USD ALUMNUS AND CHICAGO WHITE SOX BIOMECHANIST RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED DISSERTATION AWARD
University of South Dakota alumnus and Chicago White Sox biomechanist Aaron Trunt was awarded the 2024 USD Distinguished Dissertation Award in the category of Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering for his dissertation, “Skeletal Modeling Parameters and Clinical Factors Related to Injury Risk in Baseball Pitchers.”
The USD dissertation awards are presented annually to doctoral students who, in the opinion of the award committee, have completed dissertations representing original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to their disciplines.
“I’m very honored to receive the Distinguished Dissertation Award,” said Trunt. “There are so many great minds at USD, not just in the biomedical engineering department that I was a part of, but also in the entire graduate school that has plenty of incredible research going on within it. To be selected as the recipient, knowing how many other strong dissertations were out there, really means a lot and validates all of the long hours and hard work that went into getting my Ph.D.”
Trunt received a M.S. in biomedical engineering in 2019 and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering in 2022 from USD. He was nominated for the dissertation award by Lisa MacFadden, Ph.D., director of biomechanics at USD.
“Dr. Trunt's transformation from a student researcher to a professional biomechanist highlights the significant impact of his experience during his doctoral research at the University of South Dakota,” said MacFadden. “His dissertation not only provided him with the technical skills required for his current position but also instilled a deeper understanding of the research process and its broader implications. Dr. Trunt is hardworking, ambitious, intelligent and self-driven. Above all, he is a consummate professional, an exceptional researcher, and a well-rounded scientist and practitioner. His dedication to professional growth is evident in his commitment to ongoing learning and development."
From his dissertation to his current job with the Chicago White Sox, Trunt continues to study the biomechanics of baseball pitching and hitting. He records the movement of the team’s pitchers and hitters and looks at ways they can be more efficient, and if they have an injury, can return to the field quicker while avoiding getting injured again.
"Being able to pioneer my own research essentially from start-to-finish allowed me to learn so much about the entire research process and gave me the confidence and expertise to prepare me for my job in professional baseball now," Trunt said.
"The most impactful thing about USD and how it prepared me to get to where I am now is simply the opportunities it afforded me as a graduate student. From my initial meeting with the biomedical engineering department before I even knew where I would be going to grad school, I could tell that was something they valued," Trunt continued. "Once I was accepted, Dr. Dan Engebretson and Dr. MacFadden worked very hard to allow me to pursue lines of research that I was passionate about which kept me motivated and excited about the work I was doing and one of the big reasons I continued on after my master’s to pursue my doctoral degree.”
As the USD Distinguished Dissertation Award winner, Trunt's nomination has been sent to the Council of Graduate Schools. He will represent USD at the annual meeting in December 2024
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