About Us
Henak Lab members have diverse scientific expertise. This diversity allows us to work together to creatively address questions within our three research themes.
Open Positions
Positions (2) open for a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering
Description: A PhD or MS thesis position in tissue mechanics is available. The focus of the research is on the material behavior of spine segments in growing spines, including the growth plates, cartilage endplates and intervertebral discs. The research uses a hypovitaminosis-D kyphotic pig model to induce spinal deformities analogous to those seen in pediatric patients. The open position will involve mechanical testing and materials fitting. This project is NIH-funded research led by a clinician-scientist, in collaboration with other labs at UW-Madison and around the US. The overall goal of the project is to understand how skeletal age affects physeal mechanical properties and the growth response (sensitivity) to eccentric load.
Description: A PhD or MS thesis position in cartilage mechanobiology is available. The aim of the research is to develop an optical redox imaging based screening platform. This project is NIH-funded research, in collaboration with other labs at UW-Madison and around the US.
Reach out to Prof Henak (chenak@wisc.edu) after applying to UW-Madison ME (December 15, 2025 deadline) or BME (December 1, 2025) graduate program.
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Principal Investigator
Corinne Henak (Google Scholar, Pubmed, Mech Engg Dept Video)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Denver, 2008
Ph.D. in Bioengineering, University of Utah, 2013
Post-doc in Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, 2013-2015
Corinne joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison in 2015. She is affiliated with the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
Corinne was first introduced to computational modeling in biomechanics during her undergraduate studies. Her PhD research coupled experimental and computational techniques for direct model validation. Her post-doc research emphasized experimental mechanics and bioresponses. As faculty, she enjoys continuing to work in computational modeling, mechanics, and bioresponses; always learning more from collaborators and trainees.
Outside of work, Corinne enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with her family.
Post Docs and Staff Scientists
Soroush Irandoust (Google Scholar, LinkedIn)
B.S. in Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2012
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 2014
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 2020
Soroush is originally from Tehran, Iran, and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, for graduate school. During his time at Northeastern University, he worked on computational modeling of bone healing and remodeling around dental implants.
Soroush joined University of Wisconsin-Madison in September 2021 as a post-doctoral research associate, working with Corinne Henak in Mechanical Engineering and Peter Muir in Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. The goal of his research project was to reduce life-threatening cannon bone stress fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses through diagnostic imaging and patient-specific mechanical assessment. As a result, an standing computer tomography (sCT)-based finite element analysis (FEA) pipeline was developed that can predict subchondral bone strain, which is believed to be an indicator of bone fracture risk. In a parallel collaborative research project with veterinarians, he built a similar CT-based FEA pipeline for canine humeral condylar fracture risk.
Continuing as a scientist starting in summer 2025, he is expanding his research to 1) develop a sCT-based FEA pipeline for stress fracture risk assessment of the proximal sesamoid bones in racehorse fetlocks, 2) investigate the efficacy and optimize placement of transcondylar screw treatment in horses with elevated fetlock fracture risk through FEA and designing patient-specific 3D-printed drilling guides for such surgeries, and 3) build computer vision models to automate segmentation and analysis of diagnostic medical images to tackle various orthopaedic problems including early detection of ACL rupture in dogs.
Outside of work, Soroush enjoys spending time in nature, hiking, and is an avid cyclist.
Jingyi Wang
Jingyi is from Shanxi, China, and joined the lab in 2021 as a graduate student. After completing her Ph.D. in summer 2025, Jingyi continues her research journey in Henak Lab as a postdoctoral research associate.
Jingyi works on development of new diagnostic/treatment screening tool for cartilage using optical redox imaging. Outside of lab, she always enjoys traveling and swimming, and picked up a new hobby (knitting) when she was in graduate school.
Graduate Students
Zachary Alesch
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 2018-2022
Zack grew up in the Madison area and is now a fourth-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. He has experience in biomaterials and tissue engineering, and is now studying cartilage mechanics and modeling. One day, Zack hopes to develop diagnostics and therapies for soft-tissue wounds and diseases like osteoarthritis.
Outside of the lab, Zack enjoys board games, fishing, and playing the oboe.
