Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 1996
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 1986
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1985
Licenses & Certifications
  • CLASS Motorcycle School
  • Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course
  • Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Traffic Crash Reconstruction for Engineers
  • PADI Certified Open Water Scuba Diver
Professional Honors
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Excellence in Oral Presentation Award, 2008
  • SAE Arch T. Colwell Merit Award, 2006
  • National Institute of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Stanford Mechanical Engineering Departmental Fellowship
  • Graduated top of class, UA Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering Department
  • Continental Oil Company Scholarship
  • Fleischmann Scholarship
  • National Honor Society Scholarship
  • Tau Beta Pi, National Engineering Honor Society
  • Phi Kappa Phi, Academic Honor Society
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Automotive Engineers—SAE
  • Southwestern Association of Technical Accident Investigators—SATAI

Dr. Raasch specializes in the biomechanics of injury, vehicle occupant dynamics and kinematics, human injury tolerance and associated test criteria, occupant restraint systems, and accident reconstruction. Her work involves analysis of traumatic injuries associated with motor vehicle and other accidents, computer simulation of occupant motions using ATB, DYNAMAN, and MADYMO, and analysis of vehicle restraint system performance. 

Dr. Raasch has conducted test projects including full-scale vehicle crash and sled testing, motorcycle testing, component testing, and specialized biomechanical studies such as helmet impact testing.

Dr. Raasch also oversees Exponent's anthropomorphic test dummy (ATD) laboratory, and provides analysis of ATD biofidelity issues and project-specific modification of ATDs. She has developed ATD calibration fixtures and procedures, and managed the design and integration of Exponent's own Hybrid III-based motorcycle ATD, which includes an onboard data collection system and instrumented leg. Her research has focused on analysis of locomotion and reaching movements, and impaired control of movement after head injury or stroke. Her investigations have included the creation of complex computer models of muscle and skeletal dynamics, use of optimization techniques, and experiments using motion analysis and electromyography.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Raasch was a Research Associate and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University, a Biomedical Engineer and Research Assistant at Rehabilitation Research & Development Center of Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System and Stanford University, and a Satellite Systems Engineer at TRW Space & Technology Group.