Reed Gurchiek is originally from Cottontown, TN. He received a B.S. degree in Exercise Science and Mathematics minor from Cumberland University and M.S. degrees in Exercise Science and Engineering Physics from Appalachian State University. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont. His dissertation is focused on developing techniques for analyzing human biomechanics in remote environments. Upon graduation, he hopes to join a Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering department as a faculty member.