Lauren Sepp: "I am overjoyed to be able to positively contribute to knowledge surrounding better amputee care, which ultimately leads to improved quality of life."

Why did you choose to come to Mines? What have you enjoyed most about being here?

As a high school senior, my thoughts were to either become a wedding planner or an engineer. I decided to try engineering first, and wanted a place where I had the best chances of success. I felt as though Mines was a place with a supportive and encouraging community to help me explore what I was interested in. Now, at the end of my PhD, I am so happy I came here.

Tell us about something you're working on right now that you find exciting, fulfilling or challenging?

My research is focused on understanding how changes in prosthetic devices affect running performance and joint health for people with lower-limb amputations. I am overjoyed to be able to positively contribute to knowledge surrounding better amputee care, which ultimately leads to improved quality of life.

What communities, groups or organizations—on- and off-campus—are important to you and why?

Special Olympics and volunteering with my church. Serving others is really important to me. So many individuals have helped me get to where I am today, and my volunteering work has often been the best part of my weeks.

What are your plans for the future? What's your dream job?

I would love to be a part of sports or rehabilitation equipment design.

What would you tell someone interested in joining your academic program or Mines in general?

Nothing worth doing is ever going to be easy, but it can be fun in the right environment. I found that fit at Mines, and I think others can too.

What's your favorite thing to do outside of class and coursework? How do you unwind, manage stress, find fulfillment, etc.?

Running, skiing and mountain biking.

Tell us something about you that most people would be surprised to learn?

I spent 10 years of my life as a figure skater, I took time off from school to be a ski instructor for a season and I also represented Colorado as the state’s homecoming queen after high school.