Darryl Thelen honored with Borelli Award from American Society of Biomechanics

Darryl Thelen, John Bollinger Chair and Bernard A. and Frances M. Weideman Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the Borelli Award from the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB).

The Borelli Award, the most prestigious honor given by the ASB, recognizes outstanding career accomplishment and is awarded annually to an investigator who has conducted exemplary research in any area of biomechanics.

Thelen directs the UW Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab, where he leads the development of computational models, wearable sensors, and dynamic imaging technologies to investigate the functional loading of musculoskeletal tissues. His work focuses on understanding the biomechanics and neuromuscular coordination of human movement, with the goal of informing and improving clinical practices in orthopedics, rehabilitation, and sports medicine. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. He is a Fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Biomechanics.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Borelli Award. This recognition reflects the outstanding students, collaborators, and colleagues I’ve had the privilege to work with in this vibrant field. The ASB community has shaped biomechanics for decades, and it’s humbling to be recognized as part of that legacy,” shared Thelen.

Thelen was recognized at the 2025 ASB conference in Pittsburgh in August and found himself surrounded by a supportive group of former students, postdocs, and colleagues from across the country.