Michelle M. Fowler
Michelle M. Fowler is the Director of Applied Research at the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), North America’s most advanced, independent mobility testing service provider. Michelle leads multidisciplinary programs focused on automated vehicle safety, advanced driver assistance systems, connected vehicle technologies, and occupant protection. Her work supports industry, government, and academic partners in developing safer transportation systems and evaluating emerging mobility technologies.
Michelle also leads TRC’s Research Consortium for Crashworthiness in Automated Driving Systems (RCCADS), a global pre-competitive collaboration uniting automotive manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, government agencies, and academic institutions. The consortium advances foundational research, validation methods, and safety tools needed to evaluate occupant protection and crashworthiness in future automated vehicle environments.
Prior to joining TRC, Michelle conducted biomechanics research at The Ohio State University’s Injury Biomechanics Research Center and worked as an Automotive Biomedical Research Engineer with Honda R&D Americas. Across her career, she has focused on understanding real-world injury mechanisms and translating research into practical safety improvements in vehicle design and transportation policy.
Michelle is an active contributor to national and international transportation safety initiatives and frequently speaks on the future of mobility, automated vehicle safety, and inclusive transportation innovation. She is also a participant in Leadership Ohio, a statewide program focused on developing collaborative leaders to address Ohio’s most pressing challenges. Her work is driven by a commitment to advancing technologies that expand safe mobility and independence for all road users.