Michele Lobo

• Gayle G. Arnold Award for the Best Scientific Paper, “Early versus late reaching mastery’s effect on object permanence in infants with motor delays receiving START-Play and usual care early intervention.” American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, 2022. The Gayle G. Arnold Award is the most prestigious award of the Academy.  This award is named in honor of Dr. Arnold, a self-taught developmental pediatrician and President of the Academy (1989-90). The award is presented annually to the authors of the best scientific paper. 
• Chattanooga Research Award, American Physical Therapy Association, for published work in Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal (PTJ) presenting an innovative study or theoretical model and discussing its impact on future clinical practice or physical therapy research, 2022. Harbourne, R.T., Dusing, S.C., Lobo, M.A., McCoy, S.W., Koziol, N.A., Hsu, L.Y., Willett, S., Marcinowski, E.C., Babik, I., Cunha, A.B., An, M., Chang, H., Bovaird, J., & Sheridan, S.M. (2021). START-Play physical therapy intervention impacts motor and cognitive outcomes in infants with neuromotor disorders: A multi-site randomized clinical trial. Physical Therapy. 101, 1-11. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa232. 
• Toby Long Award for the Best Paper Published in Pediatric Physical Therapy, “A novel means-end problem-solving assessment tool for early intervention: Evaluation of validity, reliability, and sensitivity”, 2021.
• Oral Presentation Award. Li, B., & Lobo, M.A. (2021). Assessing the needs of children with physical disabilities for upper extremity assistive  devices. 5th Assembly of the International Motor Development Research Consortium: Moving Across the Life Course – Research and Practice, virtual conference, global.
• Best Design Award – Functional. Golgouneh, A., Beaudette, E., Woelfle, H., Li, B., Subash, N., Redhouse, A., Jones, M., Martin, T., Lobo, M.A., Holschuh, B., & Dunne, L. (2021). Design of a hybrid SMA-pneumatic based wearable upper limb exoskeleton. Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Wearable Computers, virtual conference, global.
• Gayle G. Arnold Award for the Best Scientific Paper, “Efficacy of the START-Play Program for Infants with Neuromotor Disorders: Cognitive Outcomes”, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, 2019
• Stephen M. Haley Research Award, American Physical Therapy Association Section on Pediatrics, 2016
• Lolas E. Halverson National Young Investigator Award from The Motor Development & Learning Academy Committee of the National Association for Sport & Physical Education, 2008
• Dorothy Briggs Memorial Scientific Inquiry Award, American Physical Therapy Association, 2006
• University of Delaware Dissertation Fellowship Award, 2005-2006
• Promotion of Doctoral Studies II Award, Foundation for Physical Therapy, 2004-2005
• University Graduate Fellows Award, The University of Delaware, 2004-2005
• American Physical Therapy Association, Pediatric Section Clinical Research Award 2003-2004
• Competitive Fellowship Award, The University of Delaware, 2003-2004
• Promotion of Doctoral Studies II Award, Foundation for Physical Therapy, 2003-2004
• Promotion of Doctoral Studies I Award, Foundation for Physical Therapy, 2002-2003
• McMillan Doctoral Scholarship, American Physical Therapy Association, 2000-2001
• Wyeth-Ayerst Junior Award in Biology, 1994
• Annie F. Stout Scholarship for Study in Biology, 1994
• Phi Kappa Phi National Interdisciplinary Honor Society, Inducted 1993
• Tri Beta Biological Honor Society , Inducted 1993
• Psi Chi Psychological Honor Society, Inducted 1993

• Child development and learning
• Rehabilitation technologies
• Early intervention

Research Interest

1. Investigation of the role of perceptual-motor experiences in learning and problem-solving
2. Design of early, effective interventions and rehabilitation devices to advance development for infants and children with delays

• Associate Professor, Fashion & Apparel Studies Department
• Member, Center for Autonomous and Robotic Systems

• American Physical Therapy Association, 1995-present
• American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance & National Association for Sport & Physical Education, 2005-present
• Society for Research in Child Development, 2008-present
• Jean Piaget Society, 2011

1. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., & Heathcock, J.C. (2015). Characterization and intervention for upper extremity behaviors in infancy. Journal of Hand Therapy, 28(2), 114-125.
2. Lobo, M.A. (2014). Invited Commentary: Rethinking computer design from a disabilities rights standpoint. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 56(12), 1138-1139.

Publications

1. Babik, I., Galloway, J.C., & Lobo, M.A. (in preparation). Development of spontaneous exploratory behaviors in the first two years for infants with typical development and those born preterm. Research in Developmental Disabilities.

1. Hall, M.L. & Lobo, M.A. (in review). Design for (dis)ability: Creating wearable technology to enhance arm mobility for children with movement impairments. Assistive Technology.
2. Babik, I., Kokkoni, E., Cunha, A.B., Galloway, J.C., Rahman, T., & Lobo, M.A. (in review). Effectiveness of a novel exoskeleton for an infant with impaired upper extremity function. Pediatric Physical Therapy.
3. Lobo, M.A., Koshy, J., Hall, M.L., Erol, O., Cao, H., Buckley, Galloway, J.C., & Higginson, J. (in press). Playskin LiftTM: Development and initial testing of a do-it-yourself exoskeletal garment to assist upper extremity mobility and function. Physical Therapy.
4. Cunha, A.B., Lobo, M.A., Kokkoni, E., Galloway, J.C., & Tudella, E. (2015). Effect of short-term training on reaching behavior in infants: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Motor Behavior.
5. Logan, S.W., Schreiber, M., Lobo, M.A., Pritchard, B., George, L., & Galloway, J.C. (2015). Real world behavioral doses: Physical activity, play, and object-related behaviors of toddlers with and without disabilities. Pediatric Physical Therapy.
6. Lobo, M.A., Kokkoni, E., Cunha, A.B., & Galloway, J.C. (2015). Infants born preterm demonstrate impaired exploration behaviors throughout infancy and toddlerhood. Physical Therapy, 95(1), 51-64.
7. Lobo, M.A., Kokkoni, E., de Campos, A.C., & Galloway, J.C. (2014). Not just playing around: Infants’ behaviors with objects reflect ability, constraints, and object properties. Infant Behavior & Development, 37(3), 334-351.
8. Lobo, M.A., Paul, D.A., Mackley, A., Maher, J., & Galloway, J.C. (2014). Instability of delay classification and determination of early intervention eligibility in the first two years of life. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35, 117-126.
9. Harbourne, R.T., Lobo, M.A., Karst, G.M., & Galloway, J.C. (2013). Sit happens: Does sitting development perturb reaching development or vice versa? Infant Behavior & Development, 36, 438-450.
10. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2013). Assessment and stability of early learning abilities in preterm and full-term infants across the first two years of life. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34 (5), 1721-30.
11. Lobo, M.A., Harbourne, R.T., Dusing, S.C., & Westcott McCoy, S. (2013). Grounding early intervention: Physical therapy cannot just be about motor skills anymore. Physical Therapy, 93 (1), 94-103.
12. Dusing, S.C., Lobo, M.A., Lee, H., & Galloway, J.C. (2013). Intervention in the first weeks of life for infants born late preterm: A case series report. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 25 (2), 194-203.
13. Lobo, M.A. & Galloway, J.C. (2013). The onset of reaching significantly impacts how infants explore both objects and their bodies. Infant Behavior and Development, 36 (1), 14-24.
14. Gadin, E., Lobo, M.A., Sem, K., Paul, D., Steiner, K., Mackley, A., Anzilotti, K., & Galloway, J.C. (2012). Volumetric MRI and MRS and early motor development of infants born preterm. The Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy, 24 (1), 38-44.
15. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2012). Enhanced handling and positioning in early infancy advances development throughout the first year. Child Development, 83(4), 1290-1302.
16. Lobo, M.A. & Galloway, J.C. (2008). Postural and object-oriented experiences advance early reaching, object exploration, and means-end behavior. Child Development, 79(6), 1869-1890.
17. Heathcock, J.C., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2008). Movement training advances the emergence of reaching in infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestational age: A randomized clinical trial. Physical Therapy, 88(3), 310-322.
18. Heathcock, J.C., Bhat, A.N., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2005). The relative kicking frequency of infants born full-term and preterm during learning and short-term and long-term memory periods of the mobile paradigm. Physical Therapy, 85(1), 8-18.
19. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2004). General & task-related experiences affect early object interaction. Child Development, 75(4), 1268-1281.
20. Heathcock, J.C., Bhat, A.N., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2004). The performance of infants born preterm and full-term in the mobile paradigm: Learning and memory. Physical Therapy, 84(9), 808-821.
21. Bhat, A., Lobo, M.A., Heathcock, J., Galloway, J. (2003). Joint excursion combinations during early arm movements in infants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 25, S27.
22. Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J. (2003). Exploring and selecting solutions in the mobile paradigm: Full-term and preterm infants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 25, S69.
23. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., & Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2003). Task-specific and generalized movement practice affects the emergence of reaching in infants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 25, S92.
24. Galloway, J.C., Bhat, A., Heathcock, J., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Shoulder and elbow dynamics during vertical arm movements. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 24, 56-7.
25. Galloway, J.C., Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Feet reaching: The interaction of experience and ability in preterm infants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 24, 57.
26. Galloway, J.C., Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Feet reaching: The interaction of experience and ability in full-term infants. Journal of Sport & Exercise Physiology, 24, 57-8.

1. Galloway, J.C., Babik, I., Hall, M.L., & Lobo, M.A. (2015). Mobility Innovation Village. Preconference course at the American Physical Therapy Association NEXT Conference & Exposition, National Harbor, MD.
2. Hall, M., Babik, I., Koshy, J., & Lobo, M.A. (2015). My exoskeleton has sequins: Merging fashion, engineering, rehabilitation, and child development to design assistive devices. Poster presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
3. Babik, I., Libassi, L., Movva, N., & Lobo, M.A. (2015). Rehabilitation intervention changing the dynamics of movement in children with arthrogryposis. Poster presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
4. Hall, M.L., Koshy, J., & Lobo, M.A. (2015) Playskin LiftTM: Development of a garment-based exoskeleton for children with arm movement impairments. Oral presentation at the TechStyleLAB Symposium, Kent, Ohio.
5. Koshy, J., Chang, K., Oblender, R., Olaya, M., Buckley, J.M., Hall, M. & Lobo, M.A. (2014). Playskin LiftTM: An exoskeletal garment to assist upper extremity mobility and function. Poster presentation at The 7th World Congress of Biomechanics, Boston.
6. Rahman, T., Kokkoni, E., Galloway, J.C., & Lobo, M.A. (2014). Development and testing of a modular upper extremity exoskeleton for infants. Biodevices Conference, France.
7. Lobo, M.A. & Heathcock, J. (2014). Early intervention to promote upper extremity function: What’s known. Two-hour oral session at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas.
8. Lobo, M.A. & Heathcock, J. (2014). Early intervention to promote upper extremity function: What’s needed. Two-hour oral session at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas.
9. Lobo, M.A. & Galloway, J.C. (2014). I Want It All, and I Want It Now: Pediatric Assistive Technology That Behaves Like a Kid. Two-hour oral session at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas.
10. Baraldi Cunha, A., Lobo, M.A., Kokkoni, E., Galloway, J.C., & Tudella, E. (2014). Effect of short-duration training on reaching behavior in infants. Poster presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas.
11. Kokkoni, E., Cunha, A., Rahman, T., Galloway, J.C., & Lobo, M.A. (2014). Use of a novel rehabilitation device to improve upper extremity function and play in an infant with arthrogryposis. Poster presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Las Vegas.
12. Lobo, M.A., Kokkoni, E., Baraldi Cunha, A. & Galloway, J.C. (2013). Infants born preterm explore objects differently than full-term infants throughout infancy and toddlerhood. Oral presentation at the Motor Development Research Consortium, Philadelphia.
13. Lobo, M.A. & Galloway, J.C. Assessment and stability of early learning abilities in preterm and full-term infants across the first two years of life. (2013). Oral presentation at the Motor Development Research Consortium, Philadelphia.
14. Baraldi Cunha, A., Kokkoni, E., Lobo, M.A., de Almeida Soares, D., Galloway, J.C., & Tudella, E. (2013). Effect of different types of short-duration training on spatio-temporal parameters of reaching in infants. Poster presentation at the 12th Congress of European Forum for Research in Rehabilitation, Istanbul.
15. Dusing, S., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2013). Posture and movement experience advance object exploration and motor development in the late preterm infant: A prospective case series report. Poster presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
16. Kokkoni, E., Paul, D., Mackley, A., Steiner, K., Gadin, E., Anzilotti, K., Galloway, J.C., & Lobo, M.A. (2012) Object exploration in the first years of life may be primarily unimanual for infants with Cerebral Palsy. Preliminary evidence. AACPDM
17. Paul, D. A., Mackley, A., Lobo, M.A., Anzilotti, K., Steiner, K., & Galloway, J. C. (2012). Motor delay in preterm infants is not associated with changes in cerebellar volume measured prior to hospital discharge. Poster presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.
18. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2011). Developmental impact of a caregiver-provided postural training program in infancy. Poster presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
19. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., Harbourne, R., & Dusing, S. (2011). Intervention to advance sitting and reaching in infants and young children with disabilities: Evidence and clinical decision making principles. Symposium presentation at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association.
20. Libertus, K. Lobo, M.A., Schwartzer, G., & Galloway, J.C. (2011). Enhancing development? The positive influences of early experiences on development. Paper symposium presentation at The Society for Research in Child Development.
21. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2010). Object exploration behaviors in early infancy: Relationship with age, spontaneous movements, and reaching ability. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
22. Gadin, E., Paul, D.A., Mackley, A., Anzilotti, K., Steiner, K., Lobo, M.A., Sem, K., & Galloway, J.C. (2010). Correlation of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the preterm white matter. Poster presentation at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting.
23. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2009). Early object exploration in infancy: Effects of the onset of reaching and gestational age at birth. Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Annual Conference and Exposition.
24. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2008). Postural and object-oriented experiences advance early reaching, object exploration, and means-end behavior. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
25. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2006). Postural & task-related experiences advance infants’ abilities to contact & explore objects. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
26. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., & Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2005). General & task-related experiences affect early object interaction. Poster presentation at the Motor Development & Learning in Infancy II Conference.
27. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2005). Effects of social, postural, & task-related experiences on infants’ abilities to contact & explore objects. Poster presentation at the Motor Development & Learning in Infancy II Conference.
28. Galloway, J.C., Lobo, M.A., Bhat, A. (2005). The emergence of purposeful control in early infancy: Appreciating Esther Thelen. Symposium at the NASPSPA Annual Conference.
29. Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2005). Effects of social, postural, & task-related experiences on infants’ abilities to contact & explore objects. Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience 35th Annual Meeting.
30. Bhat, A., Heathcock, J., Lobo, M., & Galloway, J.C. (2004). Spatio-temporal patterns of early arm movements. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
31. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., & Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2004). General & task-related experiences affect early object interaction. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
32. Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., Lobo, M.A., & Galloway, J.C. (2003). Learning in full-term and pre-term infants: Implications for intervention with ‘prefunctional’ infants. Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting.
33. Galloway, J.C., Bhat, A., Heathcock, J., Manal, K., & Lobo, M.A. (2003). Shoulder & elbow dynamics during vertical arm movements of various directions and speeds. Poster presentation at Physical Therapy 2003: Annual Conference & Exposition of the American Physical Therapy Association.
34. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2003). General v. specific movement training of hand and foot reaching in infants. Poster presentation at Physical Therapy 2003: Annual Conference & Exposition of the American Physical Therapy Association.
35. Lobo, M.A., Galloway, J.C., & Savelsbergh, G.J.P. (2003). Task-specific and generalized movement training affects the development of reaching in infants. Poster presentation at the NASPSPA Annual Conference.
36. Galloway, J.C., Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Feet reaching in young infants: the interaction of experience & ability. Poster presentation at the International Conference on Infant Studies.
37. Galloway, J.C., Bhat, A., Heathcock, J., Manal, K., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Shoulder and elbow dynamics during vertical arm movements of various directions and speeds: Implications for infant development and patients with neurologic disorders. Poster presentation at the American Physical Therapy Association Annual Conference.
38. Galloway, J.C., Heathcock, J., Bhat, A., & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Development of object exploration with hands and feet in preterm infants. NASPSPA Annual Conference (motor control and motor development society).
39. Galloway, J.C., Heathcock, J., Bhat, A. & Lobo, M.A. (2002). Feet reaching: The interaction of experience and ability in full-term infants. Poster presentation at the NASPSPA Annual Conference.
40. Galloway, J.C., Bhat, A., Heathcock, J., Manal, K., & Lobo, M.A. (2001). Shoulder & elbow dynamics during vertical arm movements of various directions & speeds: implications for development. Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience Conference.