People
The Motor Control Lab brings together experts in the field of motor control science. Directed by Dr. James Thomas, P.T, Ph.D., our lab includes physical therapists, engineers, neuroscientists, and more!
Research Team
James
Thomas, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. Thomas, director of the Motor Control Lab at VCU, has been a licensed physical therapist for 32 years with over 15 years of clinical experience specializing in orthopedics and lower back pain.
Over the past 17 years, he has melded his clinical experiences and knowledge with his training in neuroscience to advance knowledge on trunk control and low back pain.
Dr. Thomas takes a multi-track approach understanding trunk control.
This approach includes:
1) The development of novel virtual reality assessment and treatment tools for a variety of orthopedic and neurologic impairments
2) Developing techniques to elucidate neural control of trunk movement
3) Using randomized clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of classic and novel treatments for low back pain.
Education:
University of Illinois at Chicago - 2000, Ph.D. Kinesiology
University of Illinois at Chicago - 1997, M.S. Kinesiology
Saint Louis University - 1985, B.S. Physical Therapy
Courses Taught: Multivariate Statistics, Differential Diagnosis, Bioinstrumentation, Physical Agents, Functional Anatomy, Advance Case Study, Management of Ageing
This approach includes:
1) The development of novel virtual reality assessment and treatment tools for a variety of orthopedic and neurologic impairments
2) Developing techniques to elucidate neural control of trunk movement
3) Using randomized clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of classic and novel treatments for low back pain.
Education:
University of Illinois at Chicago - 2000, Ph.D. Kinesiology
University of Illinois at Chicago - 1997, M.S. Kinesiology
Saint Louis University - 1985, B.S. Physical Therapy
Courses Taught: Multivariate Statistics, Differential Diagnosis, Bioinstrumentation, Physical Agents, Functional Anatomy, Advance Case Study, Management of Ageing
Susanne van der Veen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. van der Veen is a licensed physical therapist with clinical experience specializing in
mobility in the elderly population with neurological and orthopedic disabilities. During her master’s degree and doctorate studies,
the primary research focus has been on motor control and factors that affect foot placement accuracy. This determined how important balance is for safe gait and gait adaptability.
Since January 2018 she has been working with Dr. Thomas on various VR projects and is responsible for running the VIGOR study (Phase II RCT examining the effectiveness of virtual dodgeball to reduce pain in and disability in chronic low back pain). Further, she has worked with our lead programmer to develop a series VR tools for balance assessment and treatment.
Education:
Salford University, Salford, United Kingdom - 2018, Ph.D. Health Science
Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 2014, M.S. Human Movement Science
Hoge school van Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands - 2010, B.S. Physical Therapy
ResearchGate Profile
Since January 2018 she has been working with Dr. Thomas on various VR projects and is responsible for running the VIGOR study (Phase II RCT examining the effectiveness of virtual dodgeball to reduce pain in and disability in chronic low back pain). Further, she has worked with our lead programmer to develop a series VR tools for balance assessment and treatment.
Education:
Salford University, Salford, United Kingdom - 2018, Ph.D. Health Science
Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 2014, M.S. Human Movement Science
Hoge school van Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands - 2010, B.S. Physical Therapy
ResearchGate Profile
Alexander Stamenkovic, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Having a keen interest in the link between human structure and function, Dr. Stamenkovic’s research
focuses on the underlying neuromuscular coordination that drives human movement. Under an
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, his doctoral studies (University of
Wollongong, Australia) investigated the role that body posture plays in the control of balance and
movement preparation during goal-directed reaching. During this time, he was awarded the University
of Wollongong Vice Chancellor’s Sessional Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning
(OCTAL) and inducted as a Fellow of the Wollongong Academy for Tertiary Teaching & Learning
Experience (WATTLE).
Currently, he assists Dr. Thomas in the NIH-funded Phase II Clinical Trial, ‘Project VIGOR’ and is exploring how immersive technologies influence sensorimotor control. He is an active member of the International Society of Posture & Gait Research (ISPGR), holding roles on both the Communications and Strategic Planning committees.
