Evolving Engineering Technologies Towards Clinical Practice
Vincent Ton, MS’25, PhD’28, mechanical engineering, has worked at the Neuromechanics of Movement Lab throughout his master’s program. He is passionate about the research he has done and hopes his work will advance rehabilitation practices globally to help individuals with mobility issues recover faster and more efficiently.
Driven by his desire to impact healthcare and medical technology, Vincent Ton decided to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Northeastern University. Ton chose to continue his education in graduate school because he believed it would help him gain the knowledge and research experience to achieve his career goals. He specifically chose Northeastern University for its extensive research opportunities that involve innovative developments and one-of-a-kind faculty. Additionally, Ton has decided to pursue his PhD at Northeastern, further advancing his research toward clinical practice.
Neuromechanics of Movement Lab
Ton started his master’s program as a research assistant at the Neuromechanics of Movement Lab (NeuMove) under Assistant Professor Seungmoon Song. This lab studies human movement through digital simulations and human subject experiments. NeuMove particularly appealed to Ton because it integrates biomechanics, neuroscience and wearable robotics, an intersection that directly aligns with his research interests. One day, Ton hopes to assist individuals who have lost the ability to move freely by improving their quality of life.
Through his research at the NeuMove lab, Ton aims to leverage simulations to develop personalized rehabilitation plans for different patient populations. The first project he worked on involved comparing control models of human walking in simulation. During this project, he investigated how the different models varied in their capacity to predict human motion.
Additionally, Ton’s research at the lab progressed, and he began working on a project that investigated differences in knee loading and gait biomechanics in individuals with obesity. This project was in collaboration with Boston University’s Motor Development Lab.
Ton presenting at the American Society of Biomechanics Conference.
Ton has enjoyed being a part of the team, and one of his favorite parts has been being able to share his team’s work with the world while attending and presenting at conferences both in the U.S. and internationally. To be able to share and communicate with others about the extensive research he has dedicated himself to, Ton attended the American Society of Biomechanics Conferences, the Dynamic Walking Conference, and the International IEEE Biorobotics Conference in Germany. He believes the most powerful use of research is being able to share your knowledge, learn from others, and incorporate what you have learned into your own work. He said these conferences have helped him evolve as a young researcher and have given him the confidence and tools to continue being successful in a research environment. He remains enthusiastic and dedicated to continuing to collaborate with healthcare and technology professionals worldwide in the service of advancing science.
Ton and the NeuMove team are preparing to open-source the simulation framework built to invite further collaboration and advancement in medical technology. He hopes researchers will find the access useful and that it can help improve the lives of people, allowing them to regain mobility.
Future Perspectives
Ton with the NeuMove group receiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award.
Because of his interest in furthering his neuromechanics research, Ton will continue his education at Northeastern as a PhD student in mechanical engineering under Professor Song. Ton’s doctoral research will aim to predict the fundamental causes of gait variability in individuals with pathological conditions. He hopes to bridge the gap between biomechanics research and clinical studies. He believes this research experience has gotten him where he is today and has opened many doors to academic and career opportunities. Through his work, he has earned the prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award issued by the National Science Foundation. This is a major achievement for all the incredible work Ton has accomplished while working at the NeuMove Lab. He is excited to continue the research he is passionate about and head into a successful career in the world of biomechanics research.