Investigator Spotlight
Nicole Urban, PhD
“Accessible Neurologic Therapy and Assistive Devices Incorporating Smart Textiles”
Dr. Nicole Urban, Associate Professor at Johnson and Wales University, “strives to bring science to life in the classroom.” She utilized her RI-INBRE 
funding (Pilot Proposal Development ’22-23) for the project “Accessible Neurologic Therapy and Assistive Devices Incorporating Smart Textiles” and developed inexpensive, portable, and game-based devices that will provide customized neurologic therapy and assistive communication.
At Johnson and Wales University, Dr. Urban works with students and faculty from the Biology department and the College of Engineering and Design to design and develop medical devices.
In April of 2022, her research team presented the device prototypes at the
Johnson and Wales University College of Arts and Sciences
Student Research and Scholarship Showcase, where students celebrate academic achievements and share ideas.
Koryn Russell, Johanna Wunder, Abigail Medeiros, Dr. Nicole Urban, Samantha Candela, and Jacob Martin.
Dr. Urban delivered an Oral Platform Presentation (October 15, 2022) at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, entitled “Smart Textile Array Devices for Assistive and Augmented Communication.” Faculty co-authors were Jeffrey Tagen and Adam Z. Hartman, with student co-authors, Koryn Russell, Samantha Candela, Johanna Wunder, and Michael Dattolo (College of Arts and Sciences: Hartman, Russell, Candela) (College of Engineering and Design: Tagen, Wunder, Dattolo).
Urban’s research group presented their research poster (October 13, 2022) “Accessible, Game-based, Touch-sensing Devices for Rotator Cuff and Fine Motor Assessment and Therapy” in the Device Technologies and Biomedical Robotics Wearable Sensors and Devises Track. Faculty co-authors were Adam Hartman and Jeffrey Tagen, and student co-authors were Koryn Russell, Abigail Medeiros, Jacob Martin, and Michael Dattolo (College of Arts and Sciences: Medeiros, Martin).
Urban received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School for her work in cardiovascular physiology and cell signaling. Her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (University of Alabama at Birmingham) included work on the design of a novel component for a knee arthroplasty system. While earning her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (Tulane University) her undergraduate research focused on orthopaedic surgical techniques.