Ryan Pollard

Ryan Pollard, ’23 mechanical engineering and kinesiology and exercise science, is a graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is from Huntsville, Alabama, and was the winner of the 2024 Graduate Engineering Research Showcase.  

Why Auburn? 

“As a first-year grad student, I have so much freedom in the lab. I get to pave my own path and work on projects that truly interest me — something I wouldn't have at another school. I also love my church here at Auburn and the sense of community I’ve found. It’s such an important part of my life.” 

Why Mechanical Engineering? 

“I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to be an engineer, especially with my dad being one. Growing up in Huntsville, like many other kids, I thought I’d work at NASA or on Redstone Arsenal. But when I came to Auburn and started an internship, I realized it wasn’t for me. I was stuck behind a desk all day, and it just didn’t fit my personality. I thrive on interaction and energy. What I love most is being able to help people regain independence, whether through robotics, teaching or other ways. It’s been incredible being a part of the lab, where I can do that.” 

Research Interests? 

“A lot of my passion lies in neurorehabilitation, specifically for people recovering from strokes or spinal cord injuries — such as quadriplegics and paraplegics. The goal is to help these individuals regain independence, and one way we’re working toward that is by controlling exoskeletons. Right now, we use a technique called EMG (electromyography), which measures muscle activation. When a muscle fires, we try to control the exoskeleton based on those muscle signals. It makes sense that if a human is trying to move, the exoskeleton should mimic that movement. But with populations that can’t fire their muscles, we have to find a different approach. That’s where my research is focused. My goal is to develop a way to control the exoskeleton directly from the brain using EEG (electroencephalogram). Essentially, when the user thinks about moving, the exoskeleton will respond.” 

Future goals? 

“I’ve always wanted to be a professor and teach. I never planned on staying for grad school, but I’ve found that I truly love teaching. I still work at the tutoring center on campus, and I get the chance to be a substitute lecturer for Associate Professor Dr. (Mark) Hoffman and a few other professors. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching students go from feeling completely confused to walking out with confidence.” 

To learn more about Pollard check out his interview on the award-winning #GINNing Podcast.