Biography
Dr Usma-Mansfield (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design at the School of Engineering at Deakin University Australia. Her expertise covers Design & Systems Thinking, Design Technology, Design for Additive Manufacturing, and R&D for MVP development in Sports Engineering and applications at the intersection of technology, design, artefacts, and people.
Clara received a B.Eng. (Honours) in Product Design Engineering from Swinburne University in 2007. She obtained her PhD from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at RMIT University, Melbourne, in 2014. During her doctoral studies, Clara investigated systems and user-centric design for mechanical performance optimisation in assistive technology for elite parasports. Clara provided performance relationships between various levels of athletic ability and the ergonomics and biomechanical features of athlete's chairs to inform equipment design and customisation. Clara collaborated with the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Squad in preparation for the 2012 London Paralympics, where they achieved Australia's first Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair rugby. She initially joined Deakin University as a postdoctoral research fellow and was promoted to Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design in the School of Engineering.
Read more on Clara's profileBiography summary
Dr Usma-Mansfield (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design at the School of Engineering at Deakin University Australia. Clara leads work for the school in Design Thinking & Applied Innovation, Engineering Design, Product Development, and Design for Additive Manufacturing. Clara is presently engaged in significant projects servicing the Australian Department of Education, The Australian Defence Force and associated contractors in developing innovation training frameworks to advance technological adoption and discrete skills in processes driving digital transformation and Industry 4.0 technologies. Her work also serves innovation acceleration programs for the regional Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Hub - Manufutures, and she works in close collaboration with research partners in the University of Bayreuth Chair of Biomechanics in Germany, Australian Army Research Centre (AARC), QinetiQ Engineering, and regional SMEs seeking engagement with R&D fund her research projects.
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Research interests
- Sports Engineering
- Design for Additive Manufacturing
- Applied Innovation
- Design Technologies
Units taught
- SED304 - Product Development
- SEM721 - Engineering Design
- SEM724 - Design for additive Manufacturing
Knowledge areas
- Product Design and Development
- Design and Systems Thinking
- Human-Centric Design
- Design for Additive Manufacturing
- Process Optimisation
- Agile Applied Innovation
Professional activities
- Jury Member for Cirp Purmundus Challenge - International competition for design in 3D and 4D printing
- Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce Lead for School of Engineering
Projects
Current Projects:
- 2023 - Deakin Lead CI: Army Applied Innovation Training Program - Australian Army (AARC-RICO-QinetiQ Engineering) - $148,185
- 2023 - Lead Ci: MakerSpace Facilitators Program - QinetiQ Engineering - $40,546
Publications
Sam Crameri, Filip Stojcevski, Clara Usma-Mansfield
(2023), Vol. 15, pp. 1-19, Polymers, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Aye Kyaw, Niko Nagengast, Clara Usma-Mansfield, Franz Fuss
(2023), Vol. 119, pp. 222-228, Procedia CIRP, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Study of bio-mimicry surfaces for optimization of coupling performance in wheelchair racing gloves
Clara Usma, N Volk, D Elderfield, P Collins
(2018), Vol. Volume 2, pp. 1-7, ISEA 2018 : Proceedings : The 12th Conference of the International Sports Engineering Association, Brisbane, Queensland, E1
Identifying lead users for user-centered design (UCD) in sports product development
Robert Leen, Clara Usma, Kaja Antlej, Paul Collins
(2018), Vol. Volume 2, pp. 1-6, ISEA 2018 : Proceedings : The 12th Conference of the International Sports Engineering Association, Brisbane, Queensland, E1
Analysis of Thermal-Regulation and Comfort Associated with User Perceptions and Garment Performance
Paul Collins, Rory Purdie, Kris Hinck, Chelsea Leissner, Bart Scicchitano, Robert Gathercole, Clara Usma-Mansfield
(2018), Vol. 2, pp. 1-6, ISEA 2018 : Proceedings of the 12th International Sports Engineering Association Conference, Brisbane, Qld., E1
R Leen, K Antlej, C Usma Alvarez, P Collins
(2017), pp. 73-83, DesTech 2016: Proceedings of the International Conference on Design and Technology, Geelong, Vic., E1
Development and validation of a miniature programmable tDCS device
A Kouzani, S Jaberzadeh, M Zoghi, C Usma, M Parastarfeizabadi
(2016), Vol. 24, pp. 192-198, IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering, Piscataway, N.J., C1
Fabrication of biocompatible enclosures for an electronic implant using 3D printing
S Adams, A Kouzani, M Mohammed, C Usma Alvarez, S Tye
(2016), Vol. 6, pp. 17-32, International journal of rapid manufacturing, Olney, Eng., C1
