Cynthia Bir
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
313-577-3830 (Phone)
Faculty Status
Core faculty
Education
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 2000
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 1999
M.S. in Bioengineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1992
B.S. in Nursing, Nazareth College, Kalamazoo, MI, 1990
Research Interests
- Biomechanical Analysis of MTBI Associated with Football
- Evaluation of the Cumulative Concussive Effect of Heading in Youth Soccer
- The Biomechanics of Wakeboarding
- Evaluation of Acceleration Techniques for Measuring Head Impact Biomechanics
- Correlation Between Punch Dynamics and Risk of Injury: Biomedical Analysis of a Boxer's Punch
- Assessment of MTBI in Female Boxers
Publications
- Esquivel, A, Dawe, E, Sala-Mercado, J, Hammond, R, Bir, C,
The Physiologic Effects of the Stinger ® Conducted Electrical Weapon in Swine,
Annals of Emer Med, 2007 (doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.09.019) - Wilhelm, M, Bir, C,
Injuries to Law Enforcement Officers: The Backface Signature Injury,
Forensic Sci Int, 2007 - Pellman, E, Viano, D, Withnall, C, Shewchenko, N, Bir, C, Halstead, D,
Concussion in Professional Football: Helmet Testing to Assess Impact Performance--Part 11,
Neurosurgery, 58(1), 2006, 78-96 - Bir, C, Stewart, S, Wilhelm, M,
Skin Penetration Assessment of Less Lethal Kinetic Energy Munitions,
J of Forensic Science, 50(6), 2005, 1426-1429 - Viano, D, Casson, I, Pellman, E, Bir, C, Zhang, L, Sherman, D, Boitano, M,
Concussion in Professional Football: Comparison with Boxing Head Impacts--Part 10,
Neurosurgery, 57(6), 2005, 1154-1172 - Walilko, T, Viano, D, Bir, C,
Biomechanics of the Head for Olympic Boxer Punches to the Face,
Br J Sports Med, 39(10), 2005, 710-719 - Walilko, T, Bir, C, Godwin, W, King, A,
Relationship between Temporomandibular Joint Dynamics and Mouth Guards: Feasibility of a test methodology,
Dental Traumatol , 20(5), 2004, 255-260 - Bir, C, Viano, D,
Design and Injury Assessment Criteria for Blunt Ballistic Impacts,
J of Trauma, 57(6), 2004, 1218-1224 - Bir, C, Viano, D, King, A,
Development of Biomechanical Response Corridors of the Thorax to Blunt Ballistic Impacts,
J Biomech, 37(1), 2004, 73-79 - Viano, D, Bir, C, Walilko, T, Sherman, D,
Ballistic Impact of the Forehead, Zygoma, and Mandible: Comparison of Human and Frangible Dummy Face Biomechanics,
J of Trauma, 56(6), 2004, 1305 - 1311 - Janda, D, Bir, C, Cheney, A,
An Evaluation of the Cumulative Concussive Effect of Soccer Heading in the Youth Population,
Int J of Inj Control and Safety Prom, 9(1), 2002, 25-31 - Atkinson, P, Hariharan, P, Mari-Gowda, S, Telehowski, P, Martin, S, Van Hoof, J, Bir, C, Atkinson, T
An Under-hand Steering Wheel Grasp Produces Significant Injury Risk to the Upper Extremity During Airbag Deployment,
Annual Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med, 46, 2002, 45-62 - Janda, D, Bir, C, Kedroske, B,
A Comparison of Standard vs. Breakaway Bases: An Analysis of a Preventative Intervention for Softball and Baseball Foot and Ankle Injuries,
Foot Ankle Int, 22(10), 2001, 810-816 - Viano, D, Bir, C, Janda, D, Cheney, A,
Prevention of Commotio Cordis in Baseball: An Evaluation of Chest Protectors,
J of Trauma 49(12), 2000, 1023-1028 - Bir, C, Viano, D,
Biomechanical Predictor of Commotio Cordis in High-Speed Chest Impact,
J of Trauma 47(3), 1999, 468-473 - Armstrong, T, Bir, C, Foulke, J, Martin, B, Finsen, L, Sjogaard, G,
Muscle Response to Simulated Torque Reactions of Hand-held Power Tools,
Ergonomics 42(1), 1999, 146-159 - Janda, D, Bir, C, Viano, D, Cassatta, S,
Blunt Chest Impacts: Assessing the Relative Risk of Fatal Cardiac Injury from Various Baseballs,
J of Trauma 44(2), 1998, 298-303 - Werner, R, Armstrong, T, Bir, C, Aylard, M,
Intracarpal Canal Pressures: The Role of Finger, Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Position,
Clin Biomech, 12(1), 1997, 44-51 - Janda, D, Bir, C, Hensinger, R, Wild, B, Olsen, S,
Goal Post Injuries in Soccer - A Laboratory and Field Testing Analysis of a Preventative Intervention,
Am J of Sports Med, 23(3), 1995, 340-344 - Bir, C, Cassatta, S, Janda, D,
An Analysis and Comparison of Soccer Shin Guards,
