Post-Doctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
Ph.D. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University (2016)
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (2007)
Email: m.trkov@utah.edu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mitja-trkov-9482a438
Lab: MEB 2215
Lifting Coach
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSC) and low-back pain are a major cost and burden to society. Despite decades of research on this topic, our understanding of the exposure-response relationship is still incomplete. Some of the reasons and challenges are due to difficulties in obtaining high resolution and complete exposure information, jobs being composed of complex tasks, and the nature of studies being often cross-sectional with only few longitudinal studies, where the exposures were estimated from the representative cycles.
To address these challenges, we are developing a technology that will advance the exposure monitoring of the workers performing manual material handling tasks. We plan to advance the traditional pen and pencil-based evaluation methods using continuous exposure measurements to extract critical injury risk parameters.
The goal of this project is to advance personal exposure measurements of workers using wearable, unobtrusive sensor (i.e., smart insoles and inertial measurement units). We are developing the technology that combines low-cost sensors and smart algorithms (i.e., machine learning and analytical methods) to estimate injury risk and provide feedback to the workers. Some of our preliminary work on this project has been recently published at the IEA 2018 conference and NORA 2018 symposium.
Research Interests: His research interests include biomechanics, mechatronics, robotics, and ergonomics
Personal Interests: He enjoys spending his spare time outdoors with his family, doing sports, and traveling