Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer A. Nichols, assistant professor, who was accepted to the Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR) workshop.

The TIGRR workshop provides one-on-one mentorship to researchers facing their first major research grant.  The annual four-day workshop includes structured sessions on hypothesis development, study design, federal funding mechanisms, and peer review, with a particular focus on rehabilitation research. The target audience includes junior and mid-level faculty in all rehabilitation research disciplines, many of whom are on the cusp of success in NIH-funded or similar research but could benefit from expert mentorship in grant development.

Dr. Nichols’ research broadly focuses on musculoskeletal biomechanics. Her long-term goal is to create predictive, biomechanical simulations to improve the functional ability and quality of life for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. By predicting surgical outcomes or the effectiveness of physical therapy, predictive simulations will catalyze clinical advancements and inform modern, data-driven medicine. To accomplish this goal, Nichols leads the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab. She and her team are creating computer models of complex joint structures, such as the wrist/hand and foot/ankle, that replicate how the musculoskeletal system responds to pathologies and treatments.