Grace O'Connell, PhD

About Grace

Grace O’Connell, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the co-director of the Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory, and her research interests has primarily focused on the musculoskeletal system. O’Connell received her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where her research focused on spine biomechanics with age, degeneration, and injury. She has received many awards including the YC Fung Young Investigator Award, NSF CAREER Award, and the ASME Grood Award for Team Science. O’Connell was inducted into the AIMBE College of Fellows in 2021 and ASME Fellows in 2023. In 2025, she was recognized for her work in engineering through the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Please email graceoengineering@gmail.com for inquiries related to engineering consulting work for your company or firm.

Example Work

Scientific Advisor for AT Dev, Inc.

Provided scientific and design advice on early prototypes on a robotic exoskeleton device that provides stretching and strengthening physical therapy exercises to patients in early rehabilitation from total knee arthorplasty or ACL reconstruction surgery. Ongoing work with the team includes data analysis for further improvements in product development.

Scientific Advisor for a Stealth Medical Device Startup (SF Bay Area)

Advised engineering team on testing equipment purchases and study design to validate their design through pre-clinical testing.

Expert Witness

Provide document review (medical and accident reports) to opine on biomechanics related to slip and falls, injury due to motor vehicle accidents, and other accidents. Email for more information regarding case log.

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