Thank you for your interest in the Orthopedic Biomaterials and Mechanics (OBM) Laboratory at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. We are always excited to connect with motivated students, researchers, clinicians, and collaborators who share our passion for advancing orthopedic science through engineering innovation.
Before reaching out, we encourage you to explore our website and learn about our research programs, facilities, and ongoing projects. When contacting us, please introduce yourself and describe how your interests, experience, or career goals align with one or more of our research areas, such as:
- Orthopedic Trauma & Fracture Fixation
- Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials & Mechanical Characterization
- Additive Manufacturing & Surgical Simulation
- Personalized Orthopedic Devices & Biomechanics
- Computational Modeling & Medical Device Design
The strongest applications clearly explain why the applicant is interested in joining the OBM Laboratory and how their background can contribute to our mission.
Who Can Apply?
Undergraduate Students
We welcome enthusiastic undergraduate students from engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and related disciplines who are interested in gaining hands-on research experience. Undergraduate researchers become active members of multidisciplinary projects and have opportunities to contribute to publications, conference presentations, and prototype development while working closely with graduate students and faculty.
High School Research Internship
The OBM Laboratory is committed to inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists through meaningful research experiences for highly motivated high school students.
Our high school internships are volunteer (unpaid) research positions designed to provide authentic exposure to biomedical engineering research, laboratory techniques, and scientific problem solving. Interns work alongside university researchers on real projects while developing technical, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers
Graduate student and postdoctoral opportunities are available based on research funding, project needs, and laboratory availability. Because funding varies throughout the year, we encourage prospective applicants to contact us even if no current position is advertised.
Applicants should include:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Brief statement of research interests
- Relevant experience
- Desired start date
- Why they are interested in joining the OBM Laboratory
We particularly welcome applicants with backgrounds in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, computational mechanics, manufacturing, biomechanics, tissue engineering, or related fields.
Collaborators
The OBM Laboratory actively collaborates with clinicians, surgeons, researchers, industry partners, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to accelerate the translation of engineering innovations into clinical solutions. We welcome opportunities to develop interdisciplinary research projects, educational initiatives, workforce development programs, and industry partnerships that advance musculoskeletal healthcare.
If you believe your interests and expertise align with the mission of the OBM Laboratory, we would be delighted to hear from you.