Gretchen Baker, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
she/her/hers
Injury Biomechanics Research Center
2016 Graves Hall
333 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Professional Areas of Interest
- Pediatric Injury Biomechanics
- Child Restraint System (CRS) Performance
- Vehicle Occupant Posture and Seat Belt Fit
Overview
Gretchen Baker is a Research Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University’s Injury Biomechanics Research Center. Dr. Baker earned a PhD and MS in Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas. Her research primarily focuses on pediatric biomechanics, child restraint systems, and assessment of vehicle occupant posture and kinematics. Specifically, she is interested in understanding relationships between occupant posture, seat belt fit, and vehicle restraint design. Dr. Baker is also a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician through Safe Kids Worldwide and regularly contributes to local community education and child safety seat checks.
Recent Publications
Baker, G. H., Mansfield, J. A., & Bolte, J. H. (2024). Influence of initial belt torso contact on the kinematics and kinetics of booster-seated ATDs in frontal-oblique impacts. Traffic Injury Prevention, 1–10.
Baker, G.H., Connell, R., Rhodes, C., Mansfield, J.A. Evaluation of Child Anthropometries in Relation to Modern Vehicle Seat and Booster Dimensions, Stapp Car Crash Journal, 2024.
Baker, G. H., Bohman, K., Mansfield, J. A., Jakobsson, L., & Bolte IV, J. H. (2023). Comparison of child and ATD belt fit and posture on belt-positioning boosters during self-selected, holding device, and nominal conditions. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 192, 107280.
Baker, G. H., Bohman, K., Mansfield, J. A., Jakobsson, L., & Bolte IV, J. H. (2023) Comparison of Self-Selected, Holding Device, and Nominal Conditions on the Belt Fit and Posture of Children on Belt-Positioning Boosters. Proceedings of the IRCOBI Conference.
Recent Presentations
Baker, G.H. “Comparison of self-selected, holding device, and nominal conditions on the belt fit and posture of children on belt-positioning boosters”, invited presentation at the Child Occupant Protection Seminar: Latest knowledge and future opportunities, International Presentation, Göteborg, Sweden, May 2024
Baker, G.H. “Boost Your Booster Knowledge: A Summary of Recent Booster Seat Research with Take-Aways for CPST’s”, invited presentation to the Louisiana Child Passenger Safety Conference, hosted by the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force, State Presentation, July 2024
Baker, G.H.¸Connell, R. “Kids Aren’t (Crash Test) Dummies: Findings from Booster Occupant Volunteer Studies”, invited presentation Ohio Child Passenger Safety Conference, State Presentation, April 2024
Baker, G.H. “Booster Seats and Belt Fit: Recent Research Findings from Volunteer Studies and Sled Testing”, invited presentation to the National Child Passenger Safety Board, International Webinar, December 2023
Major Awards
- Murray Mackay Young Researcher Award, International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, 2021
- Whitaker International Program Fellow, Institute for International Education, 2016
Education
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2022
- MS, Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2020
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas, 2016