Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 1983, California State University, San Luis Obispo
Biomedical Engineering Certificate Program, 1984, University of California, Irvine
M.S. in Bioengineering, 1985, University of California, San Diego
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, 1990, University of California, Davis

Research Summary

My research objectives are to understand the mechanisms that influence the performance of skeletal muscle and gross human movement, and to develop tools based on this information that can be used to assist people afflicted with various musculoskeletal disorders, to maximize athletic performance, and to minimize worker fatigue. I pursue two basic areas of research. The first area involves the study of fundamental properties of biological tissues (i.e. bone, ligament, tendon, and muscle). The second area involves the study of gross limb dynamics and how the properties of individual muscle-tendon units contribute to these dynamics. I believe that simultaneous investigations of these two research areas are essential for understanding the mechanisms contributing to human movement and performance. I utilize both animal and human models in my experimental investigations. I also utilize computer modeling and simulation techniques to study the interactions of various factors affecting muscle and human performance. Click here to view a flyer describing Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research conducted within the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of California - Davis.