Enora LE FLAO
Biomechanical Research Engineer - Sports Epidemiology and Traumatology
Sport Sciences
Injury Prevention
Epidemiology
Lille, France France
Professional Status
Employed
Open to opportunities
About Me
I graduated with a master's degree in engineering in 2011. In the early stages of my postgraduate studies, I realized that I wanted to focus on increasing the safety of participants in sport through gaining knowledge of biomechanics and injury prevention.
My personal experiences as a rugby player and a Red Cross volunteer reinforced this feeling, having witnessed some dramatic events on the sport field, including severe concussions.
I am currently working as a Research and Development Engineer at Decathlon, one of the largest European sporting goods manufacturers.
My work focuses on sports injury prevention and I am in charge of research projects on epidemiology, traumatology and personal protective equipment design for various sports.
My personal experiences as a rugby player and a Red Cross volunteer reinforced this feeling, having witnessed some dramatic events on the sport field, including severe concussions.
I am currently working as a Research and Development Engineer at Decathlon, one of the largest European sporting goods manufacturers.
My work focuses on sports injury prevention and I am in charge of research projects on epidemiology, traumatology and personal protective equipment design for various sports.
Research & Development Engineer on Epidemiology and Traumatology in sports
Decathlon SportsLab (ex Oxylane Research)
Since August 2012
Full-time
Villeneuve d'Ascq
France
- Project Manager and lead researcher for several projects focusing on sports epidemiology, sports traumatology, and ergonomics. Within these projects I provide support for the design teams in the development and validation of their products, performing literature reviews, biomechanical studies, and developing academic partnerships. Throughout these studies various sports have been investigated: rugby, soccer, combat sports, rock climbing and mountaineering.
- Established cartographies of injuries based upon epidemiology literature reviews for several sports, allowing the design teams to better understand the risks.
- Participated in the design of new personal protective equipment, with insights based on injury mechanisms research.
- Set up successful collaborations with academic partners for advanced research on sports epidemiology and injury prevention.
- Has been invited to participate in standardization committee to present latest research on epidemiology relating to personal protective equipment.
Sales & Support Engineer
Biometrics France
September 2011
to August 2012
Full-time
Orsay
France
- Distribution of biomechanical analysis systems : presentation, display and promotion of the company's products for actual or potential customers working with academic research departments and schools, hospitals, physiotherapists et rehabilitation centers, and industrial R&D departments.
- Trained new users and ensured technical support for a broad range of hardware and software (motion capture, forceplates, EMG, pressure mapping, etc.)
Master's internship - Research assistant on numerical modelling of a human foot
Movement Sciences Institute EJ Marey
September 2010
to February 2011
Internship
Marseille
France
- Involved in the development of a dynamic numerical model of human foot designed to assess the effects of a running shoe properties on the body of the runner.
- Implemented a new numerical model of the heelpad using finite element analysis (Abaqus) for better representation of its real-life dynamics (deformation, elasticity, compressibility).
- Carried a complete literature review on materials and shape of the heel pad and its reconstruction solutions, and set up imaging experiments.
Engineer assistant Internship - Mechanical design of neck strength assessment device
Fédération Française de Rugby - Scientific Department
September 2008
to February 2009
Internship
Marcoussis
France
- Designed a mechanical prototype that evaluates the cervical musculature during isometric and isokinetic contractions. This device is now used for injury risk assessment of the neck and specific training in case of imbalanced antagonists muscles properties.
- Acquired knowledge about neck biomechanics, strength evaluation and training.
- Acquired sensitivity for injury prevention in sports as this project was part of the national campaign on player's safety.
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Biomechanical analysis
3D kinematics and dynamics (Motion Capture and forceplates), acceleration analysis, EMG.
Comfort assessment using pressure mapping systems and subjective interviews. -
Epidemiology
Study designs, analysis methods. Set up of various research projects based on epidemiological data, and in partnership with ISPED (Bordeaux School of Public Health).
-
Anatomy, exercise physiology
Basic anatomy, traumatology and injury mechanisms.
EMG, isometric and isokinetic strength evaluation
-
Biomechanics and Movement Analysis
Qualisys (QTM), Visual 3D, VICON (Nexus, Tracker, Polygon), EMG Delsys Trigno, Tekscan, XSensor.
-
Programming, data acquisition and treatment, Statistics
MatLab, LabView
Statistica, SAS -
CAD and Finite Element Method
ProEngineer, CatiaV5, Solidworks
Abaqus
- French : native speaker
-
English : fluent
IELTS Academic Sept.2015 : 8.0
TOEFL iBT Dec.2009 : 101 /120
TOEIC Oct.2009 : 960 /990
6 months spent in an english-speaking environment (Erasmus period in Norway). - Spanish, German : basics
SpineFX Network offered a one-week workshop on Research Management Skills for the Biomedical Engineer. The course aims to give early stage researchers an understanding of the necessary fundamentals of management, including ethics, communication and intellectual property, for a career in biomedical engineering.
Won the Poster Prize at the end of the workshop.
Learn more
Won the Poster Prize at the end of the workshop.
Master's Degree in Mechanical Systems Engineering
Diplôme d'Ingénieur de l'Université de Technologie de Compiègne
September 2007
to February 2011
Course in General mechanics, with a specialization in Biomechanics.
Two 6-month industrial and academic internships included in the curriculum (Sept.08 to Feb.09 within the French Rugby Federation and Sept.10 to Feb.11 within the Movement Sciences Institute), and a 6-month study abroad program in Norway.
Learn more
Two 6-month industrial and academic internships included in the curriculum (Sept.08 to Feb.09 within the French Rugby Federation and Sept.10 to Feb.11 within the Movement Sciences Institute), and a 6-month study abroad program in Norway.
- Particular interest for sports. Regular practice of climbing and fitness, and occasional pratice of hiking, canyoning, diving, and I love to discover new activities.
I used to play a lot of rugby during my student years. - Thanks to my current job and my experiences, I know the risks when practising sports, and I try hard to inform my partners and friends of safety measures and precautions.
