Monfort Lab
Scott Monfort
Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, 2017
Dr. Monfort is interested in understanding how cognitive and neurological factors influence human movement. This central theme extends to diverse populations including musculoskeletal injuries during sports (e.g., cognitive-motor function following ACL injury) and fall prevention research in the elderly.
Office: Roberts Hall 303
Phone: 406-994-6294
Email | Faculty Webpage
Graduate Students
Allie Lynch
Allie graduated from Montana State in 2021 with B.S. degrees in Chemical and Biological Engineering and in 2025 with an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. She was raised in Bozeman and was a member of the Montana State Volleyball Team during undergrad. Her research focuses on cognitive-motor function following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and neuromuscular skeletal modeling. She is working towards her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
Hobbies:Hiking, running, fishing, skiing, cooking, sewing, and reading.
Jack Larson
Jack is from Rapid City, South Dakota. He graduated from Montana State in 2024 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include gait stability in at-risk populations, using biomechanical modeling to inform preventative and rehabilitative strategies. He is currently pursuing an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
Hobbies: Running, drinking coffee, reading science-fiction, and playing pickleball
Undergraduate Students
Sophie Stemler
Sophie is a current Junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. She hopes to become a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon after graduating from Montana State. She has been involved in the Monfort Lab since her freshman year at MSU. Her research interest is in the validation of iPhone-based affordable motion capture technology, particularly for implementation in clinical return-to-sport testing after ACL reconstruction.
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, cooking, reading
Lucas Gaston
Lucas is a fourth-year Biomedical Engineering undergraduate studying pre-med and is set to graduate in Spring 2026. Lucas was born in Bellingham, WA, and hopes to move towards the biomedical industry after undergrad. His research is focused on validating markerless motion capture against marker-based motion capture for anterior cruciate ligament return to sport testing following ACL reconstruction.
Hobbies: Mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and water skiing
Ella Podgorney
Ella is a fourth-year biomedical engineering student set to graduate in May 2026. Her interests lie in regenerative engineering and translational research, particularly in neuroengineering. In the lab, she investigates the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy to compare neural activation patterns in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction patients and healthy controls. Ella plans to continue her education by pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, where she hopes to advance the development of technologies that bridge neuroscience and rehabilitation.
Hobbies: Horse riding, snowboarding, hiking, yoga, reading
Grayson Deere
Grayson is a third-year undergraduate at Montana State University, pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. Hailing from Santa Fe, New Mexico, his academic focus is on the intersection of engineering and medicine, with plans to specialize in biomechanics at the graduate level. Outside of his studies, he engages with the outdoors of Bozeman to further explore his interests. Grayson is on track to graduate in the fall of 2027 and is actively seeking opportunities to apply his skills in preparation for his graduate career.
Hobbies: Traveling, skiing, music, exercise, and thrifting
Maya McGibbon
Maya is an undergraduate at Montana State University, expecting to graduate in 2028 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. She grew up near Boulder, Colorado. Although she is still exploring specific research interests, she is excited to contribute to ongoing projects and develop her skills in biomedical research.
Hobbies: skiing, fishing, hiking,and just about any activity that takes place in the mountains of Montana.
Luke Hildreth
Luke is currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Montana State University, and is expected to graduate in spring, 2027. He was raised in Vancouver, Washington and moved to Bozeman in the summer of 2023.
Hobbies: Skiing, climbing, mountain biking, camping and backpacking.