Hannah Dailey ’02 ’06G ’09 PhD, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, has been named a 2024 recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) by the Biden administration. The award recognizes exceptional professionals in the fields of science and engineering and is the highest such honor given by the U.S. government.
Dailey is one of nearly 400 recipients, all of whom are employed or funded by one of 14 participating agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. Of the 111 awardees nominated by NSF, 31 were from the Engineering Directorate.
Dailey was nominated for her work developing a virtual mechanical test that can identify nonunions—a failure of broken bones to properly heal—early in the healing process. Nonunions occur in about 10 percent of shinbone fractures, and patients with such a diagnosis face higher rates of depression, opioid use, and addiction. Earlier detection would allow for earlier surgical intervention. Dailey received the NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award for her research in 2020.
“Professor Dailey’s groundbreaking contributions at the intersection of mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, computational science, and human health are an inspiration to students and faculty,” says Steve DeWeerth, professor and dean of the Rossin College. “The PECASE award underscores the exceptional caliber of her work and the interdisciplinary research and innovation taking place at Lehigh.”
For Dailey, the PECASE award is a highlight of a journey in engineering that began even before her time as a Lehigh undergrad, took her to Ireland as a postdoc, and led her back to the Rossin College, where she now leads the Dailey Ortho Lab.
Her research group emphasizes imaging-driven engineering approaches to clinical problems in orthopaedics and currently collaborates with surgeon-investigators in hospitals worldwide. Dailey has publications in Journal of Biomechanics, Clinical Biomechanics, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Injury, and JBJS. She also serves as co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of OrthoXel, DAC, an orthopaedic device company that grew out of technology developed while she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Cork Institute of Technology from 2009 to 2012. Dailey earned her PhD, MS, and BS in mechanical engineering from Lehigh.
“I’m very grateful to NSF for having supported my research, and to Lehigh for enabling me to pursue this vision,” she says. “The faith and support of my department and the college of engineering make this work possible. It’s an honor to receive this award and know that my research is considered impactful and a valuable contribution to the community.”
Established in 1996, the PECASE acknowledges the contributions scientists and engineers have made to the advancement of science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM) education and to community service as demonstrated through scientific leadership, public education, and community outreach.
Dailey joins Shalinee Kishore, Iacocca Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and John N. DuPont, R.D. Stout Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering as current Rossin College faculty members who have received the PECASE. John P. Coulter, a professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, received the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow Award (precursor to the PECASE).
