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Suzanne Wendelken
Research Scientist
Suzanne Wendelken is an interdisciplinary research scientist at the Roux Institute on the engineering team. Dr. Wendelken completed her M.D. and Ph.D. The University of Utah. Her Ph.D. research focused on the “Dexterous Control of a Hand Prosthesis Using Neuromuscular Signals from Implanted or Surface Electrodes.” She developed innovative methods for coupling and decoding neuromuscular signals from implanted or surface electrodes to enable intuitive and dexterous control of robotic prosthetic hands and other assistive technologies. Her work involved the creation of a closed-loop prosthetic hand control system, exploration of methods for restoring tactile and proprioceptive sensation through neural stimulation, and investigation of techniques for phantom pain reduction.
Prior to joining The Roux Institute, Dr. Wendelken also served as a resident physician in anesthesiology at Maine Medical Center. Her clinical and engineering experiences have led to diverse research interests including utilizing AI/ML to enhance doctor-patient interaction, reduce the EHR charting burden, improving decoding algorithms for next-generation robotic prosthetics using AI/ML, developing innovative medical devices and sensors to advance patient care and clinical decision making, and optimization of biomanufacturing processes.
In addition to her biomedical engineering and medical career, Dr. Wendelken is an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoying skiing, biking, kayaking, hiking, swimming, and rafting. She is a Registered Maine Whitewater Guide, serves as a volunteer medical ski patroller at Black Mountain of Maine, and volunteers with Maine Adaptive outdoor activities of all kinds. She is also passionate about sharing her experiences and knowledge through community STEM outreach programs.