Observing his father’s work in physical therapy research and cognition tests, Evan Tulsky’s ’24 interest in robotics and rehabilitation took shape at a young age. He recognized the crucial role that rehabilitation devices play in transforming people’s lives, motivating him to pursue research in this field while attending Syracuse University. This path would lead him to the Bionics, Systems and Controls (BSC) Lab, an interdisciplinary research space centered around robotics and rehabilitation.  

“I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of control systems, dynamics and rehabilitative devices,” says the mechanical engineering graduate student. “I was raised around research, and this was the best place for it. This is a really cool lab.”  

Led by Victor Duenas, assistant professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering, the BSC Lab focuses on individuals who have had strokes or other neurological conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Tulsky joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant and is now pursuing his Ph.D., where he’s been building devices that support hip, foot and ankle movements. 

Because the muscles and joints in the lower body work together, problems in one area can impact the others during movement. A robotic ankle-foot device and hip exoskeleton could help individuals with hip and knee issues since ankle pain can put stress on the hip and knee.  

“If you’re working on an ankle and hip device, you’re working on the entire leg—they’re interconnected,” says Tulsky. “The goal is to develop devices that support all three joints and different movements.”  

The lower limb exoskeleton—a wearable device that helps with walking, standing and other lower limb bodily functions—is the latest project in development in the BSC Lab, which Tulsky has been assisting with. This exoskeleton will give individuals with spinal cord injuries or strokes balance and flexibility, allowing them to rotate their legs naturally around their pelvis and hip area.  

“Most exoskeletons don’t focus on foot placement and balance,” Tulsky explains. “People with spinal cord injuries can’t land on their foot well. With this device, we’re trying to make motions as natural as possible and help people regain their confidence.” 

Tulsky’s graduate studies build upon his research in muscle activity, particularly electromyography (EMG). EMG measures the electrical activity of muscles and nerves and is a great way to assess the health of nerves and muscles that allow movement and other bodily functions. He would present a research paper on EMG and muscle activity in the ankle and foot at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Conference on Controls, Technology and Applications. The conference took place in England in 2024.  

The BSC Lab conducts research in collaboration with the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center since the University has a well-established history with the veteran population. Tulsky has been honored as the Richard A. Bernard Scholar for his efforts in assisting the disabled population and received recognition for the best thesis in engineering.

“My journey is driven by a deep-seated passion to leverage technology for enhancing human health and quality of life. I aspire to continue contributing to innovations that advance the field of rehabilitative robotics and empower individuals facing physical limitations.”