Clin J of Sports Med, 5(2), 1995, 95-99 - Werner, R, Bir, C, Armstrong, T,
Reverse Phalen's Maneuver as an Aid in Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
Archives of Phys Medand Rehab, 75, 1994, 783-786
Awards and Honors
- Outstanding Junior Faculty, Academy of Scholars, Wayne State University, 2005
- Outstanding Faculty Service Award, College of Engineering, Wayne State University, 2003, 2005
- Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, 1999
- Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, 1997
- Aiming for Excellence in Nursing Award, Nazareth College, 1990
- Who's Who Among Collegiate Nursing Students, 1990
- Borgess Service League Scholar, 1989-90
Accomplishments
- October 11, 2012
Cynthia Bir, professor of biomedical engineering, was a featured speaker at Chicago Ideas Week 2012, a weeklong event that brings together artists, engineers, inventors and more to share their ideas and promote innovation. Bir, who currently serves as lead scientist for both Sport Science (ESPN) and Fight Science (National Geographic), was among six speakers in the "Sports: The Making of a Champion" talk on October 10. - May 3, 2012
Cynthia Bir, professor of biomedical engineering, will present at the 2012 World Science Festival, an annual celebration and exploration of science that takes place each spring in New York City. Bir will be one of four young scientists participating in the youth-oriented "Cool Jobs" program on June 2. Bir was chosen for her exciting work and expertise in sports science and biomedical engineering. She will also be participating in a segment featuring an athlete who holds a world record for basketball free throws.
In the News
- Cynthia Bir was quoted in a Crain's article titled "Tech-savvy market demands crash dummies with smarts, sensitivity." The article focuses on the efforts of Humanetics Innovative Solutions Inc. to develop new crash test dummy technologies. "We want to make sure whatever innovation is being put in a vehicle doesn't create new injuries," Bir said. "We're now getting down to where we have hit all the major injuries, and dummies are becoming more sophisticated in injuries that aren't life-threatening."
Read Article - Cynthia Bir was featured on WDET's Craig Fahle Show, discussing her involvement in Discovery Channel's Curiosity Plane Crash, which used a test crash of a Boeing 727 in the Sonoran desert to learn more about what actually happens to passengers when a plane goes down. Bir took charge of the crash test dummies, examining them immediately after the the plane hit the desert to get an idea of what injuries might have been sustained.
Read Article - Cynthia Bir impact expert, was featured by various news outlets, including an appearance on Good Morning America, for taking part in Discovery Channel's Curiosity Plane Crash, which used a test crash of a Boeing 727 in the Sonoran desert to learn more about what actually happens to passengers when a plane goes down. Bir took charge of the crash test dummies, examining them immediately after the the plane hit the desert to get an idea of what injuries might have been sustained. The Curiosity episode featuring Bir and the plane crash premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. on the Discovery Channel.
Read Article - Cynthia Bir impact expert, appeared on Good Morning America to discuss her role in a Discovery Channel project aimed at examining how one might increase their odds of survival in a plane crash. The Curiosity episode featuring Bir and the plane crash premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. on the Discovery Channel.
Read Article - Cynthia Bir was quoted by the ATV Network in the UK in an article titled "Channel 4 Takes Off to Crash Land Plane." The article discusses an upcoming documentary project in which Dr. Bir and other experts crash land a Boeing 727 passenger jet to discover what kind of impact a plane crash has on its passengers.
Read Article - Cynthia Bir was featured in a Detroit Free Press article in which she draws on her Sport Science experience to speculate whether or not Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson could outrun Olympian Usain Bolt.
Read Article