Kelsey Stamm ’26 (Exercise Science, Neuroscience)
Zy’Aire Parker ’26 (Mechanical Engineering)
Keeping Athletes in the Game As a defender on the UIndy women’s soccer team, Zy’Aire Parker ’26 (Mechanical Engineering) has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that injuries like ACL tears can have on athletes. Beyond the physical damage, the recovery process can cause anxiety and uncertainty and, in some cases, end an athlete’s career. Drawing on her interest in biomechanics, Parker hopes to use her Honors project to help prevent these injuries before they happen. Her Honors research uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify risk factors for ACL injuries in real time to help athletes make quick adjustments and stay healthy. “If technology can give athletes real-time insights about how they move and when they might be putting themselves at higher risk, it could save them from one of the toughest setbacks in sports. For me, combining my athletic background with research in this area is a way to turn personal experience into something that could have a positive impact for others.”
Improving Decision-Making for First Responders
Fascinated by the connection between the mind and body, Kelsey Stamm ’26 (Exercise Science, Neuroscience) developed her Honors project under the guidance of Dr. Trent Cayot to study how physical fatigue impacts response time and decision-making in first responders. The project bridges neuroscience and physiology to better understand performance under pressure and help improve training for first responders and other professionals in high-stress, high-stakes environments. “I hope my research can impact the lives of individuals—from professional athletes to first responders and even everyday people. This study will not only help prevent declines in decision-making but also promote further research on how to cope with fatigue after it occurs.”
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MAGAZINE // WINTER 2025
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