Mariana E. Kersh

For more information

• Tissue Biomechanics Lab Homepage

Education

• PhD Materials Science, University of Wisconsin, 2010
• MS Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008
• BA Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2005
• BA English, University of Texas - Austin, 1999

Biography

Dr. Mariana Kersh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is Director of the Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory. Previously, she was a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, under a university-wide McKenzie fellowship in which she was the sole recipient in the College of Engineering. Her research focuses on the use of experimental methods to evaluate macro-level mechanical and structural properties of bone, cartilage, and connective tissues, such as ligaments, in order to include them into finite element simulations of these tissues under physiological loads. She first received a Bachelor of Arts in English at The University of Texas-Austin, then went on to receive a Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering, and PhD in Materials Science Engineering at The University of Wisconsin – Madison as a National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow.

Academic Positions

• Health Innovation Professor, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, 2021 - present (33%)
• Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, 2021 - present (67%)
• Part-time Faculty, University of Illinois, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, 2017 - present (0%)
• Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, 2014 - 2020 (100%)
• Postdoctoral McKenzie Fellow, University of Melbourne, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2010-2014

Research Interests

• Mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues, joint movement, imaging, structure-function relationships. Bone and joint diseases such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis significantly impact the quality of life of those afflicted, and impose a personal and societal financial burden. Relating the structural and mechanical properties of musculoskeletal tissues to their function can help increase our understanding and therefore the treatment of bone and joint diseases. We explore the structure and organization of biological materials using clinical-level medical images. By doing so, we can link architecture to functional outcomes – such as survivability and strength derived from novel experimental techniques. We also use the finite-element method to answer those questions that are difficult to do so experimentally.

Selected Articles in Journals

• Yan C, Song H, Pfister J, Andersen TL, Warden S, Bhargava R, Kersh ME. Effect of fatigue loading and rest on impact strength of rat ulna. Journal of Biomechanics, 123, 110449, 2021.
• Pineda Guzman RA, Kersh ME. Replication of the tensile behavior of knee ligaments using architected acrylic yarn. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 118, 104339, 2021.
• Yan C, Moshage SG, Kersh ME. Play when young: Bone adaptation to sports during growth. Current Osteoporosis Reports, 18, 684-695, 2020. Invited.
• Kersh ME. Resolving nanoscale strains in whole joints. Nature Biomedical Engineering 4, 257-258, 2020. Invited article.
• Moshage SG, McCoy AM, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Temporal and spatial changes in bone accrual, density and strain energy density in growing foals. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 103, 103568, 2020.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Kersh ME, Song H, Polk J. Small changes in structure and mineral density after exercise can have profound effects on mechanical strength. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 35, 39-40, 2020.
• Polk JD, Song H, Kersh ME. Subchondral and Trabecular Bone Respond Differently to Exercise in Juvenile Sheep. The FASEB Journal 34 (S1), 1-1, 2020.
• Song H, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Exercise and postural effects on trabecular and subchondral bone properties in the medial femoral condyle. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 171, 270-270, 2020.
• Moshage S, McCoy A, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Structural changes in equine proximal phalanx during growth. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 76: 52-53, 2019.
• Song H, Kersh ME. Gait and scaling effect on bone growth in rat tibia. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33, 151-152, 2018.

Presentations

• 1. Yan C, Warden S, Kersh ME. Tibial bone strain in basketball players during dynamic maneuvers. Orthopedic Research Society, 2021. Late breaking abstract.
• MacInnis B and Kersh ME. Identifying subject-specific determinants of femoral neck strain during walking. Orthopedic Research Society, 2021.
• Yan C, Warden S, Kersh ME. Tibial bone strain in basketball players during dynamic tasks. American Society of Biomechanics, 2020. PhD 3MT semi-finalist.
• Moshage SG, Polk JD, Kersh ME. Ovine cortical bone responds to moderate exercise with increased density but not bone area fraction. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Halloran KM, Moshage SG, Hammack SM, McCoy AM, Kersh ME. Compressive stress and strain on the equine third metacarpal during growth. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, 2020.
• Thomsen J.S., C.M. Andreasen, L.P. Bakalova, A.-M. Brüel, E.M. Hauge, G.E. Toft Eschen, B.J. Kill, J.-M. Delaisse, M.E. Kersh, T.L. Andersen. "Characterization of the remodeling events contributing to trabecularization of cortical bone: A study on human fibula diaphysis," American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, 2017.
• Rahman, H. and M.E. Kersh, "The effect of cross-sectional area variation on ligament apparent properties," Orthopedic Research Society, 2017.
• Lee, W., H. Rahman, M.E. Kersh, and K. Toussaint, "Crimp characterization of porcine posterior cruciate ligament by second harmonic generation," Orthopedic Research Society, 2017.

Professional Societies

• 2014 - present: American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, member
• 2015 - present: American Society of Biomechanics, member
• 2015 - present: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, member

Research Honors

• Spotlight New Investigator (2017)
• Alice L. Jee Young Investigator Award (2017)
• Early Career Researcher Award (2013)
• McKenzie Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (3 years, 1 of 12 university/discipline wide, single recipient in engineering, 6% success rate) (2010)
• Pre-Doctoral Graduate Research Fellowship (3 years) (2007)
• Graduate Engineering Research Scholar Fellowship (2 years) (2005 )

Recent Courses Taught

• ME 481 (BIOE 481) - Whole-Body Musculoskel Biomech
• ME 598 MEK - Orthopedic Biomechanics
• TAM 210 - Introduction to Statics
• TAM 211 - Statics
• TAM 251 - Introductory Solid Mechanics
• TAM 598 211 (TAM 598 MK, TAM 598 MKO) - Orthopedic Biomechanics