Shaghayegh Bagheri, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), is working to make slip-resistant shoe outsoles using bio-inspired composite materials.
University of Pittsburgh researchers will assist George Mason University researchers by advising on experimental methods for assessing the wear response of the developed footwear relative to commercially available alternatives. They will also collect friction data on floor surfaces.
The Pitt team will meet regularly with the George Mason team to provide ongoing support during the data collection process, including in person at least once per year. The Pitt team will consult on data analysis, including statistical analysis, to determine whether differences in wear response are observed across shoe designs. Pitt researchers will lead the collection of data and process the data. The team will advise on its analysis and interpretation of results.
Bagheri received $433,227 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this research. Funding began in Sept. 2026 and will end in late Aug. 2027.
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