Silvia Blemker

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Silvia Salinas Blemker is a professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia. She leads the Multiscale Muscle Mechanophysiology (M3) laboratory, where she uses imaging and computer models to study the structure and function of skeletal muscle. Her work aims to understand muscle mechanics, injury, and rehabilitation, with the goal of improving treatments for muscle-related conditions.

Education and career: Blemker earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in bioengineering/biomedical engineering from Northwestern University, followed by a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. She joined the University of Virginia in 2006 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 2012, and became a full professor in 2018, with cross-appointments in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Industry and entrepreneurship: In 2013 she co-founded Springbok Analytics, a company that analyzes MRI data of muscle tissue using AI. The goal is to provide objective, actionable insights about muscle health for clinicians, researchers, and performance professionals. The company’s technology is designed to quantify muscle quality, fat infiltration, and symmetry at the level of individual muscles and has received FDA-cleared capabilities. Blemker serves as the Chief Scientific Officer.

Research focus: Her research blends experiments and computation to map how muscle structure relates to biomechanics, biology, and function. By modeling muscle at multiple scales, she aims to develop new treatments for musculoskeletal diseases and to improve rehabilitation and diagnostics.

Recognitions: In 2024 she was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors for translating research into usable tools, including work with Springbok Analytics. In 2025 she was noted as a UVA Innovator of the Year for her innovative contributions to muscle health research and translation.