Davon Michael

Davon Michael

Biography

Davon Michael is a senior bioengineering student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. As a Dowdy Scholar and aspiring physician-scientist, he has built a foundation in biomedical research, clinical exposure, and student leadership. Through summer research at Brown University, he conducted cancer immunology research focused on therapeutic approaches for high-grade glioma. As an NC Space Grant Scholar, he studies how simulated microgravity affects Streptococcus mutans, contributing to research relevant to astronaut health. Beyond research, Davon has shadowed physicians across multiple specialties, volunteered in clinical settings, and served in leadership roles supporting premedical students. These experiences have strengthened his communication, adaptability, and commitment to service. At MSRP, he looks forward to contributing his research background, engineering training, and collaborative mindset to an interdisciplinary environment. Outside of academics, he enjoys weightlifting, chess, and hands-on engineering projects.

A Multimodal Sensor Framework for Human Movement Assessment
Davon Michael¹, Ganit Goldstein², Dr. Dava Newman^2
1Department of Chemical, Biological, and Bioengineering, NC A&T State University
²Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human movement assessment is important for monitoring physical function in environments such as spaceflight, where spacesuits can restrict mobility and alter natural movement patterns. However, conventional motion-capture systems can be expensive, stationary, and difficult to use outside laboratory settings. This project investigates whether portable sensing technologies can support a more accessible system for measuring lower-body movement and exercise technique. Relevant exercises, including squats, lunges, box step-ups, calf raises, and tibialis raises, were identified. Clinically meaningful joint and trunk angles were defined for measurement and validation. A protocol was conducted to capture movement data across these exercises, including joint-angle measurements, body orientation, linear acceleration, and other biomechanical variables. Testing demonstrated the feasibility of collecting complementary data across multiple movement patterns and established a methodology for future assessments of body-motion tracking. Future studies will investigate sensing technologies that can capture multiple aspects of movement, including embedded sensing within garments through smart textile methodologies. Combining wearable, pressure, and depth-based measurements may provide a more complete assessment of joint position, balance, and load distribution. This work establishes a framework for portable movement-monitoring systems that could enhance human performance within the next generation of spacesuits and improve mobility in extreme environments.