Dr. Haojie Mao

Image of Dr. Mao

Professor Mao joins Western Engineering as Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Head Mechanics.

Prior to joining Western Engineering, Professor Mao worked for four years as a Research Scientist for the U.S. Medical Research and Material Command, creating a blast-induced TBI research program. He worked for three years in the automotive industry as a Product Development Engineer (recipient of Chairman’s Merit Award) after obtaining  a BSc. He then conducted PhD research on brain injury mechanisms at one of the world’s leading impact biomechanics research institutes, the Bioengineering Center of Wayne State University.  He continued as a postdoctoral/research professor when he accomplished several influential projects including developing the GHBMC (Global Human Body Models Consortium) head model that has attracted government, academia, and industry users globally for better characterizing strains and stresses inside the brain.  

Professor Mao conducts research to better understand mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). He collaborates with neuroscientists, neurobiologists, and fellow engineers to develop both experimental and computational methods for analyzing biomechanical and biological responses of brain tissues to trauma events including sports-related collisions, blast waves, automotive accidents, and falls. He develops computational head models that allow researchers to immediately visualize and accurately quantify stresses and stretches across the entire brain. This research helps to better understand the causes of TBI and links to cognitive dysfunction, which can improve brain health with better protections, diagnostics, and therapeutics.   

Professor Mao's research interests extend to safety and injury related topics, such as improving vehicle structures for occupant and pedestrian safety, designing safer seats for minimizing blast-induced lumbar spine injuries, understanding pediatric biomechanics, and developing better protections to reduce impact and blast-triggered head injuries. With the support of Canada Research Chairs program (Tier 2), Dr. Mao moved to London and is exploring collaboration opportunities with local research and industry communities.

Professor Mao's office is located in the Thompson Engineering Building, Room 365. 
He can be reached at 519.661.2111 x 80364 or by email at hmao8@uwo.ca