Jonathan Rupp

Dr. Jonathan D. Rupp is an assistant research scientist in UMTRI's Biosciences Group. He also holds an appointment in the University of Michigan Department of Emergency Medicine. He earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Rupp's research is aimed at reducing the risk of death and injury in motor-vehicle crashes by studying the frequencies, causes, and patterns of injury in real-world crashes, by conducting laboratory biomechanical testing and performing computational simulations to characterize and quantify the human mechanical response and tissue tolerance to mechanical loading, and by developing criteria and tools for assessing the risk of injury that will aid in the development of countermeasures that mitigate occupant injury. His recent research focuses on performing biomechanical testing and computational simulations to develop new injury assessment criteria for the knee-thigh-hip complex in frontal motor-vehicle crashes, and on assessing and mitigating the risk of injuries to special populations, including children, the elderly, and pregnant occupants.

Dr. Rupp has won student paper awards at the 2001, 2002, and 2003 Stapp Conferences, as well as an UMTRI Research Excellence Award in 2003. He is also a coauthor recipient of the John Paul Stapp Best Paper Award for the 2003 Stapp Conference.