Jon Brooks
B.S. in Engineering Mechanics, 2020-2024
Jon is a first-year master’s student in Engineering Mechanics originally from Oconomowoc, WI. His research focuses on studying fracture in soft materials using video analysis. Outside the lab, Jon enjoys snowboarding and spending time at the Design Innovation lab.
Brandon Chelstrom
Kyobeom Ku
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 2021-2023
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, 2014-2021
Kyobeom is a third-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering from Incheon, South Korea.
Outside of the school, Kyobeom enjoys traveling, workout, and bouldering.
Will Martin
Will Martin is a master’s student in Biomedical Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship.
Outside of his studies, Will can be found playing drums with his band in Milwaukee.
Xin Wei
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison, 2022-2023
B.S. in Automotive Engineering, Wuhan University of Tech, 2018-2022
Xin is a second-year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan, China. He is now focusing on the nonlinear surface wave in soft materials.
Outside of the lab, Xin enjoys basketball and workout. He is trying to learn skiing and climbing.
Chenhao Yu
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 2019-2021
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Saint Louis University, 2014-2018
Chenhao is a second-year PhD student from Shanghai, China. He works as a research assistant in an Orthopedics Lab before joining the team. His work will focus on cartilage optical redox imaging.
Outside of lab and school, Chenhao enjoys playing tennis and cooking.
Research Interns
Undergraduate Students
Ria Chugh
Ria is a fourth-year senior studying Biomedical Engineering with a focus in Biomechanics and is originally from the suburbs of Chicago. Her research centers on creating knee model segmentations from MRI data for predictive modeling and analysis.
Outside of the lab, Ria enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, and exploring new hobbies.
Cecelia Rowell
Cecelia is a fourth year mechanical engineering student from Saint Paul Minnesota. Her research focuses on menisci mechanics.
Outside of the lab, Cecelia enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends.
Liam Sullivan-Konyn
L
iam is a fifth year senior double majoring in Engineering Mechanics and Mathematics. His research focuses on characterizing the material properties of soft materials by sensing fracture-induced surface waves.
Outside of the lab, Liam enjoys watching his favorite sports teams and spending time outside with friends.
Alumni
Max Kanakkanatt, MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2026.
Alexandria Thao, MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2026.
Neha Kulkarni, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2025.
Jingyi Wang, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2025. Currently: post-doc at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Greta Scheidt, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2025. Currently: research assistant at HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering, University of Utah.
Sophia Speece, Biomedical Engineering Student, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dipul Chawla (LinkedIn), PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023. Currently: Reliability Engineer at Apple.
Riley Norman, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023. Currently: Epic Systems.
Elijah McCoy, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023. Currently: Engineer at JP Cullen.
Jason Soukup, PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022. Currently: faculty in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UW-Madison.
Josephine Hall, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022. Currently: rotation engineer at Medtronic.
Rikin Soni, former research intern.
Ashley Pernsteiner, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022, currently: O2 engineer at 3M.
Katie Kern, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2022, currently: R&D engineer I at Medtronic.
Amanda Kemper, BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: Prosthetics-Orthotics student at Northwestern University.
Jack Fahy, MS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: associate quality engineer at Medline.
Josh Shelley, MS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: mechanics/biomechanics consultant at S-E-A.
Charlie Hower, BS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2021, currently: med student at Emory University.
Alexey Minaev, BS in Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020, currently: PPD.
Shannon K. Walsh, PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2020, currently: Congressional Liaison and Life Scientist, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Guebum Han, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently: Structural Analyst (Mechanical Engineer), Intel Corporation.
Jin Wook Hwang, M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently: asset management.
Alex Teague, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019, currently: medical student at Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
Jared Muench, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, Research Intern 2018-2019, currently: medical student at Medical College of Wisconsin.
Jacob Andreae, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently: biomedical electronics technician, Mary Greeley Medical Center.
Kelly Vazquez, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently: post-doc at CU-Boulder.
Matthew Grondin, Thesis M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018, currently: PhD student at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Danielle Redinbaugh, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2017, currently: Project Engineer at Nortech.
Trenton Roeber, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2017, currently: advanced quality engineer at Styker.