The INT is proud to have supported Dr Lefan Wang through our matched funding Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship scheme.
We spoke with Lefan about her innovative project, ‘New Insights into Foot Biomechanics via Personalized Multimodal Sensing Insole’ and her experience as an early career researcher.
Lefan told us, “I work on developing a personalised 3D-printed insole that can simultaneously measure plantar pressure, shear stress, and temperature. By integrating these three key factors into a single, skin-conformal device, it provides a more complete picture of foot biomechanics than current single-function systems. The technology could support better injury prevention, footwear design, and performance optimisation.
“I am deeply grateful to the Isaac Newton Trust and the Leverhulme Trust for jointly supporting my research at a pivotal stage in my career. This fellowship enabled me to continue advancing my work on personalized multimodal sensing wearables, an area I am deeply passionate about. This support allowed me to pursue innovative ideas, refine my project management skills, strengthen collaborations, and mentor students. This experience has been both rewarding and inspiring, and it directly contributed to my recent appointment as a PI elsewhere, where I will further advance this field.
“Looking back, the most important thing for me was holding on to what I care about, my research passion and my career goals. When I reached a turning point, choosing between academia and industry, it was that persistence, together with the foundation I had built over the years, that helped me secure this fellowship and continue my research. Along the way, I also realised how valuable it is to actively seek out collaborations. Talking to people, finding shared interests, and working together have not only enriched my projects but also opened doors I hadn’t even imagined before.”
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to Lefan on securing a new position as a Principal Investigator at Huanjiang Lab, Zhejiang University.
Image credit: Dr Lefan Wang
Are you funded partly by the Isaac Newton Trust? Have you recently had a project or personal achievement you would like to share? We would love to hear from you and share your accomplishments with the wider community. No success is too small! Get in touch by emailing us at administrator@newtontrust.cam.ac.uk