Francis Sowande Defends Dissertation on Physics- and Data-Informed Modeling of Infant Postural Control

Francis Sowande has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, “Predicting Infant Center of Pressure with Physics- and Data-Informed Modeling,” under the supervision of Michelle Johnson, Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His research combines robotics, biomechanics and data-driven modeling to improve the assessment of infant motor development, with the long-term goal of making early screening tools more accessible for children and families.

Early identification of developmental delays can have a profound impact on a child’s long-term health, but existing assessment methods often rely on subjective observation or specialized clinical expertise. In his dissertation, Sowande developed physics- and data-informed models that predict an infant’s center of pressure, a key measure of postural stability, using biomechanical principles and robotic systems. His work advances quantitative approaches for evaluating infant movement and lays the foundation for more accessible technologies that support earlier detection of neuromotor impairments.

Reflecting on his time at Penn, Sowande describes his Ph.D. as both professionally and personally transformative.

“My Ph.D. journey has been very fruitful and rewarding,” he says. “I’ve really enjoyed the experience of pursuing research and growing more competent in my field. It was a challenging experience, but I learned so much about myself throughout the process, and I’m incredibly happy I successfully finished.”

After graduation, Sowande hopes to continue working at the intersection of engineering and healthcare, focusing on research and development that improves accessibility.

For students considering a Ph.D. in MEAM, his advice is simple: don’t lose sight of why you chose research in the first place.

“Don’t forget to enjoy your work,” Sowande says. “There will always be pressure and another deadline, but remember that you’re pursuing research because you enjoy asking and answering questions.”

Sowande extends his gratitude to the many people who supported him throughout his doctoral journey. He especially thanks Michelle Johnson for her mentorship, along with his lab mates, cohort members, family and friends.

By combining mechanical engineering, robotics and biomechanics, Sowande’s research demonstrates how engineering can help create more objective, accessible tools for assessing infant motor development, bringing innovative technologies closer to the patients and clinicians who need them most.