Postdoctoral Fellow · University of Southern California
Developing predictive models of energetics, motor control, and stability.
I study the biomechanical and neuromotor factors underlying human movement — from the metabolic cost of muscle force production to postural control and fall risk across aging and neurological populations.
Currently seeking tenure-track faculty positions
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California, working with Dr. James Finley. My work investigates the biomechanical and neuromotor factors underlying anticipatory and reactive postural control in young adults, older adults, and individuals post-stroke, integrating human movement biomechanics and motor control with quantitative modeling to better understand balance impairments and fall risk.
I received my PhD in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University, advised by Dr. Manoj Srinivasan, where I developed data-driven models of human energetics and motor control — including nonlinear models of metabolic cost for isometric force production, predictive models of how humans share force across limbs, and a computational framework for the biomechanics of yoga postures. My background spans human-subjects experimentation, signal processing, optimization, and musculoskeletal simulation.
Human experiments measuring oxygen consumption during constant and time-varying isometric force production show that metabolic cost scales superlinearly with both force and force rate, well described by a power law. This nonlinear metabolic model accurately predicts how humans distribute forces between arms, legs, and fingers — outperforming linear, quadratic, and signal-dependent-noise theories — linking bioenergetics directly to motor control.
A computational framework predicting whole-body joint torques, reaction forces, and ground contact forces during static yoga poses using metabolic cost minimization. Applying the framework to 55 sagittally symmetric yoga poses produced a novel kinematics and kinetics dataset, laying groundwork for evidence-based, patient-specific yoga interventions.
My current work at USC develops predictive models of people's perception of fall risk and balance capacity across different walking speeds, perturbation directions, and arm use — extending toward how postural control and force-sharing change with aging and post-stroke movement disorders.
Certificate in Excellence in Mentoring, Integrated Movement Science Institute
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Los Angeles, CA