Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Engineering, University of New Mexico, 2008
  • M.B.A., Business Administration, University of New Mexico, 2006
  • M.E., Manufacturing Engineering, University of New Mexico, 2006
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico, 2003
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Mechanical, California, #37802
Academic Appointments
  • Visiting Research Assistant Professor, Drexel University, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, 2011
Professional Affiliations
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Dr. Lovald specializes in design evaluation, risk analysis, and failure analysis of medical devices, mechanical systems, and structural materials. He provides scientific and engineering consultation to clients with challenges in consumer electronics (wearables, VR/AR headsets), medical devices (orthopedic, spine, cardiovascular, neurovascular, ophthalmologic), and combination products.

Dr. Lovald has particular expertise evaluating the performance and failure of devices with computational modeling, surrogate tissue models, cadaveric experimentation, and often focuses this expertise towards issues concerning the regulatory compliance, due diligence, product liability, and FDA submissions. In addition, he has assisted clients in developing and conducting pre-clinical device testing programs (e.g ASTM, ISO), device risk analyses, product safety evaluations, intellectual property assessments, health economics analyses, characterization of biomaterials, and determination host tissue material properties.

Dr. Lovald has many research interests which span theoretical, engineering, and clinical topics. He has published work on the design and optimization of bone fracture internal fixation devices, the evaluation of local tissue flaps, bioabsorbable and PEEK polymers for new orthopaedic applications, investigation of ophthalmologic mechanics during tonometry, hemodynamics and local mechanics of diseased arteries and aneurysms, evaluation of analgesic outcomes after orthopedic surgery, as well as a number of health and economics studies from national healthcare databases. He coauthored the textbook Orthopaedic Biomaterials in Research and Practice, 2nd Ed., which was published in 2014.

Immediately prior to working at Exponent, Dr. Lovald cofounded a company where he initiated and directed the research, seed funding, design, manufacturing, FDA 510(k) clearance, intellectual property strategy, and post-market study Investigational Review Board approval of a patented mandibular fracture fixation system. He has also worked in the area of clinical research by designing and managing post-market studies which investigated the clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, atrial fibrillation, knee resurfacing, and spinal degenerative disc disease patients.