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Stepping Into the Future: A Paralyzed Veteran Returns to Georgia Tech for His Ph.D.

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Aug 05, 2025 | By Tess Malone - Research Communications
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Photo of Coulter BME Ph.D. student Ignacio Montoya, standing on some sort of building rooftop with the skyline of Los Angeles behind him in the background. He is standing with the use of a walker.
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After a devastating motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down, Air Force veteran Ignacio Montoya refused to accept the odds. Now, armed with years of groundbreaking research on spinal stimulation and robotic exoskeletons, Montoya returns to Georgia Tech to pursue his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. His mission: harness AI and neurotechnology to transform recovery for millions living with spinal cord injuries — and prove that no one is beyond hope.

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