About the MIT Sports Lab
The MIT Sports Lab works with a diverse set of undergraduate and graduate MIT students and faculty across all disciplines. The Sports Lab is committed to addressing complex challenges in sports by advancing research in artificial intelligence, computer vision, mechanics, human and institutional behavior, machine learning, and statistics. Our mission is to accelerate new techniques and approaches in areas such as athlete health and performance, talent identification and development, game strategy, and fan engagement. Driven by the desire to push the limits of human performance, we also focus on the design and discovery of new materials and products to advance high-performance personal and protective equipment.
Partnering with leaders across sports, the Sports Lab provides early entry into advancements in the field, facilitates cross-industry learnings, offers unparalleled access to the latest innovations across disciplines, and helps organizations define and grow their expertise.
Learn more about us at our website.
Partnering with leaders across sports, the Sports Lab provides early entry into advancements in the field, facilitates cross-industry learnings, offers unparalleled access to the latest innovations across disciplines, and helps organizations define and grow their expertise.
Learn more about us at our website.
2023 Faculty Leadership
Christina Chase Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, MIT; Co-Founder & Managing Director, MIT Sports Lab Christina Chase is a Lecturer at MIT in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 2015, she co-founded the MIT Sports Lab with Prof. Anette “Peko” Hosoi and serves as its Managing Director. Prior to this she was the first Entrepreneur in Residence at MIT through the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. Christina has helped hundreds of teams go from concept to company. In 2013, she was named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in the Boston Tech Community and in 2014, Mashable named her one of the 15 People Shaping Boston’s Tech Scene. In a past life, Christina was a cyclist where she was one of 12 women selected by the US Cycling Federation to train at the US Olympic Training Center. She has taught downhill skiing in Colorado, summited six of Colorado’s 14-ers across seasons, and her latest sport is kiteboarding. Christina is a Techstars mentor and serves on the Board of the MIT Enterprise Forum, is a judge for the SXSW Accelerator Competition and former Advisory Board member. |
Professor Anette (Peko) Hosoi Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor, Mechanical Engineering, MIT; Co-founder, MIT Sports Lab Anette “Peko” Hosoi is a Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Mathematics. Her research contributions lie at the junction of nonlinear hydrodynamics, biomechanics, and bio-inspired design. A common theme in her work is the fundamental study of shape, kinematic, and rheological optimization of biological systems with applications to the emergent field of soft robotics. More recently, she has turned her attention to problems that lie intersection of biomechanics, applied mathematics, and sports. She is the co-founder of the MIT Sports Lab which connects the MIT community with pro-teams and industry partners to address data and engineering challenges that lie within the sports domain. She has received numerous awards including the APS Stanley Corrsin Award, the Bose Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Jacob P. Den Hartog Distinguished Educator Award. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), a Radcliffe Institute Fellow, and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow. |
2023 Student Leadership
Reginald Best Co-Lead and Industry Speaker Management, Computer Science, Graduate Student Reginald is currently a master’s student at MIT studying computer science. He is passionate about software development, machine learning, and sports analytics. Reginald’s thesis research focuses on automatically detecting and classifying events in soccer using computer vision and tracking data. In a previous project with the MIT Sports Lab, he analyzed NBA players’ Twitter activity to predict on court performance. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the MIT varsity football team where he played tight end and outside linebacker. Upon completion of his master’s degree in the spring, he will be joining Reddit as a software engineer. |
Joey Licht Co-Lead and Industry Speaker Management, Computer Science, Senior Joey is a senior at MIT studying Computer Science. He has spent time researching with FIFA to quantify the difficulty of the offside call. He is passionate about utilizing health and wellness trackers to provide actionable performance insights. Joey was a member of the MIT varsity football team, where he played quarterback. Next fall, he plans to begin a fifth-year master’s program in computer science with a focus on artificial intelligence at MIT. |
Seung Kyun (SK) Ha Partner Speaker Management, Chemical Engineering, Postdoctoral Associate SK is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT. Originally from South Korea, he holds a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering (with a minor in Physics) from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT. Alongside his current research on data-driven prediction of organic reaction outcomes, SK enjoys working on sports data analytics projects, including a recent project with the MIT Sports Lab on developing a mathematical model that describes the player dynamics during dribbles in soccer games. SK loves playing and watching sports, especially soccer. |
Felix Huang Website, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Sophomore Felix is currently a sophomore majoring in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and minoring in statistics and data science at MIT. He is a member of MIT's varsity football team where he plays offensive guard and center. Felix is passionate about learning new technologies in order to advance the field of sports analytics. An avid Fantasy Football player, Felix also enjoys playing chamber music, piano, and poker in his free time. |
Andrew Hutchison Website, Computer Science and Artificial Itelligence, Sophomore Andrew is currently a sophomore at MIT studying Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence with a minor in Mathematics at MIT. He is a member of MIT's varsity football team where he plays wide receiver. Andrew is an avid sports fan and is passionate about using machine learning and data science to optimize performance and decision-making in sports. |
