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.”