DR. BRONEK GEPNER
Research Assistant Professor | University of Virginia
Dr. Bronek Gepner is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia, Center for Applied Biomechanics. His research focuses on injury biomechanics, human body modeling, and the development of advanced computational tools to improve occupant and pedestrian safety. He has led and contributed to a range of projects sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and various vehicle OEMs—among other sponsors. Since 2023, he has served on the FIA’s Research Strategy Working Group (RSWG), helping to shape global research directions in motorsport and road safety. He is also a member of the scientific committee for the International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury (IRCOBI). Dr. Gepner holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Florida State University and has a background in structural analysis and high performance computing. His work integrates high-fidelity finite element modeling with experimental validation and simulation-driven analysis to advance the predictive capabilities of human body models in automotive safety research.
Safety Summit Presentations
Human Body Models - Opportunities and Challenges for Reclined Occupants
October 9, 2025 | Adapting to Autonomy
Computational Human Body Models (HBMs) have the potential to revolutionize how we think about vehicle safety. Unlike traditional crash test dummies, HBMs offer detailed, anatomically accurate representations of the human body, enabling a deeper understanding of human responses to impact. As vehicles become more autonomous and flexible, new safety challenges emerge—such as novel seating arrangements or new crash scenarios. HBMs are uniquely suited to address these through high-fidelity simulation and injury prediction.
However, HBMs are still fundamentally research and development tools. To fully realize their potential, ongoing work is needed to improve their biofidelity, robustness, and applicability across use cases. This includes efforts to expand the model’s validation library, enhance injury prediction capabilities, and improve computational efficiency. This presentation will discuss the past development, current state, and future direction of computational HBMs, drawing from recent work in collaboration with automotive industry partners.