Background
Ana holds a BEng in Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Biomedical Engineering, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
Ana’s experience has included multiple aspects of impact biomechanics, orthopaedics, spinal biomechanics, disc degeneration, lower-limb joint biomechanics, ergonomics, and upper-body motor control. She has a significant publication record addressing basic, applied, and clinical orthopaedic topics and has conducted collaborative research across academia and industrial institutions. She has provided technical support to vehicle manufacturers during occupant safety system development by building computer models of occupant motion that predict injury potential. She has performed biomechanical analyses on human subjects, animal models, tissue specimens, and human surrogates. She has used mathematical modelling and built physical devices to aid in experimental setup.
Ana completed her PhD on the mechanical properties of intervertebral discs in 2010, followed by two post-doctoral appointments on various aspects of biomechanics and ergonomics. She has served as an expert witness in the United States since 2015 and in the United Kingdom since 2021. She has testified in courts in multiple US states, including Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and South Carolina. In the UK, she has presented evidence in the Crown Court and the Family Court. She has produced numerous CPR-compliant reports.
Ana’s speciality is impact biomechanics, including cases involving seatbelt use, helmet use, child car seats, pedestrian impacts, low-speed impacts, falls from height, and slips, trips, and falls.
Education and Certifications
- Mechanical Engineering, PhD: University of Vermont (2010)
- Biomedical Engineering, MSc: Wayne State University (2006)
- Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, BEng: Duke University (1999)
- Bosch Certified Crash Data Retrieval Technician, IPTM (2016)
Publications
- Yerebakan MO, Hu B, Barbir A, Lin MY, Dennerlein JT “Evaluating the Impact of Writing Surface Interface and Configuration on Muscle Activation Pattern During a Handwriting Task: An exploratory study”, Work 71(4):1183-1191, 2022
- Lin MY, Barbir A, Dennerlein JT “Evaluating Biomechanics of User-Selected Sitting and Standing Computer Workstation” Applied Ergonomics, 65:382-388, 2017
- Barbir A, Janelli MV, Lin MY, Dennerlein JT “Effects of epinephrine auto-injector shape and size on human factors influencing drug delivery” Human Factors, 58(7):1020-1030, 2016
- Barbir A, Godburn KE, Michalek AJ, Lai A, Monsey RD, Iatridis JC “Effects of Torsion on Intervertebral Disc Gene Expression and Biomechanics using a Rat Tail Model” Spine, 36(8): 607-14, 2011
- Barbir A, Michalek AJ, Abbott RD, Iatridis JC “Effects of Enzymatic Digestion on Compressive Properties of Rat Intervertebral Discs” Journal of Biomechanics, 43: 1067-73, 2010
- Wuertz K, Godburn KE, MacLean JJ, Barbir A, Stinnett-Donnelly J, Roughley PJ, Alini M, Iatridis JC “In Vivo Remodeling of Intervertebral Discs in Response to Short- and Long-term Dynamic Compression” Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 27(9): 1235-42, 2009
- Bir C, Barbir A, Dosquet F, Wilhelm M, Van der Horst M, Wolfe G “Validation of Lower Limb Surrogates as Injury Assessment Tools in Floor Impacts due to Anti-Vehicular Land Mines” Military Medicine, 173(12):1180-4, 2008
- Pewinski W, Esquivel A, Ruud J, Stefani M, Barbir A “Jack e-factory correlation to real world seating reach and effort applications” SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-2707, 2005
- van Rooij L, van Hoof J, McCann MJ, Ridella SA, Rupp JD, Barbir A, van der Made R, Slaats P “A Finite Element Lower Extremity and Pelvis Model for Predicting Bone Injuries due to Knee Bolster Loading” SAE Paper 2004-01-2130, 2004
- Winkelstein BA, McLendon RE, Barbir A, Myers BS “An Anatomical Investigation of the Human Cervical Facet Capsule, Quantifying Muscle Insertion Area” Journal of Anatomy, 198(4): 445-61, 2001