Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Bioengineering, University of Washington, 2002
  • S.B., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1994
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Florida, #75909
  • Professional Engineer, Georgia, #PE036902
  • Professional Engineer, New York, #89340
  • Professional Engineer, Pennsylvania, #PE077569
  • Professional Engineer, Texas, #150995
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, Texas, #150995
  • Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist (CAISS)
  • Certified Forklift Operator (CFO)
  • OSHA #2255 Principles of Ergonomics
  • OSHA #7115 Lockout/Tagout
Academic Appointments
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 2004-2019
  • Research Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 2004-2019
Professional Honors
  • Department of Education GAANN Fellow
  • VA Pre-Doctoral Associated Health Rehabilitation Research Fellow
  • New Jersey State Distinguished Scholar
Professional Affiliations
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (member)
    • Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis (Session Chair), 2005
    • Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis Executive Committee (Vice Track Chair), 2011-2016
    • Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis Executive Committee (Chair), 2016-2017
  • American Society of Biomechanics (member)
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (member)
  • Biomedical Engineering Society (member)
  • Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (member)
  • Board Memberships
  • University of Washington Pharmaceutical Bioengineering Master’s Degree
    • Advisory Board Member: 9/2024 – 9/2026

Dr. Mkandawire addresses issues involving the biomechanics of human injury, with expertise in the areas of human tolerance and occupant kinematics. His work includes accident reconstruction, analysis of traumatic injuries associated with transportation, sport and racing activities, heavy equipment, falls, consumer products, and the workplace. 

Dr. Mkandawire's experience includes pedestrian/cyclist accident reconstruction; evaluation of racing and sports equipment; electric shock/burn accident reconstruction; traumatic brain injury; injuries involving recreational, industrial, construction or agricultural equipment; advanced airbag systems, child restraint systems, and biomechanical reconstruction of automotive accidents (e.g., rollover accidents, frontal and rear end collisions, lateral or T-bone collisions, sideswipes and low-speed collisions).

Dr. Mkandawire has published research in soft-tissue biomechanics, foot-ankle biomechanics, injury biomechanics, and gait analysis. His current research interests include balance retention and postural stability, occupant kinematics, airbag system effectiveness, biomechanics of the extremities, biomechanics of the spine, and evaluating trauma and pathologies from a biomechanical etiology. Dr. Mkandawire has successfully worked within Exponent's cross-disciplinary structure. For example, he has provided a biomedical engineering perspective in consulting assignments with the Center for Chemical Regulation and Food Safety, evaluating hazards associated with swallowing and pediatric airway protection. Dr. Mkandawire has extensive experienced with using the FOCUS head form, a specialized head form that measures injury potential to the head.

Dr. Mkandawire held academic appointments in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University; in the School of Engineering at Temple University; and lectured for the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at Princeton University. Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Mkandawire was a Research Assistant at the Harborview Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory and the Applied Biomechanics Laboratory of the University of Washington, and a Research Engineer for the Center for Excellence in Prosthetic Engineering and Limb-Loss Prevention of the Puget Sound Veterans Administration Medical Center. Dr. Mkandawire has also worked as a Research Assistant for the MIT Lab for Manufacturing and Productivity and the MIT Lab of Tribology. Dr. Mkandawire has been an invited Lecturer to Rice University and the University of Notre Dame, teaching about Biomechanics.