Yasmine Jutt has always loved sports – just not in the way the rest of us do.
Instead of cheering the big play, Jutt, a graduate student in Marshall University’s biomechanics program, is more interested in what happens during the play – the physics of a perfect pitch, the mechanics of movement, and how the body is affected by the rigors of repeated motions required for elite competition.
That passion, paired with her accomplishments and student-focused research at Marshall, helped her land one of the most coveted internships in professional sports – working with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I applied back in December and didn’t hear much,” Jutt recalls. “Then, over the holidays, I came across this online event the Dodgers were hosting about careers in baseball operations. I decided to apply as a presenter.”
That effort paid off. Jutt won her category with a presentation focused on grip friction and its potential link to elbow injuries, particularly ulnar collateral ligament damage – a relevant issue at the forefront of baseball’s health and performance concerns. Research like Jutt’s could redefine how pitchers train and recover, potentially leading to safer pitching techniques.
Her presentation caught the attention of the selection committee and helped strengthen her application for an internship, but it wasn’t a guaranteed internship.
She described the interview process as “very difficult,” a true test of not only her skills but also her determination. Jutt passed the test. She got the call.
She began her internship with an orientation at the iconic Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, alongside other high-achieving students from across the country, before relocating to Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona – the Dodgers’ spring training hub and home to their cutting-edge, 12,000-square-foot performance innovation lab.
Now, as a performance science intern, she’s deep in the data – collecting, analyzing and interpreting information that could help some of the world’s best athletes perform even better while avoiding injury.
Though she might be new to the big leagues, Jutt is no stranger to working with athletes. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, the study of the mechanics of body motion, she spent a few years working with minor league athletes playing hockey and lacrosse before deciding to return to school and enroll at Marshall for an advanced degree.
“I was looking for a biomechanics master’s degree program that was course-based because I know that practical experience is really important,” Jutt said. “Marshall was my first choice, and here I am.”
Offering practical experience means that Marshall University’s biomechanics master’s program teaches students like Jutt more than just academics – it offers real-world impact.
For Jutt, that impact now includes big-league experiences on one of baseball’s biggest stages.
For more information on Marshall’s graduate program in biomechanics, visit: Biomechanics, M.S. – Academics
