Miss Gemma Ann Ranson

I am a PhD student within Berthaume AnthroEngineering (BAE) labs encompassed in the Mechanical Engineering and Design department. I’ve been at LSBU since 2016 starting as a Meng undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. I started my PhD in September 2020. Alongside my PhD I am also a teaching assistant for the solid mechanics and materials module for first year mechanical engineering students.

My research focuses on prosthetics and specifically the development of culturally relevant prostheses in low-to-middle income countries with a case study of Sri Lanka. My passion is for helping people, and by pursuing this line of research, I feel I can make a real difference to people’s lives.
I am currently completing three lines of research. Firstly, determining the ‘cost of war’ specifically for amputees across multiple countries who have experienced severe conflict. Secondly, analysing both worn and unworn prosthetic feet manufactured in Sri Lanka to determine the wear and structural integrity of the feet. Finally, a prosthetic foot will then be ethnographically designed to meet the needs of the Sri Lankan amputees whilst prolonging the life of the foot.
It is my hope that the research I am currently conducting can one day be implemented into the real world to have a tangible positive effect.