Emilie Potts

Emilie Potts

The Heads Up on Head Injuries

Concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, or lifestyle. In fact, it's estimated that 1 in 4 people will experience a concussion or TBI during their lifetime. While many of these injuries are considered mild, their impact can be serious and long-lasting for some individuals. This variability raises important questions about what factors influence the severity of a TBI and the path to recovery. To explore this complex issue, I use a multidisciplinary approach that includes physical testing (such as animal models and dummy head impacts) and computational simulations. Each method offers unique insights, helping to build a more complete picture of what happens to the brain during and after a concussion. Understanding TBIs isn't just a scientific challenge, it’s a crucial step toward protecting the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Emilie Potts
PhD candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering - Western University

Supervisor
Dr. Haojie Mao 

Emilie Potts (she/her) is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Western University, where she also earned her Master of Engineering (MEng) in 2020. Across both degrees, Emilie’s research has focused on head impact biomechanics. Her MEng work investigated the effects of aging on head trauma, while her doctoral research explores sex-based differences in head impact biomechanics, an area that remains significantly under-researched. Understanding the differences between sexes is critically important; currently, half of the population is being overlooked, despite clear evidence that males and females experience impacts differently. Emilie’s work aims to close these knowledge gaps and contribute to the development of more effective and inclusive approaches to traumatic brain injury prevention across diverse populations. Beyond her academic pursuits, Emilie has been actively involved in community engagement and science outreach, organizing Science Rendezvous at Western and having served as member and Co-Chair of the Program Committee for the past several years.

Emilie's research is highlighted in episode 535 of GradCast, the official podcast of the Society of Graduate Students at Western University.

You can connect with Emilie via her LinkedIn.

View Emilie's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection.