Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University, 2025
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 2017
Additional Education & Training
  • Sigma Xi Science Policy Bootcamp, 2024
  • Duke University School of Medicine Regulatory Affairs Training Program, 2024
  • Science Policy & Advocacy Certificate Program, 2023
Professional Honors
  • Society of Standards Professionals Student Scholarship, March 2024
  • Orthopaedic Research Society Spine Section Travel Grant Award, February 2024
Professional Affiliations
  • Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS)
  • International Women in Biomechanics (IWB)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Dr. Emma Coltoff is a bio-mechanical engineer, specializing both in orthopaedic biomechanics and quality attributes for product manufacturing. She has developed new methods of spinal biomechanical testing, requiring extensive experience in experimental methods on both cadaveric and surrogate models on both industrial robotic testing systems and traditional load frames. She also has years of experience in diagnosis and rectification of manufacturing deviations and support for resolving customer issues. Her prior experiences equip her with a deep understanding of additive manufacturing processes, computer aided design, and standards development, as well as data visualization strategies and scientific communication for audiences spanning children to federal legislators. Dr. Coltoff applies her expertise on a variety of mechanical and regulatory projects in the biomedical realm.

Dr. Coltoff's background spans both mechanical and biomedical engineering with a focus on human biomechanics and test methodology development. She has experience in experimental design and execution, design for manufacturing, robotics, and additive manufacturing (FDM and Carbon DLS 3D printing). Additionally, she has experience with image segmentation, computer aided design, communication for regulatory and policy settings, and is proficient in MATLAB, Python, and RStudio. Dr. Coltoff's specific research interests involve challenges that bridge biomechanics, technology, and experimental testing to uncover new dimensions of understanding of human movement. She maintains additional interests in human factors, assistive technology, and prosthetics.

Dr. Coltoff received a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the joint School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences at Wake Forest University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 2025. While investigating experimental biomechanical testing, Dr. Coltoff developed a novel methodology that combined an industrial robotic system with complex experimental loading to characterize multiplanar spine biomechanics. Prior to graduate school, she gained significant manufacturing and quality knowledge as a senior sustaining engineer in the electrical connector manufacturing industry. In that role, she led numerous investigations to investigate product field failures for clients, directed production changes to maintain product manufacturability and process improvement, and supported development of next-generation products.