Tamara Reid Bush

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Adjunct, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Director of the Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory

If you would like to donate to suport Dr. Bush's Lab please click here https://givingto.msu.edu/gift/?SMID=A306281 

Teaching

• Statics: ME221
• Strength of Materials: ME222
• Dynamics: ME361
• Thermodynamics: ME201
• Engineering Math: ME391
• Biomechanical Design in Product Development: ME497
• Continuum Mechanics: ME820
• Biomechanics

Research Interests

• Seating Mechanics
• Soft Tissue Mechanics
• Hand Function
• Pressure Ulcer Formation
• Medical Device Development
• Sports Biomechanics
• Aging and Disabilities

Awards and Service

• Awarded Fellow Grade of the American Society of Biomechanics August 2025. T
• Innovation of the Year Award – 2025 – awarded to one group a year based on technology that is a breakthrough or disruptive invention. Awarded for the Sit Sense Recliner. 
• Football Helmet Noise Inserts that showcases Undergraduate Research and work between Athletics and Engineering– story wins award for feature from the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America (2025)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Savio L-Y Woo Medal winner - 2023:  This award recognizes individuals who have translated meritorious bioengineering science to clinical practice through device development or new approaches of disease treatment. It is one of only six medals awarded by the ASME Bioengineering Division. T
• ASME Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Diversity Award, 2021 (with Michele Grim, Rita Patterson, Jennifer Wayne) for creation and fostering of a Women’s Networking Group in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
• AIMBE Fellow, 2021. Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), is granted to the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers in the country recognized for their contributions in teaching, research, and innovation. 
• Named as Spartan Woman Trailblazer -One of 10 women honored for Advancing discovery. Leading innovation. Creating opportunities for others and overall excellence.  Michigan State University. 2021
• Keynote Speaker for Midwest American Society of Biomechanics in Cleveland, OH, September 2021 
• American Society of Biomechanics, Founders’ Awardee 2020. This award recognizes scientific accomplishment in biomechanics. In addition, to be eligible for the Founders’ award, individuals must also demonstrate excellence in mentoring. 
• BIG10 Television Network – One of three MSU researchers selected by the Big10 Network. A commercial was created and played on national television regarding my research on design of devices for persons with disabilities, January 2020
• Spartan Sports Network, Detroit News, WKAR Television and MSU Today – several media (radio, newspaper and television) featured my work on the development of a hand brace for one of MSU’s basketball players, March 2019. CBS also mentioned it during the March Madness tournament.
• ASME Chair of the Design, Dynamics and Rehabilitation Technical Committee 2016-2019
• American Society of Biomechanics, Elected to the Executive Board, Treasurer, 2015-2019
• Withrow Teaching Award (two-time winner), 2018-2019, 2013-2014. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University. This award is for outstanding teaching within your department and requires nomination by the students and confirmation by a committee of student leaders.
• 2018 Associate Editor, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
• 2017 World Congress on Biomechanics Track Chair for Sports, Injury and Rehabilitation
• 2016 Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (only 156 women are ASME Fellows out of the 120,000 ASME members)
• 2016 Chair, Design, Dynamics and Rehabilitation Technical Committee, ASME
• 2016 American Society of Biomechanics Executive Board, Treasurer
• 2015 Chair Undergraduate Design Compeition at the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering and Biotransport Conference, Competition funded by NSF
• 2015  one of seven design teams selected from a national pool to be featured in the Smithsonian Magazine
• 2014 Withrow Teaching Excellence Award
• Selected for and attended the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education Program, 2013
• Chair, 2014 ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Undergraduate Design Competition, hosted at the World Congress of Biomechanics
• ASME  Vice Chair of  Design, Dynamics and Rehabilitation Technical Committee
• ASME  Theme Leader for the Rehabilitation Group 2010-2013
• American Society of Biomechanics Member and Session Organizer