Imagine sustaining an injury but not having access to the physical therapy needed for a full recovery. Sure, exercise instructions are available for free online, but are they being taught properly? And has that series of exercises been reviewed by a medical professional?
These are important questions that are top of mind for Heejin Jeong, an assistant professor of human systems engineering in The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
Jeong has been awarded a 2025 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award for his work using artificial intelligence, or AI, to help guide and improve the effectiveness of self-directed physical rehabilitation. He will receive nearly $600,000 over the next five years to support his research focused on improving mobility and function in the hands and fingers, with the goal of expanding to other body parts in the future.
“It’s not a surprise that Dr. Jeong’s work was selected by the National Science Foundation for a CAREER Award,” says Kurt Paterson, director of The Polytechnic School and a Fulton Schools professor of engineering. “This research is a perfect example of the principled innovation for which our school strives and the world needs.”
Collaborating to lend a hand
One aspect of his project involves using AI to recognize when patients are becoming frustrated based on their facial expressions or changes in voice tone and to provide positive reinforcement to boost their confidence and encourage continued exercise. The AI-driven feedback can be implemented through a smartphone or computer. The reward may be visual in the form of pictures that are pleasing to the eye or auditory in the form of relaxing music.
Another facet involves determining if the exercises are appropriate for treating a particular injury and if they are being taught correctly online.
With these factors in mind, Jeong is collaborating with various medical professionals in the Phoenix area, such as hand surgeons, physical therapists and faculty members from other higher education institutions. Many of his connections in the health care field are due to his affiliation with the School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering, part of ASU Health.
“My background is in human factors engineering and the ASU human systems engineering program has excellent faculty members and a good environment for collaboration across the program and the Fulton Schools,” Jeong says. “The ASU Charter and mission, along with President Michael Crow’s leadership, are also what attracted me to want to teach here.”
Combining teaching and research to improve rehab
In addition to the research, the CAREER Award project focuses on educational goals, with the first being to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering students and medical practitioners. As an affiliate faculty member in the new medical school, Jeong is currently helping to develop the curriculum and aims to use his research as a case study.
He would also like to raise awareness about AI-powered technology through public engagement. Jeong plans to speak to students and colleagues about the importance of AI and the positive ways it can be used.
“The goal is not to replace the human physical therapist but to supplement their work when they aren’t available or there is no access to them,” Jeong says. “As a human systems engineer, I value human input, and AI cannot work by itself without it.”
Paterson says because of the value of human input for AI tools, Jeong’s research will create new technologies, careers and industries.
“Dr. Jeong and his colleagues in the human systems engineering program are showing us that the future of engineering is centered not on AI, but on human and AI teaming,” Paterson says.
The third goal is to encourage student entrepreneurship alongside research. By visualizing the CAREER Award work as a real-world project, Jeong aims for prototypes to be developed that will enable students to help make this come to develop market-ready technology incorporating his research.
More than an award
Jeong says he believes he was chosen for this award because he has very clear educational and research goals. He also says the distinct and timely focus of his work helped set his project apart.
Several groups will benefit from the award, including doctoral students participating in the research, who will gain invaluable experience that will boost their careers in the future. Jeong is also the director of the Human-in-Mind Engineering Research Lab, or HiMER Lab, which gives college students of all levels opportunities to assist in applied research that keeps humans in mind.
Jeong is motivated by a desire to conduct research that helps people in the community, particularly older adults who may have limited incomes or lack access to the physical therapy they need after an injury.
“I want to contribute to society locally in Arizona,” Jeong says. “There are older people who could benefit from a self-rehab solution. The ultimate goal is to provide these services for free.”
