Ruth Ochia

Ruth Ochia

  • College of Engineering

    Bioengineering

    Professor of Instruction

Office Location

Engineering 813

Phone

215-204-3038

Biography

Dr. Ruth Ochia is a Professor of Instruction in Bioengineering at Temple University. Dr. Ochia’s area of expertise involves the biomechanics of human injury, with special emphasis on the areas of spine trauma and degeneration, and occupant kinematics in automobile collisions. Dr. Ochia has also performed research in degenerative disc disease and low back pain. She has extensive experience in bioengineering, primarily focusing on spine-related injuries and degeneration. Her skills include in vitro biomechanical testing in human and animal specimens, in vivo imaging, and analysis in humans and project management of large-scale government research grants.

Her current interests are in engineering education and curricular assessment with specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering design teams, as well as, student engagement and motivation at the undergraduate level. This new research area has resulted in several publications, grant funding, and invited conference talks.

Research Interests

  • Undergraduate Engineering Education
  • Biomechanics
  • Spine Trauma
  • Low Back Pain and Spine-Related Injury

Courses Taught

Number

Name

Level

BIOE 0844

The Bionic Human

Undergraduate

BIOE 2312

Mechanics for Bioengineering I

Undergraduate

BIOE 3312

Mechanics for Bioengineering II

Undergraduate

BIOE 4101

Biomechanics Lab

Undergraduate

Selected Publications

Featured

  • Ochia, R. (2021). A Hybrid Teaching Method for Undergraduate Biomechanics Lab. Biomed Eng Educ, 1(1), pp. 187-193. Switzerland. doi: 10.1007/s43683-020-00033-w

  • Alliston, T., Foucher, K.C., Frederick, B., Hernandez, C.J., Iatridis, J.C., Kozloff, K.M., Lewis, K.J., Liu, X.S., Mercer, D.M., Ochia, R., Queen, R.M., Rimnac, C.M., Meulen, M.C.H.v.d., & Westendorf, J.J. (2020). The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in orthopedic research. J Orthop Res, 38(8), pp. 1661-1665. United States. doi: 10.1002/jor.24685

Recent

  • Phelan, M.A., Guha, A., Harrison, B.K., Moukarzel, G., Tetteh, A.A., Har-El, Y.E., & Ochia, R. (2020). WIP: Design thinking concepts in undergraduate engineering capstone projects. ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, 2020-June.

  • Phelan, M., Guha, A., Harrison, B., Moukarzel, G., Tetteh, A., Har-el, Y., & Ochia, R. (2020). Design-thinking Concepts in Undergraduate Engineering Capstone Projects. doi: 10.18260/1-2--34399