HONORS AND AWARDS

• Auburn University Student Senate Commendation of Auburn Faculty for Rapid Response to COVID-19 Solutions for “RE-INVENT” CPAP/Ventilator conversion device (2020)
• SGA Outstanding Faculty Member Award for the College of Engineering (2019)
• Fred H. Pumphrey Teaching Award (2019)
• Walker Teaching Award for Excellence – Merit (2019)
• Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award (2019)
• Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Faculty Member Award (2018)
• Stanford University Graduate Fellow

EXTERNAL GRANTS AWARDED

• Zabala (PI), “Advanced EXOJUMP to Reduce Occurrences of Parachute Injuries (AEROPI),” US Army, Phase I SBIR, $39K
• Zabala, ME (PI), Schall, M (Co-PI), Bevly, D (Co-PI), “Human Augmentation: Systematic Evaluation of Lower Extremity Motor Adaptations to Joint Actuation,” Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Soldier Center, $1.75M, 6/16/20-6/15/2023
• Zabala, ME (PI), “Advanced Development of Asset Protection Technologies (ADAPT Phase II),” US Army, $75K, 5/1/2020-8/31/2020
• Zabala, ME (PI), Sefton J (Co-I), et al., IS4S (Primary), “System for Prosthetic Alignment Utilizing Real-Time Kinematics (SPAURK),” USAMRMC, Phase I SBIR, $50K, 7/17/17-1/17/18
• Rose, C (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), et al. “Novel Non-Pharmacological Treatment Of Diabetic Neuropathy”, UAB-CCTS, $30K, 5/1/2022-4/30/2023
• Smith, B (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-I), et al. “G-RISE at Auburn University,” National Institutes of Health (NIH), $1.5M, 6/1/21-5/31/26
• Burch (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), “A Novel Clinical Tool for Neuropathic Grade Assessment,” Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, $30K, 7/1/2019-6/30/2021
• Gallagher (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), et al., Aptima, Inc. (Primary), “Cervical Readiness using Analytics and Non-invasive Education (CRANE),” Defense Health Agency, Phase I STTR, $42K, 10/15/18-4/15/18
• Burch, T (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), “A Novel Clinical Tool for Neuropathic Grade Assessment,” Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Research Eureka Accelerator Program (REAP), $32.5K, 7/1/18-6/30/19
• Roper, J (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-I), Sefton, J (Co-I), Crumbley, D (Co-I), Dearth, C (Site Co-I), Hendershot, B (Site I), Vazquez, A (Consultant), Shannon, D (I), “An Evidence-Based Approach to Optimizing Selection of Below-the-Knee Prosthetic Prescription,” US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), $270K, 9/30/18-9/29/20
• Schall, M (PI), Zabala ME (Co-PI), Bevly, D (Co-PI), Aptima, Inc. (Primary), “Sensor Technologies for Augmenting the Naturalistic Control of Exoskeletons,” USRDECOM RIF, $380K, 8/1/17-7/31/19
• Schall, M (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), “Effects of Age & Obesity on Physical Responses During One-Handed Carrying,” UAB-PPRT Trainee Award, $12K, 7/1/17-7/31/18

INTERNAL GRANTS AWARDED

• Shamsaei, N (PI), Zabala, ME (Co-PI), et al., “Additive Manufacturing of Durable, Next Generation Implants and Orthotics,” Presidential Award for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), $1.275M, 7/1/18-6/30/21
• Zabala, ME (PI), Denney T (Co-I), “Biomechanics, Biomarkers, and MRI: A three-pronged approach to predicting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture,” Auburn University Intramural Grants Program, $47K, 4/30/18-4/30/20