Krithika Swaminathan

Education

• B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017
• M.S. Harvard University, 2020
• Ph.D. Harvard University, 2024

Positions

• Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Courses Taught

• ME 591: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science
• ME 344L: Control of Dynamic Systems
• ECE 382L: Control of Dynamic Systems

Publications

• Seagers K, Swaminathan K, Kolesar J, Hamner S, Muccini J, Hicks J, et al. Quantifying Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Resilience: A Screening and Composite Score Framework. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. 2026 May;14(5):23259671261433010.
• McCann C, Swaminathan K, Walsh CJ. Soft wearable robots. In: Wearable Exoskeleton Systems Design Control and Applications. 2026. p. 105u201331.
• Kim D, Jin Y, Cho H, Jones T, Zhou YM, Fadaie A, et al. Learning-based 3D human kinematics estimation using behavioral constraints from activity classification. Nature communications. 2025 Apr;16(1):3454.
• Swaminathan K, Choe DK, Kim D, Barde F, Baker TC, Wendel NC, et al. Multi-Modal Sensing for Propulsion Estimation in People Post-Stroke Across Speeds. IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineeringu202f: a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 2025 Jan;33:2273u201385.
• Baker LM, Weigend FC, Swaminathan K, Kim D, Chin A, Lieberman DE, et al. Estimating braking and propulsion forces during overground running in and out of the lab. PloS one. 2025 Jan;20(9):e0330042.
• Jin Y, Alvarez JT, Suitor EL, Swaminathan K, Chin A, Civici US, et al. Estimation of joint torque in dynamic activities using wearable A-mode ultrasound. Nature communications. 2024 Jul;15(1):5756.
• Swaminathan K, Lee C, Schmitz DG, Baker T, Chin A, Wendel N, et al. Propulsion Modulation Methods in People Post-Stroke during Resistive Ankle Exosuit Use. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Ras and EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics. 2024. p. 15u201322.
• Bergamo G, Swaminathan K, Kim D, Chin A, Siviy C, Novillo I, et al. Individualized Learning-Based Ground Reaction Force Estimation in People Post-Stroke Using Pressure Insoles. In: IEEE . International Conference on Rehabilitation Roboticsu202f: [proceedings]. 2023. p. 1u20136.
• Yip M, Salcudean S, Goldberg K, Althoefer K, Menciassi A, Opfermann JD, et al. Artificial intelligence meets medical robotics. Science (New York, NY). 2023 Jul;381(6654):141u20136.
• Swaminathan K, Porciuncula F, Park S, Kannan H, Erard J, Wendel N, et al. Ankle-targeted exosuit resistance increases paretic propulsion in people post-stroke. Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation. 2023 Jun;20(1):85.
• Siviy C, Baker LM, Quinlivan BT, Porciuncula F, Swaminathan K, Awad LN, et al. Opportunities and challenges in the development of exoskeletons for locomotor assistance. Nature biomedical engineering. 2023 Apr;7(4):456u201372.
• Swaminathan K, Tolkova I, Baker L, Arumukhom Revi D, Awad LN, Walsh CJ, et al. A continuous statistical-geometric framework for normative and impaired gaits. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface. 2022 Nov;19(196):20220402.
• Schmitz DG, Nuckols RW, Lee S, Akbas T, Swaminathan K, Walsh CJ, et al. Modulation of Achilles tendon force with load carriage and exosuit assistance. Science robotics. 2022 Oct;7(71):eabq1514.
• Nuckols RW, Lee S, Swaminathan K, Walsh CJ, Howe RD, Sawicki GS. Ultrasound Imaging of Plantarflexor Muscles During Robotic Ankle Assisted Walking: Effects on Muscle Tendon Dynamics and Application Towards Improved Exoskeleton and Exosuit Control. In: Biosystems and Biorobotics. 2022. p. 419u201323.
• Swaminathan K, Park S, Raza F, Porciuncula F, Lee S, Nuckols RW, et al. Ankle resistance with a unilateral soft exosuit increases plantarflexor effort during pushoff in unimpaired individuals. Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation. 2021 Dec;18(1):182.
• Nuckols RW, Lee S, Swaminathan K, Orzel D, Howe RD, Walsh CJ. Individualization of exosuit assistance based on measured muscle dynamics during versatile walking. Science robotics. 2021 Nov;6(60):eabj1362.
• Nuckols RW, Swaminathan K, Lee S, Awad L, Walsh CJ, Howe RD. Automated detection of soleus concentric contraction in variable gait conditions for improved exosuit control. In: Proceedings IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. 2020. p. 4855u201362.
• Swaminathan K, Lee S, Nuckols RW, Revi DA, Singh P, Howe RD, et al. Biomechanics underlying subject-dependent variability in motor adaptation to soft exosuit assistance. In: Biosystems and Biorobotics. 2019. p. 175u20139.
• Swaminathan K, Klerman EB, Phillips AJK. Are Individual Differences in Sleep and Circadian Timing Amplified by Use of Artificial Light Sources? Journal of biological rhythms. 2017 Apr;32(2):165u201376.
• Susko T, Swaminathan K, Krebs HI. MIT-Skywalker: A Novel Gait Neurorehabilitation Robot for Stroke and Cerebral Palsy. IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineeringu202f: a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 2016 Oct;24(10):1089u201399.
• Swaminathan K, Krebs HI. Analysis of the anklebot training as a method for reducing lower-limb paretic impairment a case study in electromyography. In: IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics. 2015. p. 555u20138.