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Brian D. Stemper, PhD
Dr. Brian Stemper

Brian D. Stemper, PhD

Professor, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; Neurosurgery

Locations

  • Zablocki VA Medical Center
    Neuroscience Research Labs – Research 151
    5000 W. National Ave.
    Milwaukee, WI 53295

Education

PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 2004
BS, Biomedical Engineering, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, 1998

Biography

Brian D. Stemper, PhD, is a professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering and has a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery at the 91ɫƵ, where he serves as a Research Biomedical Engineer at the Zablocki VA Medical Center Laboratories. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University in May 2004. His areas of research include biomechanics of the head, neck, and spine with emphasis on the investigation of traumatic brain injury and spinal biomechanics using experimental, imaging, and computer modeling techniques.

Dr. Stemper has given over 70 invited lectures and briefings and published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering and in advisory roles for the Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium (RMBS), Inc., and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and is an active member of the Society for Neuroscience, the National Neurotrauma Society, the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and ASME.

He received the Best Paper by a Young Investigator Award at the 2004 International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impact (IRCOBI) Conference in Graz, Austria. He has also been active at national and international scientific conferences, serving as Program Chair for the 2009 RMBS Meeting in Milwaukee, WI, Program Committee Co-Chair (2006-08) for the Rachdian Society Annual Meeting in Kona, HI, and Track Coordinator for the 5th World Congress of Biomechanics in Munich, Germany.

He has also mentored numerous PhD and Master’s level engineering students from Marquette University and International Institutions, residents and fellows from the Department of Neurosurgery, 91ɫƵ, and undergraduate engineering students from local Institutions.

Dr. Stemper is currently the director of the Zablocki VA Medical Center Labs, which support neuroscience and biomechanics research conducted by Marquette University and the 91ɫƵ.

Learn more about ZVAMC Labs

Honors and Awards

1998 – 2000 – Teaching Assistant, College of Engineering, Marquette University
2000 – Alpha Eta Mu Beta, National Biomedical Engineering Honor Society
2000 – Best in Session Award, Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium
2004 – Best Paper by a Young Researcher, International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impact
2006 – 2008 – Listed, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering
2006 – Best MS Student Paper Award (3rd Place, D. Board), Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium
2007 – 2010 – Listed, Who’s Who in America
2008 – Listed, Who’s Who in the World
2008 – Best Paper, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 91ɫƵ, Resident Graduation Research Conference (S. Malik)
2009 – Best Student Paper, Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium (S. Storvik)
2010 – NASS Best Poster Presentation, North American Spine Society 25th Annual Meeting (J. Baisden)

Research Interests

Biomechanics of the head, neck, and spine with emphasis on the investigation of trauma using experimental, imaging, and computer modeling techniques.

Publication List

  • Muench JR, Sinson GP, Glaeser B, Shah AS, Rowson S, Duma S, Mihalik J, Brooks A, Cameron K, Giza C, Goldman J, McGinty G, Riggen L, Pasquina PF, Broglio SP, McAllister T, McCrea MA, Harezlak J, Stemper BD. Change in head impact exposure following return to play in concussed football athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (in press). DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003833.

  • Stemper BD, Muftuler LT, Cutlan R, Strother C, Sherman K, Meier T, Yoganandan N, Gerds B, Dooley C, Le P, Hainsworth K, Vedantam A. Abnormal pattern of spondylosis influences post-flight CROM in fifth generation fighter pilots. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (in press).

  • Raff H, Hainsworth KR, Cutlan R, Sherman KA, Stemper BD. Flight-associated cortisol dynamics and subjective assessments of pain and stress in fighter pilots. European Journal of Applied Physiology (in press). DOI: 10.1007/s00421-025-05837-8.

  • Seifert J, Maiman D, Frazer LL, Shah AS, Yoganandan N, King K, Sheehy JB, Paskoff G, Bentley T, Nicolella D, Stemper BD (2024). Mechanical characterization of non-degraded porcine annulus fibrosus material properties. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. DOI:10.1007/s10439-024-03629-3.

  • Cutlan R, Khokhar M, Shammout N, Shah AS, Frazer L, Yoganandan N, Shender BS, Sheehy J, Paskoff G, Nicolella D, Bentley T, Shabani S, Stemper BD (2024). Lumbar spine orientation affects compressive fracture outcome. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03604-y.

  • Rieger LK, Shah A, Schick S, Draper DB, Cutlan R, Peldschus S, Stemper B (2024). Subject-specific geometry of FE lumbar spine models for the replication of fracture locations using dynamic drop tests. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 52(4): 816-831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-023-03402-y.

  • Chiariello R, McCarthy C, Glaeser BL, Shah AS, Budde MD, Stemper BD, Olsen CM (2023). Chronicity of repeated blast traumatic brain injury associated increase in oxycodone seeking in rats. Behavioral Brain Research Feb 13;438:114181. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114181.

  • Stemper BD, Shah S, Chiariello R, McCarthy C, Jessen K, Sarka B, Seifert J, Wang K, Budde MD, Olsen CM, McCrea M (2022). A Preclinical Rodent Model for Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impact Exposure in Contact Sport Athletes. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 16:805124. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.805124.

  • McCrea MA, Shah A, Duma S, Rowson S, Harezlak J, McAllister TW, Broglio SP, Giza CC, Goldman J, Cameron KL, Houston MN, McGinty G, Jackson JC, Guskiewicz K, Mihalik J, Brooks MA, Pasquina P, Stemper BD (2021). Opportunities for Prevention of Concussion and Repetitive Head Impact Exposure in College Football Players: A Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium Study. JAMA Neurology 2021;78(3):346-350 doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.5193.

  • Stemper BD, Shah AS, Harezlak J, Rowson S, Mihalik JP, Duma SM, Riggen LD, Brooks A, Cameron KL, Campbell D, DiFiori JP, Giza CC, Guskiewicz KM, McGinty GT, Svoboda SJ, McAllister TW, Broglio SP, McCrea M, CARE Consortium Investigators (2019). Comparison of Head Impact Exposure Between Concussed Football Athletes and Matched Controls: Repetitive Head Impact Exposure as a Mechanism for Concussion. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 47(10): 2057-2072. doi: 10.1007/s10439-018-02136-6.