User Centric Design, Data Analysis and Performance of Snowboard Bindings
P Collins, R Leen, C Alvarez
(2016), Vol. 147, pp. 437-442, Procedia Engineering, Delft, NETHERLANDS, C1
3D printed biocompatible enclosures for an implantable DBS microdevice
S Adams, A Kouzani, M Mohammed, C Usma Alvarez, S Tye
(2015), Vol. 20, pp. 155-161, Procedia technology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Design and fabrication of a capacitance based wearable pressure sensor using e-textiles
A Arogbonlo, C Usma, A Kouzani, I Gibson
(2015), Vol. 20, pp. 270-275, Procedia technology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Fabrication of force sensor circuits on wearable conductive textiles
C Usma, A Kouzani, J Chua, A Arogbonlo, S Adams, I Gibson
(2015), Vol. 20, pp. 263-269, Procedia technology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
An approach for personalised product development
M Kajtaz, B Witherow, C Usma Alvarez, M Brandt, A Subic
(2015), Vol. 20, pp. 191-198, Procedia technology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
User-centered design customization of rugby wheelchairs based on the Taguchi method
C Usma-Alvarez, F Fuss, A Subic
(2014), Vol. 136, pp. 041001-041001, Journal of Mechanical Design, United States, C1-1
B Kuys, C Usma-Alvarez, C Ranscombe
(2014), pp. 1353-1368, DRS 2014 : Designs big debates. Pushing the boundaries of design research : Proceedings of the Design Research Society 2016 Conference, Umea, Sweden, E1
Effects of rugby wheelchair design on output velocity and acceleration
C Usma-Alvarez, F Fuss, A Subic
(2011), Vol. 13, pp. 315-321, Procedia Engineering, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Development and Evaluation of a Perceptive Roll Control Ankle Support Brace for POD
Prof Abbas Kouzani, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr Jason Bonacci
Department of Industry
- 2016: $21,548
Foundational Lateral Thinking AARC MakerSpace Facilitated Learning Area.
Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Prof Jennifer Loy
DSTO contract
- 2022: $43,437
- 2021: $53,256
Virtual Trade (Additive Manufacturing) Pilot Program for the RAAF.
Prof Bernard Rolfe, Dr Matt Jennings, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield
Department of Defence
- 2022: $167,283
Design and delivery of a Graduate Certificate of Secondary Design and Technologies.
Dr John Cripps Clark, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr George Aranda, Dr Matt Jennings, A/Prof Peta White, Mr Rob McHenry, Dr Seamus Delaney, A/Prof Siva Krishnan, Dr Jo Raphael, A/Prof Julianne Lynch, Prof Linda Hobbs
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2024: $107,324
- 2023: $522,584
Industry and Other Funding
Development and Evaluation of a Perceptive Roll Control Ankle Support Brace for POD
Prof Abbas Kouzani, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr Jason Bonacci
POD Active Pty Ltd
- 2015: $49,800
Sleep Safe Baby Bag Smart Monitoring System
Prof Abbas Kouzani, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield
Hearsch Industries Pty Ltd
- 2015: $13,236
3D Printing for Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services in Aid scenarios
Dr Mazher Mohammed, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield
Plan International Australia, English Family Foundation, Start Some Good
- 2017: $82,059
Proof of Concept Validation: Connections for Knee Brace Design
Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Prof Abbas Kouzani, Dr Jason Bonacci
POD Active Pty Ltd
- 2017: $8,277
Gale Pacific Design Investigation
A/Prof Paul Collins, Dr Kaja Antlej, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield
Gale Pacific Limited
- 2017: $10,000
Geelong Orthotics Design Investigation
A/Prof Paul Collins, Dr Kaja Antlej, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr Mazher Mohammed
Geelong Orthotics
- 2017: $10,000
Design and Development of Athletic Apparel with respect to Biomechanics
A/Prof Paul Collins, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr Jason Bonacci, Dr Samantha Hoffmann
Lululemon Athletica - Canada
- 2018: $25,000
- 2017: $15,000
Proof of Concept: Improved Mouthguard Design for Impact Sports
Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, A/Prof Paul Collins, Dr Mariana Paulino, Mr Kris Hinck, Dr Samantha Hoffmann
Ross Clark
- 2017: $25,000
Design and Validation of Athletic Resistance Garment
A/Prof Paul Collins, Dr Mariana Paulino, Dr Samantha Hoffmann, Mr Kris Hinck, Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield
6 O'Clock Enterprises
- 2019: $24,592
- 2018: $98,371
Army Applied Innovation Program Development
Dr Clara Usma-Mansfield, Dr Matt Jennings, Prof Bernard Rolfe
Qinetiq Pty Ltd
- 2024: $40,787
- 2023: $40,787
Supervisions
Robert Leen
Thesis entitled: UTILISING LEAD USERS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS¿ (SME) PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES
Master of Engineering, School of Engineering
Angus Fitzpatrick
Thesis entitled: A Systematic Approach to 3D-printed Cast Manufacturing
Master of Engineering, School of Engineering
Vikram Ganapathy Nadar
Thesis entitled: A Wireless Networked Embedded System for Product Usage Monitoring
Master of Engineering, School of Engineering