Alumni Engineering Alum’s Work Could Bring New Meaning to ‘Just Do It’ Stories You May Like We’re Bowled Over: Engineering Alum Is a Top Cricket Player She’s Got Game: Sarah Spain ’02 Is a Star of Sports Journalism Fantasy Sports Media Business Helps Fans Create Dream Teams Former Big Red gymnast Alison Sheets-Singer ’00 is the lead scientist on Nike’s Project Amplify powered footwear system By Melissa Newcomb When Alison Sheets-Singer ’00 swung on the uneven bars as a competitive gymnast, she wasn’t just concentrating on her routine—she was thinking about the physics that make it possible. Her childhood coach, who held a doctorate in physics, had taught his athletes about the science behind every swing, flip, and landing. “I always had this idea that sport, science, and engineering just lived together,” says the former Big Red gymnast and mechanical engineering major. “If I could understand physics, then I could become a better athlete because of it.” That idea never left her. After earning a PhD in mechanical engineering from UC Davis, where she studied human movement, Sheets-Singer ultimately joined global sports gear and apparel giant Nike. Lyda Hill Philanthropies She’s currently the lead scientist for the company’s Project Amplify—the world’s first powered footwear system for walking and running. “You can think about it like having an extra set of calf muscles that are powered by batteries to help propel you along,” Sheets-Singer explains of the system, which is expected to launch commercially in 2028. I always had this idea that sport, science, and engineering just lived together. If I could understand physics, then I could become a better athlete because of it. Unlike a typical sneaker, Project Amplify footwear extends up the lower leg. The three main components—a carbon-plated shoe, motor, and battery pack—are connected via a lightweight titanium frame. The rechargeable battery is housed in a cuff that wraps around the calf and connects to the motor, which is mounted on the outside of the leg. NikeVarious pieces of Project Amplify gear under development. From the motor, the frame attaches to a shoe that is reinforced with a carbon-fiber plate throughout the sole. When the motor pulls upward on the heel, the stiff plate transfers that force forward, pushing down on the toe and driving the wearer into the next step. “It’s like an e-bike for your feet,” says Sheets-Singer, whose title is senior principal researcher, innovation. “You feel a nudge as you’re pushing off the ground on each step, and that nudge propels you into your next step—which means your calves have to do a little bit less, because it’s doing a bit more for you.” duffield collegeOn a Big Red magazine cover in 2000. The technology is not designed as a medical device for people with mobility impairments, nor is it intended to help elite competitors gain an advantage on race day. Instead, its target audience is what Nike calls the “everyday athlete”—people who want to walk or run for longer and faster. That could mean someone exploring a city on foot, or a recreational runner training for their first 5K. And while it it’s also not intended for collegiate competitors, Sheets-Singer can envision uses for students away from the field of play—perhaps especially at her alma mater. “Cornellians have to make it up the Slope every day,” she says with a laugh. “Campuses are huge. Athletes could wear this during the day and then have more to give for their practices.” Stories You May Like We’re Bowled Over: Engineering Alum Is a Top Cricket Player She’s Got Game: Sarah Spain ’02 Is a Star of Sports Journalism Because no two people walk exactly alike, the system is designed to learn each user’s stride and tailor its assistance based on such factors as speed and ankle movement. You can think about it like having an extra set of calf muscles that are powered by batteries to help propel you along. An optional app will allow users to further customize the experience by adjusting the level of assistance and selecting various running modes. As the project’s lead scientist, Sheets-Singer has overseen more than 50 experiments to refine how the technology looks, feels, and performs. Melanie HallSheets-Singer (back row, far left) with fellow members of the 1997 gymnastics team. For example, early versions placed the motor and batteries on the outside of the leg, but testing revealed that users felt a twisting sensation when walking; creating a flexible battery that spreads the weight around the leg made for a natural gait. Project Amplify is the latest innovation that Sheets-Singer—who was recently honored as one of the leading women sports innovators inspiring youth to enter STEM careers—has helped bring to life during her 14 years at Nike. As the project’s lead scientist, Sheets-Singer has overseen more than 50 experiments to refine how the technology looks, feels, and performs. Others include the Flyknit soccer boot, a unique knitted cleat introduced ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Much of her work, she says, has been guided by a fundamental question: “What technologies can we bring to the athlete to help them achieve their goals?” NikeThe Nike Sport Research Lab in Oregon, where Sheets-Singer is based. Sheets-Singer has also served as the lead researcher for Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, a team focused on next-generation ideas and emerging technologies—where Project Amplify originated. “When Nike works on a product like this,” she says, “where it can go and whom it can reach really blows my mind.” (Top: Photo courtesy of Nike.) Published June 26, 2026 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Storytime with Corey Why a Notable Ithacan Got a Shout-Out in ‘Seventy-Six Trombones’ Students New ‘Sensory Room’ Provides Refuge for Neurodivergent Students Alumni In the Wake of War, Alum Works to Ensure There’s ‘No One Left Behind’