James M. Finley, Ph.D
Principal 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.
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:
Shreya is interested in understanding the influence of risk on decision-making during walking in young and older adults.
Ryan Novotny
Doctoral 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 the motor modules underlying movement control and the methods used to extract and quantify them, especially within stroke populations.
Catherine Yunis
Doctoral 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.
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 the speed-accuracy tradeoff during walking.
Tara Cornwell, MS
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.
Jackeline Tafur Oviedo, PT, MS
Doctoral Student in Biokinesiology
Bio:
Jackeline is a Physical Therapist with emphasis in Physical Activity and Human Development from Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia. She also holds a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. During her time there, she worked with motion capture systems to study the biomechanical effects of knee arthroplasty on the gait pattern of older adults. She has experience in neuro and orthopedic rehabilitation.
Current Research:
Jackeline is interested in understanding how aging impacts the influence of risk and effort on decision-making while walking.
Alumni
Russell Johnson
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University
Pouria Nozari
Subsequent Position: Quantitative Risk Strategy Associate at Goldman Sachs
Natalia Sanchez
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy at Chapman University
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
Collaborators
Kristan Leech, PhD, DPT Assistant Professor USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy
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
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
Carolee Winstein, PhD, PT, FAPTA
Professor
USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy