Allen Yu

PhD EIT

Engineering Associate

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allen.yu@meaforensic.com
949.273.5107
949.273.5107
Los Angeles
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Dr. Allen Yu is an Engineering Associate in our California office. He investigates events including automobile collisions, industrial accidents, slips trips and falls, and sports injuries. By comparing the forces applied to the body during an incident to the mechanics of a diagnosed injury, he assesses injury causation. “My goal is to find the unbiased, science-based conclusions that our clients expect, and to communicate these conclusions in a way that ensures a clear understanding.”

Allen holds a Bachelor of Science and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. There, he focused on brain injury, and conducted research on a wide range of neurotrauma disciplines, including military biomechanics, sport-related concussions, aging and neurodegeneration, vehicle safety, and protective equipment. He wrote his PhD dissertation on blast-induced neurotrauma and cavitation, the formation of vapor-filled cavities, in cerebrospinal fluid. By helping to determine how brain injury occurs due to traumatic forces, and to identify precise damage mechanisms, Allen hopes that his research will contribute to injury prevention strategies.

The freedom given to MEA Forensic’s staff to investigate science questions is what lead Allen to join MEA’s team in 2020.  “Research is a high priority here,” he explains. “This is extremely valuable to me as a scientist, as I think it is for our clients. Conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed journals forces us to stay critical of our work and the work of others, and to be up-to-date on the latest advancements. This gives us a clear advantage over other forensic firms.”

expertise

  1. Injury Biomechanics

education

  1. Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical / Medical Engineering, Duke University, 2019.
  2. Bachelor of Science, Biomedical / Medical Engineering, Duke University, 2010.

professional status

  1. Engineer in Training, State of California, June 2021, License #174011.

professional associations

  1. National Neurotrauma Society, since 2013.
  2. Biomedical Engineering Society, since 2012.
researchgate

Scholarly Activities

  1. Reviewer, Spine, September 2019 to present.
  2. Reviewer, Frontiers, August 2020 to present.

Professional Experience

  1. MEA Forensic engineers & Scientists
    Engineering Associate, January 2020 to present

    Conducts accident reconstruction and biomechanical analyses of a variety of events including automobile collisions, industrial accidents, slip/trip and fall, and sports injuries. Performs assessments of loads applied to the body, injury mechanics, and the relationship between the applied loads and the injury.

  2. Self-Employed Contractor
    Consultant, January 2013 to January 2020

    Work with clients to establish or improve their laboratory experimental methodology by analyzing the biomechanics of the desired injury model. Design and construct test fixtures for client use. Provide on-site assistance for experimental procedures, setup, and live animal testing.

  3. BeMo Academic Consulting
    Academic Consultant/Scientist, September 2019 to February 2020

    Reviewed and critiqued application documents and provided feedback to help students improve their applications to medical and graduate schools. Conducted mock interview and provided feedback to improve interview performance.

Teaching Experience

  1. Duke University, Sprint 2014, Spring 2016

    Graduate Teaching Assistant of BME 302L Fundamentals of Biomaterials and Biomechanics under Roger Nightingale PhD. Assisted with classroom instruction, homework preparation, exams, and student projects for the Biomechanics portion of the course. Lead and conducted laboratory sections. Held office hours for homework and course tutoring.
    Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award – Honorable Mention, Spring 2014

 

Awards

  1. Neurotrauma Symposium Travel Grant, 2018
  2. National Football League Engineering Symposium Student Grant, 2016
  3. Duke BME Department Retreat – Poster award, 2014
  4. Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award Honorable Mention, 2013, 2014

Lectures & Presentations

  1. August 2018 – Neuroprotective Effect of an ApoE Mimetic Peptide in a Gyrencephalic Blast Animal Model, Military Health System Research Symposium, Orlando, FL.
  2. October 2016 – Investigation of Cavitation as a Mechanism of Traumatic Brain Injury. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
  3. September 2014 – In vs. Out: Controversies in Shock Tube Blast Experiments. Personal Armour Systems Symposium. Cambridge, UK.
  4. September 2013 – A Novel Mouse Model of Blast Brain Injury: Blast Conditions Seen in Theater. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.
  5. October 2012 – Mouse Lethality Risk and Intracranial Pressure During Exposure to Blast. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

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