Kimberly Kroupa

Research Interests

  • Osteoarthritis treatment
  • Mechanical properties of cartilage tissue
  • Interface mechanics
  • Collagen crosslinking
  • Finite element modeling of biological tissues

Education

  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 2019
  • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 2021

Awards

  • Columbia University Presidential Fellowship, 2019
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention, 2020

About

Originally from Yorktown Heights, NY, Kim conducted undergraduate research at Boston University in the Growth Factor Mechanobiology Laboratory, studying the use of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for early stage osteoarthritis. It was this work which motivated her to pursue a research career in biomechanics and join MBL in the Fall of 2019 as an MS-Ph.D student in mechanical engineering. At MBL her work focuses on using collagen crosslinking as a technique for cartilage repair and regeneration, and incorporates computational modeling to better understand the articular cartilage mechanics. 

Kroupa K.R., Wu M.I., Zhang J., Jensen M., Wong W., Engiles J.B., Schaer T.P., Grinstaff M.W., Snyder B.D., Bergholt M.S., Albro M.B. 2021. Raman needle arthroscopy for in vivo molecular assessment of cartilage. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 1-11.

Wang C., Kroupa K.R., Vukelic S., Ateshian G.A., 2022. Raman Spectroscopy Of Proteoglycan-Depleted Bovine Cartilage For Detection And Quantification Of Pyridinium Crosslinks. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida.

Gangi L.R., Kroupa K.R., Garcia A.L., Pellicore J.P., Spack K.A., Ateshian G.A., Hung C.T., 2022. Toward mimicking collagen arcades in cartilage tissue engineering for improved subchondral interface integration and tissue mechanics. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Tampa, Florida. 

Kroupa, K.R., Sise, C.V., Hung, C.T., Vukelic, S., Ateshian, G.A., 2021. Crosslinking of collagen across cartilage tears for improved interface strength. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Online.

Sise, C.V., Kroupa, K.R., Fan, J., Hung, C.T., Vukelic, S., Ateshian, G.A., 2021. Effect of temperature on equilibrium compressive modulus of immature bovine articular cartilage. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Online.

Fan, J., Sise, C.V., Kroupa, K.R., Hung, C.T., Ateshian, G.A., Vukelic, S., 2021. Crosslinking of cartilage collagen via nonlinear femtosecond laser activation of riboflavin. Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference. Online.

Kroupa, K.R., Wu M., Wong W., Bergholt M.S., Albro M.B., 2020. Fiber-optic Raman Spectroscopy For Early-stage Osteoarthritis Diagnostics. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. 

Kroupa, K.R., Wu M., Wong W., Bergholt M.S., Albro M.B., 2020. 2020. Fiber-optic Raman Spectroscopy For Early-stage Osteoarthritis Diagnostics. SPIE Photonics West. San Francisco, CA.