Lab Personnel

Dr. Erin Mannen is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering Department at Boise State, and Director of the new Boise Applied Biomechanics of Infants (BABI) Lab. She earned her B.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Kansas, worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Denver, and began her faculty career at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences before moving to Boise in the Summer of 2020. Dr. Mannen’s lab explores how babies move and use their muscles in common baby gear and orthopaedic devices, and what that movement means for safety and musculoskeletal development. Her favorite thing about the lab is the people – friendly, helpful, hard-working, and hilarious. In her free time, Erin enjoys all the outdoors adventures Idaho has to offer with her husband and two little kids.

Chris Wilson is the Lab Manager for the Boise Applied Biomechanics of Infants (BABI) Lab. He earned his B.S. in Kinesiology at Arizona State University, his M.S. from The University of Texas at Austin and worked as a Graduate and Research Assistant at the University of Utah for six years. He enjoys the collaboration and team atmosphere among everyone in the BABI lab. When Chris isn’t in the lab, he can usually be found spending time with his wife and two kids, enjoying the mountains of Idaho, or watching his longhorns play pretty much any sport.

Danielle Siegel graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics. She is currently working towards getting her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Boise State as a Graduate Research Assistant in the BABI Lab. She enjoys working with the babies that come into the lab and learning more about their motor functions. Her primary focus of study is how babies achieve motor milestones, and what that means for safety in commercial baby gear. In her free time, Danielle enjoys teaching dance at a local studio and being a part of F.U.S.E. Dance Collaboration. Danielle is excited to be a part of the new BABI lab research team here at Boise State. 

Sarah Goldrod graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. She joined the BABI Lab team in the Fall of 2020 and enjoys working with this team because they are supportive and willing to share knowledge about their research and other life experiences. Sarah enjoys learning about the safety of commercial infant gear and how the interactions between infants and gear influences musculoskeletal development. Outside of the lab, Sarah loves trying new food and anything outdoors.

Abby Brittain graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees.  Her previous research experience is in sport biomechanics, and she is currently exploring a new side of biomechanics in the BABI lab while pursuing her PhD at Boise State. She loves working with infants and children of all ages and enjoys exploring musculoskeletal injury and disorder prevention at early stages of childhood development. Abby can be found outside of the lab doing any and every type of physical activity including CrossFit, hiking, biking, and playing a variety of sports.

Samantha Licciardi graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Currently, she is about to begin her second year of medical school at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. She recently joined the BABI Lab in June of 2022 and is extremely excited to learn from and work with her colleagues. She is contributing to the investigation of the biomechanics of how babies roll. Outside of the lab she enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Junior. 

Priyanka Vayalal is a Texas native who graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She will begin her second year as a medical student at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in August of 2022. She joined the BABI Lab in June of 2022 and is extremely excited to work with her colleagues to investigate the biomechanics of how babies roll. In her free time, Priyanka can be found in the gym or spending time with her friends.

Holly Olvera graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering. She is currently working towards getting her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Boise State as a Graduate Research Assistant in the BABI Lab. Outside of the lab, Holly enjoys all things outdoors from hiking, kayaking, or road tripping across the states.

Phoebe Cain is a sophomore at Boise State University, pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a certificate in Biomedical Engineering. She is originally from Wenatchee, Washington where she was born and raised. Phoebe is working on a Spinal Tethering project in the BABI Lab to improve current treatments of scoliosis. She has loved getting involved with hands-on research for the first time. Outside of academics and the lab, Phoebe enjoys various outdoor activities, reading, and traveling.

Ian Brink is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In the Lab, he is working on a spinal tethering test device and is excited to be working and learning with the BABI lab team. In his free time, Ian can be found outside riding his bike, skiing, and hiking in the Boise foothills.

Safeer is a Research Scientist in the BABI Lab. He is from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and over the last 12 years, has lived in Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, and of course Idaho. At the BABI Lab, Safeer is exploring the biomechanics of how babies move and use their muscles during motor tasks, and what infant surrogate breathing models can tell us about carbon dioxide rebreathing in different commercial infant products. Safeer’s favorite aspects of the BABI Lab are the friendship he feels with every member of the lab, and the ease and transparency with which everyone in the lab communicates with each other on all matters professional, personal, or otherwise. Outside of work, you can find Safeer on road trips with his wife Ridi, making all kinds of music, and hiking the beautiful trails in and around the Boise metro area.

Wyatt Davis graduated from the University of Texas – Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Business Foundations. He is now working towards his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Boise State University while being a Graduate Research Assistant in the BABI Lab. Wyatt enjoys working on a variety of projects covering several areas of research in the BABI Lab. He is currently studying infant movement and respiration in commercial baby gear.  When not in the lab, Wyatt enjoys mountain biking and hiking in the foothills around Boise.