Executive Director and Scientific Director, Spine Research Institute
Executive Director, Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing
Executive Director, Institute for Ergonomics
Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Honda Chair Professor, Integrated Systems Engineering
College of Medicine
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Neurological Surgery, Integrated Systems Engineering, Spine Research Institute
Integrated Systems Engineering
278 Baker Systems
1971 Neil Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-6670
marras.1@osu.edu
Research Interests
- Role of biomechanics in spine disorder causation
- Role of biomechanics in the prevention, evaluation and treatment of back pain, lower back pain, back injuries and spine disorders
- Ergonomics
Research Techniques
Dr. Marras’s research includes epidemiologic studies, laboratory biomechanics studies, mathematical modeling and clinical studies.
Active Funding
- Honda Chair Professor, Integrated Systems Engineering
Education
MSIE: Industrial Engineering, Human Factors Engineering, Wayne State University
PhD: Bioengineering and Ergonomics, Wayne State University
DrSci (honoris causa): University of Waterloo
Honors and News
- Swedish Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research (1993 and 2002)
- Austria's Vienna Award for Physical Medicine
- Liberty Mutual Prize for Injury Prevention Research
- Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo for work on the biomechanics of low back disorders
- Published in 200+ peer-reviewed journal articles
- Has been cited 11,000+ times
- Has written numerous books and book chapters
- Chair for numerous National Research Council committees and boards including:
- Committee on Human Factors
- Committee on Human Systems Integration
- Board on Human Systems Integration
- Deputy Editor, Spine
- Past Editor-in-Chief, Human Factors
- President, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES), 2014
- National Academy of Engineering (the National Academies), in 2009
- National appearances on Good Morning America, CNN and NPR, and TEDx talk entitled “Back Pain and your Brain.”
Fellow:
Fellow, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Santa Monica, CA (1995)
Fellow, Ergonomics Society, Loughborough, UK (1999)
Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (1999)
Fellow, International Ergonomics Association (IEA), (2007)
Fellow, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), (2010)
Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2013)
International Awards:
2013 Liberty Mutual Award (best paper published in Ergonomics in 2012). A strategy for human factors/ergonomics: developing the discipline and profession. Jan Dul, Ralph Bruder, Peter Buckle, Pascale Carayon, Pierre Falzon, William S. Marras, John R. Wilson & Bas van der Doelen
2004 Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, Waterloo University
2003 Best Poster Award, International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine Annual Meeting
2003 Liberty Mutual Prize in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, International Ergonomics Association
2002 Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research in Biomechanics
Best Paper Award (2000), The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine
1993 Volvo Award for Low Back Pain Research: Bioengineering 1993 Vienna Award for Physical Medicine
National Awards:
2010 Wright State University Outstanding Alumni Award
2009 Paul M. Fitts Education Award, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
National Academy of Engineering (elected 2009)
2004 Bernice Owen Award for Research
2003 Alice Hamilton Science Award, (Outstanding Scientific Publication) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
2003 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Achievement Award, Wayne State University
Wayne State University College of Engineering Hall of Fame (inducted 2003)
Jack A. Kraft Innovator Award (1999), The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
1992 Dr. David F. Baker Distinguished Research Award, Institute of Industrial Engineers
Ohio State University Awards:
The Clara M. and Peter L. Scott Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2009)
2004 College of Engineering Lumley Research Award
Honda Endowed Chair in Transportation (Ergonomics) (1998)
Designated Chair of the Biodynamics Laboratory sponsored by NCR Corporation (1993-1996)
1996 College of Engineering Lumley Research Award
1992 College of Engineering Lumley Research Award
1987 College of Engineering Research Award
Battelle Professor, 1986-1987
Patents:
Apparatus for Monitoring Motion Components of the Spine. Patent No. 5,012,819
Apparatus for Monitoring the Motion of the Lumbar Spine. Patent No. 5,094,249
Apparatus for Monitoring the Motion Components of the Spine. Patent No. 5,143,088