UD students come up BIG
BIOMS students win research and travel awards from professional organization
9:36 a.m., June 23, 2011--Three doctoral students in the University of Delaware’s interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science (BIOMS) graduate program have won awards from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Biomechanics Interest Group (BIG).
Kathy Liu, who is advised by Professor Thomas Kaminski in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, won a BIG research award, and Rich Willy and Rebecca Fellin both received BIG travel awards.
Honors Stories
National Medal of Science
Warren Award
Liu’s research focuses on ankle instability, with the goal of identifying those who are at risk and preventing injuries before they occur. For her ACSM presentation, “Increased Incidence of Ankle Sprain Does Not Lead to an Increase in Ligament Laxity,” she examined the relationship of the laxity, or looseness, of the ankle ligaments in those who have never suffered a sprain and those who have a history of ankle sprain.
Willy, who recently completed his doctorate under the advisement of Irene Davis, professor emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy, is studying gender differences in patellofemoral pain syndrome.
Also advised by Davis, Fellin is investigating the effect of gait retraining on external loading and associated bone loading in runners. She was the top travel award winner among the six recipients of this honor.
Willy and Fellin used the funds to attend the 27th annual ACSM Conference held in Denver from May 31–June 3, where they presented their research. Willy has previously received a research award from BIG, and Fellin has received both travel and research awards from the organization.
Willy recently accepted a position as assistant professor of physical therapy in the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
About the BIOMS Program
UD’s BIOMS program includes faculty from the College of Health Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Arts and Sciences who use an interdisciplinary approach to research and graduate education. BIOMS was recently ranked among the top graduate programs in its fields in the United States, according to the latest assessment by the National Research Council (NRC).
BIOMS master’s and doctoral students study in one of five areas of study that cross traditional academic boundaries: applied anatomy and biomechanics; applied/exercise physiology; molecular/tissue biomechanics; motor control and behavior; and rehabilitation engineering. Graduate students work with faculty advisers to design plans of study that suit their unique academic and research interests. Students gain research experience through involvement in over $30 million in federally funded research projects and through interaction with a variety of interdisciplinary research groups.
Article by Diane Kukich