Meet our lab members
James M. Finley, PhDPrincipal Investigator
Bio:
Dr. Finley received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Florida A&M University, and his MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. After completing his PhD, Dr. Finley completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. Current Research: Dr. Finley's primary research interest is understanding how walking is controlled and adapted in both healthy individuals and in individuals with neuromotor impairments. As the director of the Locomotor Control lab, Dr. Finley incorporates techniques from engineering, neuroscience, and physiology to understand the factors that drive locomotor learning. List of Publications |
Natalia Sanchez, PhDAssistant Professor of ResearchBio:
Dr. Sanchez joined the division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy in the fall of 2015. Dr Sanchez received her BS in Biomedical Engineering from the Universidad EIA – Universidad CES, Colombia, and her MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. For her graduate work, Dr. Sanchez focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying movement disorders, particularly, the volitional control of the lower extremity after injury to the nervous system due to stroke. Current Research: Dr. Sanchez's research focuses on understanding the role of energetics in locomotor adaptation in healthy and pathological populations such as individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Her research aimed at determining the influence of spatiotemporal asymmetry on the increased energetic cost of walking after stroke was awarded an American Heart Association post-doctoral fellowship. List of Publications |
Russell Johnson, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Bio
Dr. Russell Johnson received his BS in Applied Exercise Science from Springfield College, and his MS and PhD degrees in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He joined the Locomotor Control Lab as a post-doctoral researcher in the summer of 2019. Current Research: Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on understanding the mechanics and energetics of locomotion using a combination of experimental and computer musculoskeletal modeling techniques. He is interested in understanding how metabolic energy expenditure, stability, and other factors influence gait in healthy individuals and those with movement disorders. |
Aram Kim, PT, MS
Doctoral Student in Biokinesiology
Bio:
Aram received her BS in Physical Therapy from Daegu Catholic University in Daegu, South Korea and her MS in Biokinesiology from USC. Current Research: Aram is interested in understanding underlying neural and behavioral mechanisms of locomotor learning in people with Parkinson’s disease. |
Chang Liu, MSDoctoral Student in Biomedical Engineering
Bio:
Chang graduated from USC with a BS in Biomedical Engineering (Mechanics emphasis). Current Research: Chang is interested in understanding factors influencing the reactive control balance in response to unexpected perturbations during walking. |
Pouria Nozari, MSDoctoral Student in Biomedical EngineeringBio:
Pouria received his BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. There, he performed research on path planning for reconfigurable mobile mechanisms and on energetics of reaching in people post-stroke. Current Research: Pouria is currently developing a simulation platform to test control algorithms for skill learning during bipedal locomotion. |
Shreya Jain, MA
Doctoral Student in Biokinesiology
Bio:
Shreya is a PhD student in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at USC. She received her bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from BITS-Pilani, India and her master's degree in Motor Learning and Control from Teachers College, Columbia University. Current Research: She is interested in understanding the neurological bases of locomotor behavior in people with Parkinson's disease. |
Ryan NovotnyDoctoral Student in Neuroscience
Bio
Ryan Received BS in Computer Science and BAS in Psychology at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. While there, carried out research pertaining to the use of linear regression models to characterize and remove movement artifact data from EEG signals during gait. Current Research: Interested in synergistic muscle activation during unexpected perturbation and subsequent recovery while walking in individuals post-stroke |
Isaiah Lachica
Doctoral Student in Biokinesiology
Bio:
Isaiah received his BS and MS in Kinesiology, with an emphasis on Exercise Science and Motor Behavior, from California State University, Northridge. There, he worked on studies that investigated the use of virtual and augmented reality for motor skill learning and to address Parkinsonian gait. Current Research: Isaiah is interested in understanding the visuomotor processes involved in how people with Parkinson’s disease control walking. |
Cathy Broderick, MSc
Lab Technician Bio: Cathy received her BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Davis, and then worked as a manufacturing engineer in the stroke-treatment medical device industry. Prior to joining USC, she received her MS in Mechanical Engineering – BioMechanical Design from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. For her Master’s work, she focused on microprocessor prosthetic knee walking gait controls and lower-limb prosthesis liner design. |
Alumni
Sungwoo Park
Subsequent Position: Postdoc in School of Engineering, Harvard University
Lindsey Trejo
Subsequent Position: Ph.D. student in Bioengineering, Georgia Tech
Nora Darakjian, DPT
Subsequent Position: Instructor of Clinical Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
Tatri Mukherjee
Subsequent Position: Physical Therapist, Health South Rehabilitation
Zixuan Zhou
Subsequent Position: M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Lucas de Macêdo Pinheiro
Subsequent Position: B.S. student in Control & Automation Engineering, Universidade de Brasilia
Marco Lopez
Subsequent Position: Doctorate student of Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
Subsequent Position: Postdoc in School of Engineering, Harvard University
Lindsey Trejo
Subsequent Position: Ph.D. student in Bioengineering, Georgia Tech
Nora Darakjian, DPT
Subsequent Position: Instructor of Clinical Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
Tatri Mukherjee
Subsequent Position: Physical Therapist, Health South Rehabilitation
Zixuan Zhou
Subsequent Position: M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
Lucas de Macêdo Pinheiro
Subsequent Position: B.S. student in Control & Automation Engineering, Universidade de Brasilia
Marco Lopez
Subsequent Position: Doctorate student of Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
Collaborators
Beth Fisher, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Professor of Clinical Physical Therapy USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Kathryn L Havens, PhD Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Therapy USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Vangelis Lympouridis, PhD Founder Enosis VR Judy Pa, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Neurology Nicolas Schweighofer, PhD Associate Professor USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy |
Marientina Gotsis, MFA
Research Assistant Professor School of Cinematic Arts Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Sara Mulroy, PhD, PT Director Rancho Los Amigos Pathokinesiology Lab Stefan Schaal, PhD Professor USC Department of Computer Science Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA Professor USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy |