Neuromusculoskeletal Health Laboratory

Lab Director

MS, Research Coordinator

Sydni Whitten is the research coordinator for the Neuromusculoskeletal Health Lab. Her responsibility is to coordinate and maintain our current clinical trial research project. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University. Her expertise lies in biomechanics research, which assesses the movement of individuals. She is passionate about engaging in research that furthers the field of rehabilitation science and improves the mobility of those with neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

MS, Graduate Research Assistant

Joel Licea is a graduate research assistant for the Neuromusculoskeletal Health Lab at UGA. His responsibilities focus primarily on the collection and analysis of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data. Joel completed his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina. He then completed his master’s degree in Kinesiology- Movement Science at the University of Michigan before beginning a PhD program in Kinesiology at UGA. Joel is passionate about uncovering underlying neural mechanisms related to motor function in efforts to provide insight on potential therapeutic interventions in those with motor deficiencies.

BS, Graduate Research Assistant

Junsoo Lee is a graduate research assistant for the Neuromusculoskeletal Health Lab. His responsibility is to collect and analyze muscular and skeletal architecture data with Ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Oriental medicine at Wonkwang University in South Korea. His interest is focused on improving the quality of life in people with muscular-skeletal diseases and providing an evidence-based medicine aspect to Oriental medicine.

PT, Graduate Research Assistant

Owais is a physical therapist and budding educator-researcher from Mumbai, India. He worked as a pediatric PT before joining the doctoral program at UGA, where he is the recipient of the GREAT fellowship awarded by the Graduate school. Owais’s expertise lies in the interaction of the visual and motor systems in goal-directed reaching in children with cerebral palsy. He is deeply interested in exploring novel assessments and treatment strategies to improve arm and hand use in children with CP. Owais is passionate about scientific writing and communication, and hopes to teach basic and clinical sciences at a medical school after completing his PhD.

MS, CSCS, Graduate Research Assistant

Trevor completed his undergraduate degree in Applied Exercise Science at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. He earned his master’s degree in Exercise Physiology here in the Neuromusculoskeletal Health Lab at the University of Georgia. Trevor’s research focuses on secondary complications of cerebral palsy, specifically cardiometabolic disease. He aims to present research that informs clinical care in an effort to improve the health and quality of life of those with cerebral palsy throughout their lifespan.

MBA, LAT, ATC, OTC
Graduate Research Assistant

Shelley earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine and went on to serve as a Certified Athletic Trainer. She has a master’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports Management. Prior to accepting her position here at UGA, she worked as a surgical athletic trainer at Emory Orthopedics and Spine Hospital where she assisted in total joint replacement procedures. Her specialty is biomechanics, working directly with our lab’s participant populations, and analyzing biomechanical data. Her goal is to improve therapeutic interventions and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.

MS, Graduate Research Assistant

Simin is a Graduate Research Assistant working in the Neuromusculoskeletal Health Lab and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of Kinesiology here at UGA. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Medical Physiology with an emphasis in neurosciences. She has previously worked as a research assistant at a movement disorders lab, where she gained experience working with clinical populations. She is interested in assessing neural activity during functional tasks. She is passionate about translating novel research into real-world applications.

BS, Graduate Research Assistant

Shelby received her BS in Health Science from Spelman College, where she was involved in a variety of premedical organizations and Parkinson’s disease research. Shelby’s responsibilities in the lab include collecting and analyzing biomechanics data to assess the physics behind human movement. Her interests include utilizing evidence-based biomechanical research to incorporate into her future practice as a pediatric orthopedic physician.