Eva Nates SWAG and Sponsorship, Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Student Eva is a first year graduate student studying Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She graduated from Stanford University in 2022 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Stanford, Eva was a member of the varsity rowing team. Eva's exploration of her identities as an engineer and athlete brought her to the Biomechatronics group at the MIT Media Lab. Her research focuses on designing a rock climbing prosthesis for transtibial amputees. Overall Eva is passionate about improving sport accessibility. |
Katie Kostecki Student Ambassadors and Research Talk Management, Computer Science, Data Science, and Economics; Business Analytics, Junior Katie is a Junior at MIT studying Computer Science, Data Science & Economics and Business Analytics. She is an avid sports fan and is also a member of the MIT Swim & Dive team. In addition to her interest in the intersection of business and sports, Katie is passionate about utilizing data to improve player performance and safety. In her free time, Katie enjoys watching football and trying new sports. |
Dylan Carberry Logistics, MIT Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Student Dylan Carberry is a second-year graduate student in the Mechanical Engineering department at MIT. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2016. Dylan worked for Honda of America Mfg. upon his graduation until leaving the company to attend MIT in Fall 2021. While there, he designed automotive production equipment for vehicles including the Honda CRV, Acura RDX, and Acura MDX. Currently working as a graduate researcher in Tal Cohen's Mechanics Group, Dylan is primarily interested in the mechanical properties of soft materials with applications in the fields of sustainability, medicine, and athletic performance. He is an avid fan of all sports, counting basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis as among his favorites to both play and watch. |
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Ethan Robertson Graphics and SWAG Sponsorship, Computer Science & Finance, Sophomore Ethan Robertson is a sophomore at MIT studying Computer Science and Finance. He is currently working on a project with the sports lab which focuses on collecting and organizing real-time data for FIFA. Ethan is also a member of the MIT Varsity Lacrosse team, where he plays attack. |
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Mackenzie Bivin MIT Outreach Management, Business Analytics, Sophomore Mackenzie is a sophomore at MIT majoring in Business Analytics. As a passionate sports devotee, Mackenzie enjoys watching various professional and collegiate sports and can be found on the diamond representing the MIT varsity softball team. Off the field, Mackenzie remains intrigued by the intersection of sports and technology as well as using reliable data to make better informed personnel and in-game decisions. |
Duncan Lee Graphics, Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Student Duncan is a third-year graduate student in mechanical engineering at MIT, working in the Biomechatronics group in the MIT Media Lab. His research is focused on prosthetic socket design for transtibial (below-the-knee) amputees as well as variable-stiffness devices. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and he was a member of the varsity swim team for all four years of undergrad. He would love to apply both his experience in athletics and his current research to improve technology in sports in order to increase accessibility to more people. An avid Formula 1 fan, Duncan also loves skiing, film photography, and trying new foods. |
Jonas Rajagopal Logistics, Computer Science and Nuclear Science, Sophomore Jonas is a sophomore at MIT majoring in Computer Science and Nuclear Science. He has done research with the MIT sports lab analyzing optimal strategy for gunners on NFL punts using tracking data. He is interested in using tracking data to analyze performance in the NFL and NBA. He is also doing research on finding suitable materials for nuclear fusion reactors. Outside of class, he loves following sports and is an avid Boston sports fan and loves climbing. |
Nicholas Stone Perez Ticketing, Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science, Sophomore Nicolas is a sophomore at MIT planning to major in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science along with Management. Nicolas is a member of the Men's Soccer and Men's Volleyball varsity teams here, and has been a sports fanatic for as long as he can remember. He also serves on the MIT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Nicolas is very passionate about the intersection of sports, business, and technology, and he hopes to continue exploring this during his time at MIT and beyond. |
Emiko Pope Student Poster Session, Mechanical Engineering, Sophomore Emiko Pope is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering with a focus on innovation and product design. She is interested about the design of products that assist and improve athletic performance in a seamless, efficient manner. Additionally, Emiko is passionate about the inclusivity of sports and worked to promote this as her previous soccer club’s Lead Representative. She also is a midfielder on MIT’s Women’s soccer team. |
Griffin Fisk Resume Book, Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science, Freshman Griffin Fisk is a freshman studying data science, economics, and management at MIT, where he plays defensive back for the varsity football team. Griffin is interested in the potential applications of data-based research to maximize performance and safety in various sports. Outside of football, he enjoys watching basketball and Formula 1. |
Luke Wagner Day-of-Volunteer Management, Computer Science, Junior Luke Wagner is currently a junior from Austin, Texas studying Computer Science at MIT. He is passionate about software engineering and data analytics in the world of sports. He is currently working to analyze ticketing data to develop an attendance projection model for the San Antonio Spurs to predict how many people will be in the arena during the game. Outside of the classroom, Luke is one of the captains on the MIT Varsity Basketball team. He also loves outdoor activities including being an avid wakefoil fan. |
Jason Hou Resume Book, Media Arts and Sciences, Graduate Student Jason is a graduate student at the MIT Media Lab in the Conformable Decoders group. He works on implanted neural interfaces and other imperceptible devices that can be used to enhance mind-muscle connections, manage pain, and expedite recovery. Jason received a B.S. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley, and is an avid Bay Area sports fan. In his free time, he loves to run and play basketball. |
Henry Wang MIT Outreach Management, Computer Science, Data Science & Economics; Business Analytics, Senior Henry is a senior at MIT studying Computer Science, Data Science & Economics and Business Analytics. He has been working in the MIT Sports Lab since his sophomore year, focusing on applications of skeletal tracking data in soccer for semi-automated offside technology, measuring player vision & awareness, and automating collection of event data. Outside of MIT, Henry was a Data Science Intern at Hawk-Eye Innovations where he completed projects in soccer and baseball. Beyond academia, he is a captain of the MIT Swim & Dive team and enjoys playing piano, cycling and running in his free time. |
Jess Sonner Partner Speaker Management, Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Student Jess is a first-year Master’s student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She is doing her Master’s thesis with adidas supervised by Professor Peko Hosoi, surrounding data analytics in soccer. With her passion for sports and interest in biomechanics and manufacturing, she’s inspired to design products that enhance athletic performance and improve player experience. A lifelong sports fan and soccer player, Jess played for the MIT Women’s Varsity Soccer team and loves trying new sports. |
Helen Sun Logistics, Mechanical Engineering, Junior Helen Sun is a current Junior ('24) at MIT studying Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Product Development. Outside of school, she is on the Varsity Swim Team and is also a co-chair for the Undergraduate Association. This past summer, she worked at Loughborough University at the Sports Technology Institute working on visualizing data from breast movement tracking experiments in order to streamline the data communication process between research and industry. |
Jerry Lu Research Talks Management, Financial Engineering, Graduate Student Jerry Lu is a graduate student at MIT pursuing a master's in finance. He has a passion for Olympic sports. He was a former age group swimmer, training under the elite group at Nation's Capital Swim Club. Since 2019, Jerry has been working on technique optimization and race strategy design for elite swimmers, including multiple NCAA national champions, Olympians, and world champions. |
Renee Leatherman Startup Showcase, MBA, Graduate Student Renee is a 2nd year MBA student at MIT Sloan School of Management. She has a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to MIT, she worked at high growth tech companies with a focus on healthcare, data analytics, and machine learning. Renee is always active either running, cycling, or at the gym. She is passionate about better quantifying human performance and translating data into actionable insights. |
Alexander Cohen Startup Showcase, Computational Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Graduate Student Alex Cohen is a 3rd year Computational Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering PhD student at MIT. Alex received a B.S. in Molecular Engineering (with a minor in Computer Science) from the University of Chicago in 2020. During his PhD, Alex is working on physics-informed machine learning methods for model discovery in biophysical systems and energy materials. He is also a member of the MIT club tennis team and avid sports fan. Alex plans to continue researching data-driven methods in different scientific fields, with a focus on biology. |
Irene Kuang Ticketing, Electrical Engineering, Graduate Student Irene is a final year PhD student in the EECS department. Her research focuses on optimization and design of handheld MRIs. She is also working with the Sports Lab on a project tracking NBA player fatigue. Prior to MIT, Irene received a BS in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. In her free time, Irene loves to swim, watch all sports, and overanalyze her fantasy football lineups. |
Kimberly Liao Day-of Volunteer Management, Biological Engineering, Junior Kimberly Liao is currently a junior from Long Island, NY studying biological engineering at MIT. She is interested in the role of biotechnology in improving human physical health and healthcare advancements. Kimberly is also passionate about equality and inclusion in sports and the mental health of athletes. Outside of the classroom, she is an All-American tennis player and co-chair of MIT’s Undergraduate Association. She also loves outdoor activities including running and hiking. |
Ceci Muñoz Summit Advisor, Mathematics and Computer Science, Senior Ceci Muñoz is a senior at MIT studying Mathematics and Computer Science. She is passionate about utilizing data analytics and statistics to make advancements in all aspects of sports, from recruiting to player development. Ceci recently worked on a project with the MIT Sports Lab and FIFA focusing on evaluating the efficacy of their new 3D player tracking technology. Before this Ceci worked with the MIT Sports Lab on a project centered on evaluating and classifying high performance sports coaches. Ceci is excited to start working at Boston Consulting Group in the Boston office upon graduation. She also plays forward for the MIT Women's soccer team and competed in the Maccabi games for Team USA this past summer, bringing home the gold. |
Ashley Hartwell Summit Advisor, Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Student Ashley Hartwell is a 4th year Ph.D student in mechanical engineering with a passion for integrating structural design with mechanical performance. Currently she designs sustainable and thermally efficient concrete structural systems inspired by filler slabs, a composite structural system popularized in India. Her research focuses on how multi-objective optimization, along with emerging digital fabrication techniques can improve overall building performance. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and spending Sunday mornings watching Formula One races. |
Cover photo from MIT Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER)
© 2023 MIT Sports Lab. All Rights Reserved.
© 2023 MIT Sports Lab. All Rights Reserved.