(011012): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003135

Meyer EG, Buckley CT, Thorpe SD, Kelly DJ. Low oxygen tension is a more potent promoter of chondrogenic differentiation than dynamic compression. J Biomech. 2010; 43: 2516-2523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.05.020

For a complete list of research publications and citations please see google scholar.