Vickie received BE in Electrical Engineering, BA in Film and Media Studies in 2002 and PhD in Bioengineering in 2007 all from the University of Auckland. She is a senior research fellow at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, a large scale research institute at the University of Auckland. Her  research focus is on neuromechanics and its application to injuries and degenerative diseases. Vickie uses an interdisciplinary approach that integrates multiscale computational techniques, advanced MRI and a novel 3D cell mechanical device to find biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various diseases and injuries. In particular, her recent work has focused on brain concussion and her team is developing a technology that can be translated into an easy-to-use diagnostic tool for detecting the presence and severity of brain damage from concussion.