Executive Committee

Brian C. Clark, Ph.D., Institute Director

Dr. Clark is an Assistant Professor of Physiology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences where he directs the Institute for Neuromusculoskeletal Research. His research is on neuromuscular adaptations in response to physical activity and under pathological conditions.

Gary Chleboun, P.T., Ph.D.

Dr. Chleboun is a Professor in the School of Physical Therapy where he directs the Muscle Mechanics Laboratory. His research is on the relationship between muscle architecture and muscle function.

David W. Russ, P.T., Ph.D.

Dr. Russ is an Assistant Professor in the School of Physical Therapy where he directs the Laboratory for Integrative Muscle Biology. His research is on the mechanisms of muscle force production at the system, tissue and molecular levels. In particular, he is interested in the changes in these mechanisms associated with aging, gender and fatigue in both human and animal models.

Stevan Walkowski, D.O.

Dr. Walkowski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Section of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. His research is on the efficacy and mechanisms of acupuncture and osteopathic manipulation.

Robert L. Williams, Ph.D.

Dr. Williams is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research is on kinematics, dynamics, controls, biomechanics, robotics, and haptics. In particular, he is interested in virtual reality simulation for medical training applications.

Affiliate Faculty

Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D.

Dr. Biknevicius is an Associate Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Her research is on the form-function paradigm through the use of morphometrics and biomechanics with a particular emphasis on comparative biomechanics.
 

John Cotton, Ph.D.

Dr. Cotton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research uses finite element modeling to study the mechanical integrity of bone.
 

David Eland, D.O., FAAO

Dr. Eland is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine. His research is on the efficacy and mechanisms of osteopathic manipulation.
 

Christopher France, Ph.D.

Dr. France is a Professor in the Department of Psychology where he directs the Cardiovascular Psychophysiology Laboratory. His research is on pain and risk for hypertension, pain-related fear, and nociceptive reflexes.
 

Jen-Tzer Gau, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Gau is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geriatric Medicine. His research involves clinical study of physical health and muscle function in older adults.
 

Robert Hikida, Ph.D.

Dr. Hikida is an Emeritus Professor of Histology and Cell Biology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His research is on the plasticity of skeletal muscle with particular interest in nucleocytoplasmic interactions in skeletal muscles and mechanisms of exercise- or activity-induced muscle damage and repair.
 

John Howell, Ph.D.

Dr. Howell is an Associate Professor of Physiology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His current research is on palpatory diagnosis of abnormal tissue textures and understanding the biology of manual therapies.
 

Richard Klabunde, Ph.D.

Dr. Klabunde is an Associate Professor of Physiology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His research is on cardiac and skeletal muscle microcirculation and oxygenation.
 

Andrew Krause, ATC, Ph.D.

Dr. Krause is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Athletic Training housed in the School of Recreation and Sports Sciences. His research is on neuromuscular adaptations to tissue injury.
 

Michael Kushnick, Ph.D.

Dr. Kushnick is an Associate Professor in the School of Recreation and Sports Sciences where he directs the Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory. His research is on the influence of exercise and diet on human performance and risk factor modification.
 

Robert Staron, Ph.D.

Dr. Staron is an Associate Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His research is on the plasticity of skeletal muscle with particular interest in myosin and muscle fiber types.
 

Julie Suhr, Ph.D.

Dr. Suhr is a Professor in the Department of Psychology where she directs the Clinical Neuropsychology Research Laboratory. Her research is on the effect of psychological (non-neurological) variables on neuropsychological performance in various psychological, neurological, and medical disorders.
 

James S. Thomas, P.T., Ph.D.

Dr. Thomas is an Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy where he directs the Motor Control Laboratory. His research is on the patterns of movement used to perform multi-joint reaching tasks in healthy individuals as well as those with neurological or orthopedic impairments.
 

Thad Wilson, Ph.D.

Dr. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Physiology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences where he directs the Cutaneous Biology Laboratory. His research is on sweat gland biology and environmental physiology.

Research Assistants & Fellows
 

Robert Conatser, M.S.

Mr. Conatser is Research Associate in the Institute for Neuromusculoskeletal Research. He has a master’s degree in Physics, and has technical expertise in computer programming & modeling, statistical analysis & experimental design, development and maintenance of laboratory equipment, and study coordination.
 

Richard Hoffman, M.S.

Mr. Hoffman is a Research Assistant in the Institute for Neuromusculoskeletal Research. He has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, and has technical expertise in electromyography, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and study coordination.
 

Kumika Toma, Ph.D.

Dr. Toma is post-doctoral research fellow. Her doctoral degree is in Muscle Biology, and she has technical expertise in histochemistry, biochemistry, muscle and skin biopsies, exercise testing, and study coordination.

2009-2010 Sybert Scholar Orthopedic Research Fellow

Paul Eichenseer, B.S.
Paul is the 2009-2010 recipient of the Sybert Scholar Orthopaedic Medicine Research Award.  He is a second year medical student conducting research on spino-pelvic biomechanics using finite element analysis with particular interest in sacroiliac joint mechanics.