Jason Franz, professor in the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, was recently selected as the President-Elect of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB). This honor reflects his dedication to biomechanics community and the confidence of his peers in his vision for the future of the field.

ASB is one of the world’s leading professional organizations dedicated to advancing the study of human movement, biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering. Established in 1977 to encourage increased communication between biomechanists, the society now includes more than 1,000 members across multiple disciplines. Members work to improve understanding of biological systems through problem-solving, research, instruction and application in clinical settings.

Franz will serve a 1-year term as President-Elect before assuming the presidency. He will help guide the organization’s strategic direction and advance its mission to promote excellence in biomechanics research, education and professional development.

As director of the Applied Biomechanics Laboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill, Franz leads an internationally
recognized research program focused on the biomechanical and neuromuscular mechanisms underlying mobility decline, falls risk and rehabilitation outcomes. His work integrates motion analysis, biomedical imaging, wearable sensing, machine learning and computational modeling to improve mobility and independence across the lifespan. His election reflects both his longstanding commitment to the biomechanics community, and the confidence of his peers in his vision for the future of the field.

In his nomination statement, Franz outlined several of his priorities for ASB. They include strengthening mentorship and professional development across career stages, amplifying the contributions of ASB’s affinity groups and supporting a more connected and engaged network of regional chapters. Franz also aims to expand entrepreneurial training and industry engagement opportunities, creating scalable pathways for learning and collaboration around emerging technologies.

This post was originally published in Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering News.