Elena is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).

She completed her bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Pavia, then moved to Brussels to continue her studies in the joint MSc program between VUB and Ghent University (UGent), graduating in 2025 with a specialisation in Biomechanics and Biomaterials.

Elena first got in touch with the team during a research internship in 2024, where she worked on augmented reality applications for total hip arthroplasty, in collaboration with UZ Brussel. After that, she continued collaborating with the department through a hospital project focused on evaluating 3D scanning apps for breast reconstruction surgery, a study that led to her first publication.

Currently, she focuses on advancing gait analysis by leveraging inertial measurement units (IMUs) and deep learning techniques for precise gait event detection. IMUs offer a portable, cost-effective alternative to traditional marker-based motion capture systems, enabling gait analysis in real-world environments without the constraints of lab settings or line-of-sight limitations. This work aims to improve continuous and long-term monitoring, particularly benefiting neurological populations, who often require gait analysis the most but are underserved by current technologies.