Meet our lab members
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James M. Finley, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorBio:
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 |
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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 broadly focuses on the mechanisms that shape walking behaviors in healthy individuals and individuals after neurologic injury. Particularly, her research aims to understand individual-specific, longitudinal changes in motor control and walking behaviors after injury, with the long-term goal of prescribing individualized interventions to improve walking function. To accomplish her research goals, Dr Sánchez uses a combination of experimental methods in biomechanics, electromyography, and physiology, and computational methods in machine learning. List of Publications |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Ryan NovotnyDoctoral Student in Neuroscience
Bio:
Ryan received his BS in Computer Science and BAS in Psychology at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. While there, he carried out research pertaining to the use of linear regression models to characterize and remove movement artifact data from EEG during gait. Current Research: Ryan is interested in muscle synergies underlying the control of movement and the methods used to extract and quantify them, especially within stroke populations. |
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Catherine YunisDoctoral Student in Biomedical Engineering
Bio:
Catherine received her BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Neuroscience. She worked at Biogen as a Senior Research Associate working on clinical trials using wearables to track Parkinson’s Disease. Current Research: Catherine is interested in understanding how sensory information impacts walking function and developing technology that can be used to improve balance in people post-stroke. |
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Isaiah Lachica, MS
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. |
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Tara Cornwell
Doctoral Student in Biomedical Engineering
Bio:
Tara received her BS in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. There, she studied the impact of hearing on walking stability, gait training, and maneuverability in several clinical populations. Current Research: Tara is interested in understanding the relative contributions of anticipatory and reactive strategies for dynamic balance control during walking. |
Alumni
Aram Kim
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University
Chang Liu
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida
Cathy Broderick
Subsequent Position: Xsens
Sungwoo Park
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow 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: Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University
Chang Liu
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida
Cathy Broderick
Subsequent Position: Xsens
Sungwoo Park
Subsequent Position: Postdoctoral Fellow 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
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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 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 Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA Professor USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy |