Nina Petelina
Research Specialist
Global Health and Energy Teams
Research Interests
Hello, my name is Nina, and I’ve been a graduate student in GEAR Lab since 2017, and a student at MIT since 2013. For my PhD project, I worked on designs and frameworks for passive prosthetic feet and knees. Since I defended in March 2025, I have been splitting my time between the Global Health and Energy teams, doing research and providing mentorship for graduate students. My research interests include design, manufacturing, and drawing free-body diagrams.
Education
PhD Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2025
S.M. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017
Honors and Awards
Dynamic Walking Conference Travel Grant Recipient, 2022
MathWorks Fellowship recipient, 2021
MIT De Florez Competition, 2nd place in Graduate Science, 2021
MIT Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition (MERE), Honorable Mention, 2018
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Summer Internship Poster Finalist Award, 2016
Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, member since spring 2016
Hobbies
MIT MakerWorkshop, film photography, ceramics, painting, and playing musical instruments.