People
Faculty & Research Staff
Brian R. Umberger, Ph.D.
Professor, Movement Science
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2003
M.S., Springfield College, 1997
B.S., Central Connecticut State University, 1993
Honors, Awards & Distinctions:
Fellow, National Academy of Kinesiology, 2023
Founders’ Award, American Society of Biomechanics, 2022
President, American Society of Biomechanics, 2018-2019
Fellow, National Center for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research
Outstanding Teacher Award, UMass School of Public Health & Health Sciences, 2010
Excellence in Research Award, APTA Combined Sections Meeting, 2006
Varun Joshi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Movement Science Program, University of Michigan
Education:
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 2018
M. Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, 2012
B. Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, 2011
Research Interests:
Movement of biological systems
Computer modeling and simulation
Students
Alex Denton, M.S.
Doctoral Candidate, Movement Science
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
M.S., University of Michigan, 2019
B.S., University of Oregon, 2018
Research Interests:
Human locomotion
Computer modeling and simulation
Matt Mulligan, M.S.
Doctoral Candidate, Movement Science & Scientific Computing
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
M.S., University of Colorado, 2018
B.S., Claremont McKenna College, 2017
Research Interests:
Data Science and Machine Learning
Computer modeling and simulation
Sheeba Davis, M.Tech.
Doctoral Student, Movement Science
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
M.Tech., Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 2006
B.E., Madurai Kamaraj University, 2004
Research Interests:
Human locomotion
Computational biomechanics
Daphna Raz, M.S., M.A.
Doctoral Student, Robotics
Co-advised with Necmiye Ozay, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Education:
M.S., University of Michigan, 2020
M.A., University of Michigan, 2018
B.Mus., University of Michigan, 2010
Research Interests:
Verification & validation of controllers for assistive devices
Computational biomechanics
Wenxi Zhang, M.S.
Research Assistant
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
B.S., Beijing Sport University, 2018
M.S., University of Michigan, 2022
Research Interests:
Biomechanics of human locomotion
Musculoskeletal modeling and simulation
Lillian Bambacht
Undergraduate Student, Movement Science
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
B.S., University of Michigan, in 2023
Research Interests:
Human locomotion
Muscle properties from imaging
Wenxin Zhou
Undergraduate Student, Movement Science
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
Education:
B.S., University of Michigan, in 2025
Research Interests:
Biomechanics of human locomotion
Musculoskeletal modeling and simulation
Lab Alumni
Students, Postdocs & Visiting Scholars From UMich, UMass, and UKy
Robert Catena, Ph.D.
Russell Johnson, Ph.D.
Ryan Wedge, Ph.D., PT
Yiliu Cao, B.S. (DPT/MPH student)
Alexis Gidley, Ph.D.
Jonaz Moreno, M.S.
Leng-Feng Lee, Ph.D.
Kiichi Ash, M.S.
Kevin Anton, B.S.
Nathan Smith, M.S.
Brian Friscia, M.S.
Lisa Coppola, B.S.
Michael Busa, Ph.D.
Allison Gruber, Ph.D.
Matthew O’Neill, Ph.D.
Michelle LaBoda, M.S.
Marisa Theroux-Jones, M.S.
Matthew Seeley, Ph.D.
Gabe Fendley, M.S.