Dr. Dario Martelli joined the faculty of mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama in August 2019 as an assistant professor. Prior, he was a postdoctoral research scientist at the department of mechanical engineering of Columbia University and member of the Robotics and Rehabilitation Laboratory, where he has been since 2015. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering at University of Pisa, Italy, and his doctorate degree in biorobotics at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Italy.
His research interests lie in the areas of rehabilitation robotics, biomechanics, and human movement analysis. Much of his work has been aimed at developing methods and technologies useful for restoration of motor functions with particular interest in the development of innovative solutions targeted at improving gait and reducing the risk of falling in patients with balance disorders. The achievement of this goal has been based on a deep understanding of how people maintain balance while walking and while reacting to unpredictable balance perturbations. His research is based on the observation that it is possible to use neuroscientific methodologies, mechatronic devices, virtual platforms, and wearable technologies to: (i) identify people at higher risk for falling; (ii) advance innovative balance and cognitive training strategies; and (iii) develop technologies able to augment balance control.
