Eva Erickson is a multi-talented individual with a passion for inspiring others through her experiences as the first openly autistic contestant on CBS Survivor, her ongoing engineering PhD research, and her extensive career in hockey as both a player and referee. Erickson earned her BS in Physics with a concentration in Physics of Living Systems (PoLS) at Georgia Tech, completing extensive research in bio-inspired robotics studying centipede locomotion on complex terrains as a member of the Complex Rheology and Biomechanics Lab (CRAB lab).

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Erickson was the first and only woman to play on the Georgia Tech Men’s Hockey Team. Following graduation, Erickson began her doctoral studies in Engineering in Fluid and Thermal Science at Brown University, focusing her dissertation research on the vibrational response of seal-whisker inspired models to vortical wake disturbances. She remains heavily involved in the hockey community as captain of the Brown Men’s Club Hockey team and an NCAA linesperson for Hockey East.

Erickson competed in season 48 of CBS’s hit reality competition show Survivor, winning the hearts of America with her authenticity and strength in sharing her autism story, and earning runner-up on the season. She has cultivated a social media presence highlighting Survivor, hockey, and the importance of autism advocacy.