2022 Wu Tsai Performance Undergraduate Scholars
Congratulations to our inaugural cohort of Scholars
The hands-on research experience and our community have given our scholars the skills, resources, and confidence to succeed in a career in human performance. We would like to celebrate and congratulate these excellent scholars on their success and thank them for being an incredible first cohort. Learn more about their journeys through research in human performance below.
Apply for the Wu Tsai Performance Undergraduate Research Program
The 2022 Scholars Highlight the Diversity of Human Performance
- Rachel Grant, Mechanical Engineering ’24
Mentor: Andrea Kussman, Orthopaedic Surgery
Biomechanics of rowing on the water - Nolan Evers, Human Biology ’23
Mentor: Seth Sherman, Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthobiologic injections in NCAA division 1 athletes - Jason Kaul, Psychology ’23
Mentor: Alia Crum, Psychology
The role of mindsets in health, well-being and burnout among elite college students - William Pan, Mechanical Engineering ’25
Mentor: Joseph DeSimone, Chemical Engineering
Kinesthetic latticed programmable (KLaP) tape for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome - Brielle Smith, Human Biology ’23
Mentor: Allan Reiss, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Investigating the effects of aerobic exercise on working memory and brain activity in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - Brian Lee, Symbolic Systems ’25
Mentor: Karen Liu, Computer Science
Optimizing muscle model parameters to improve joint torque-angle relations - Zachary Teplin, Biomechanical Engineering ’23
Mentor: Scott Delp, Bioengineering
Hamstring mechanics in accelerative sprinting: An experimental study - Christian Wright, Biology ’24
Mentor: Kevin Shea, Orthopaedic Surgery
3D shape modeling of anatomical variations in patellar instability patients
- Katie Duong, Biomechanical Engineering ’23
Mentor: Emily Kraus, Orthopaedic Surgery
A closer look at bone stress injury recovery using MRI - Maya Shetty, Human Biology ’22
Mentor: Scott Delp, Bioengineering
Quantifying the impact of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance - Carly Smith, Human Biology ’23
Mentor: Craig Heller, Biology
Burnin’ up: Physiological responses to exercise-induced hyperthermia at constant workloads - Samuel Benabou, Biomedical Computation ’25
Mentor: Scott Delp, Bioengineering
Closed your rings?: Estimating energy expenditure with wearable technology in the real world - Tatum Boyd, Human Biology ’23
Mentor: Emily Kraus, Orthopaedic Surgery
Optimizing translational practices for female athlete research - Steven Le, Computer Science ’25
Mentor: Khizer Khaderi, Opthalmology
Umaki – Choose your own adventure video game & ADHD screener - Haley Mossmer, Product Design ’24
Mentor: Craig Heller, Biology
Assessing the impact of palm cooling on muscular fatigue in isometric exercise
I’ve grown so much as a scholar by being in the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance. I feel much more knowledgeable of what research looks & feels like. I also feel like a much more capable candidate for grad programs and industry through my research training.
2022 Undergraduate Scholar
The Experience
Day in the Life of an Undergrad Researcher
Experience a day in the life of Stanford undergraduate and Wu Tsai Human Performance Undergraduate Scholar Carly Mae Smith ’23, as she conducts summer research in the Heller Lab.
The Evolution
The Wu Tsai Performance Undergraduate Research Program offers students a journey through the research process and an opportunity to grow as scholars. It begins with a class in the Spring where they develop research skills and confidence in sharing their ideas. Summer has them executing technical work in the lab and explaining their research to one another in weekly coffee chats. At the Summer Research Symposium, they shared their research progress and also journeys in learning the ups and down of the research process. Read these reflections from some of our scholars on their Wu Tsai Performance experiences.
Tatum Boyd '23
“I used to think research was a stiff, intimidating process that I wasn’t certain I was capable of doing. Now I think research is exciting, eye opening, and a very malleable process that I enjoy being part of.”
Maya Shetty '22
“I used to think you needed to know everything about a research area to conduct a project within it, now I think you can learn along the way and provide valuable insights by drawing from all the fields you have worked in.”
William Pan '25
“I used to think that we needed 10,000 hours (inspired by Malcolm Gladwell) to succeed (still true) but now I think it is important to take breaks and reflect on the past, present, and future steps of the journey before putting your head down.”
Katie Duong '23
“I used to think that research was a step-by-step process. Now I think that research is something that evolves over time. Your methods and even your question of interest will likely change throughout the process.”
Zachary Teplin '23
“I used to think mistakes were a failure, now I think mistakes are integral to research and how you learn.”
Jason Kaul '23
“I used to think research was a linear process and if done properly, would end with results that match my initial hypothesis. Now I think that research is a journey of successes and failures that often lead you down a path you wouldn’t expect and lead to new questions to explore.”
Get Engaged
We invite faculty, students, staff, alumni, friends, and external organizations to participate in the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford.