Meet grad student Stephanie Beth Hernández Hernández: Studying biomechanics to help improve rehabilitation treatments

Stephanie Beth Hernández Hernández is a PhD student in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A Graduate Engineering Research Scholar (GERS), she is advised by Peter Adamczyk, Mead Witter Foundation Associate Professor in mechanical engineering.

Hernández Hernández’s research is in biomechanics, specifically looking at human motor learning. She uses a custom fabricated haptic robot to understand different motor learning principles (how people learn motor skills, what types of feedback help them learn faster and retain skills longer, etc.) with the goal of informing physical therapists of techniques they can use to improve lower limb rehabilitation. Hernández Hernández, who is originally from Moca, Puerto Rico, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UW-Madison.

What factors led you to choose UW-Madison for your graduate education?

I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE) program in 2018 and fell in love with Madison and the amazing GERS program. I visited many universities when deciding which one to pick for graduate school and none of them had the welcoming and amazing community GERS offers.

In addition, my husband and I applied to grad school at the same time and wanted to go to the same university. UW-Madison had research programs that we were both very interested in. He also really liked Madison, so everything worked out. It was really meant to be. Not only this, but GERS program manager Kelly Burton was a blessing in our lives, and she made the entire process so easy. It was nice having this key person that you can seek help from for absolutely anything.

How did you get interested in your research area?

Since forever I knew I wanted to do bio-related research. In undergrad I tried different areas of research in the bioengineering field—bio-microfluids at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, biomaterials at Syracuse University, and biomechanics at UW-Madison. And it was while I was doing biomechanics research in Associate Professor Peter Adamczyk’s BADGER Lab at UW-Madison as part of the SURE program that I learned I wanted to focus on biomechanics.

What do you enjoy most about your research?

I really liked that it has challenged me to get out of my comfort zone since it required a lot of non-engineering knowledge. It has been hard, but I have really loved learning about all these new concepts. In addition, I am a person who needs to have a clear vision of why I am doing this work and why it is important, and I feel that my project and research area can really have an impact on people’s lives and open doors to many more studies that can help improve the rehabilitation treatments individuals receive.

I also have been very lucky to have an advisor (Peter Adamczyk) who is very available and present. His guidance and knowledge have been essential in this journey. Lastly, we have a collaborator at USC (Kristan Leech; she is a human motor control expert and a physical therapist) and every time we meet, I come out with new ideas. She has been very important in the development of the project.

In what ways do you receive support here as a grad student?

I already mentioned GERS and Kelly Burton, but this has been my main source of support throughout the years. I am also the president of the Graduate Women+ in Mechanical Engineering where we have worked hard throughout the years to create a supporting and welcoming environment. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has supported this group, and we have been able to collaborate with the Writing Center, WISELI, Career Services (Julie Rae and Sierra Strebe-Grim) and University Health Services (Michelle Bond). Also, during this last year as I’ve been working on job applications, Julie Rae has been extremely helpful in making sure I am prepared and my documents are prepared and also in making sure I feel confident and comfortable with my skills and what I have to offer.

What do you like best about being part of the GERS community?

GERS is a very special and unique program that we are so lucky to have! It doesn’t just provide financial support but also a great community of amazing people. My closest Madison friends I met through GERS. They also provide professional development opportunities through workshops, lunch and learns and many other events. When I tell you that GERS was a big reason why my husband and I came to Madison, I am not lying!

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love spending time with my husband and friends. I love talking to my family since I live so far away from them now. I also knit and sew in my free time. I love, love knitting since it really relaxes my brain and at the end of it all I have a garment or accessory that I can wear and tell people I made.

What do you hope to do when you’ve finished your degree … and how did you choose that path?

This is a complicated question. I am projected to finish my degree in July 2025, but I am still torn. I want to be in a role where I can help others and have a positive impact in the world, and I am willing to do this in industry or academia. My dream job is to go back to my undergraduate institution (UPRM) as faculty where I can interact with students and help them. This institution shaped me into becoming the professional I am today, and I would love to go back and do the same for other students there. I would also love to open my own biomechanics research lab there so students can have the opportunity of working in this field and not have to leave Puerto Rico to explore this research area. At the end of the day, I don’t know what I will end up doing after I graduate but I just hope it is something that makes me happy, and if it’s closer to my family in Puerto Rico, even better!

What would you say to encourage prospective students to attend grad school here in the College of Engineering?

UW-Madison is a great university! If you find the research that you are interested here, this is a very good option for grad school. Yes, it’s cold for like eight months of the year, which is not ideal, but you learn how to embrace it and enjoy it—and this is coming from someone that lived her whole life in Puerto Rico where it’s very hot and humid all year long. There are lots of resources here that you can take advantage of. You just have to ask, and they will probably have it. As a city, Madison is very nice to live in, and there are always many events that you can attend.

The College of Engineering’s Graduate Engineering Research Scholars (GERS) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the 2024/2025 academic year. The program was established to recognize excellence in research and/or scholarship and to enhance the experiences and opportunities of graduate students from underrepresented groups in the College of Engineering.

Besides offering financial support, GERS empowers students by facilitating community gatherings for peer support, provides professional development opportunities and connects fellows with resources on and off campus for their advancement as scholars.