Education:
University of Wollongong, Australia – 2018, Ph.D. Motor Control
University of Wollongong, Australia – 2011, B.S. (Hons. Class I) Exercise Science
ResearchGate Profile
Currently, he assists Dr. Thomas in the NIH-funded Phase II Clinical Trial, ‘Project VIGOR’ and is exploring how immersive technologies influence sensorimotor control. He is an active member of the International Society of Posture & Gait Research (ISPGR), holding roles on both the Communications and Strategic Planning committees.
Education:
University of Wollongong, Australia – 2018, Ph.D. Motor Control
University of Wollongong, Australia – 2011, B.S. (Hons. Class I) Exercise Science
ResearchGate Profile
Alex Peebles
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Peebles is passionate about injury prevention, and his research focuses on identifying, understanding, and improving movement deficits associated with injury risk/progression.
He graduated with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech in 2020, where his dissertation focused on developing methods to assess human movement which are reliable and feasible to use in clinical settings. He later used these methods to identify movement deficits present during jumping and landing in patients following ACL reconstruction surgery during routine outpatient physical therapy
sessions. Alex has been a contributing member of the American Society of Biomechanics since 2015, and recently joined the American College of Sports Medicine in 2018.
Alex joined the Motor Control Lab in 2020, and has been helping the team with the VIGOR project, a phase II clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based intervention for improving movement and reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Education:
Virginia Tech – 2020, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering
University of Kansas – 2017, M.S. Bioengineering
Roger Williams University, Rhode Island - 2015, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Google Scholar Profile
Alex joined the Motor Control Lab in 2020, and has been helping the team with the VIGOR project, a phase II clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based intervention for improving movement and reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Education:
Virginia Tech – 2020, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering
University of Kansas – 2017, M.S. Bioengineering
Roger Williams University, Rhode Island - 2015, B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Google Scholar Profile
Tiffany Amos
Clinical Research Coordinator
Tiffany is a highly competent Research Coordinator with a background in Traumatic Brain Injury research, in the Veteran population.
She is experienced in preforming and scoring qEEG recordings, preforming Computerized Posturography tests and administering and scoring neuropsychological tests.
Tiffany is currently a Research Coordinator with CERSE and helps with grant applications, regulatory submissions, and study coordination.
Education:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - 2003, B.S. Psychology
Education:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - 2003, B.S. Psychology
Jason Arhin
Game Programmer
Jason is a software developer specializing in virtual reality and standalone game development in Unity Engine and C#. He also has experience building computer applications using Java.
Since joining the MCL team in February 2021, he has worked to maintain working order of the VIGOR study VR game suite. He continues to work with the MCL team to add new features to both the suite and this website, and continue to support existing features as well. He will also work with the postdoctoral fellows to develops new programs to aid in clinical research.
Education:
George Mason University - 2018, B.F.A. Computer Game Design
LinkedIn Profile
Since joining the MCL team in February 2021, he has worked to maintain working order of the VIGOR study VR game suite. He continues to work with the MCL team to add new features to both the suite and this website, and continue to support existing features as well. He will also work with the postdoctoral fellows to develops new programs to aid in clinical research.
Education:
George Mason University - 2018, B.F.A. Computer Game Design
LinkedIn Profile
Graduate Students
Forough Abtahi
Graduate Student
Forough Abtahi practiced as an outpatient’s physical therapist for almost 5 years in Iran. She is a first-year PhD student in rehabilitation and movement science-neuromusculoskeletal track and recently
joined the MCL. Forough obtained her B.S. in physical therapy at Shiraz University of Medical Science,
Shiraz, Iran. During her undergraduate studies, she investigated the effect of manual therapy on people
with sacroiliac joint dysfunctions and its relation to postural control. She graduated from Shahid
Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran with M.S. in Physical Therapy on 2018. Her master
thesis was focused on how manual therapy applied to the wrist influences proprioception. Her research interests
include motor control, proprioception, balance & postural control.
Forough is currently involved in data collection at VIGOR project, a Phase II clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based intervention for improving movement and reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Education:
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran - 2018, M.S. Physical Therapy
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran - 2013, B.S. Physical Therapy
Forough is currently involved in data collection at VIGOR project, a Phase II clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based intervention for improving movement and reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.
Education:
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran - 2018, M.S. Physical Therapy
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran - 2013, B.S. Physical Therapy
Tasha Nasevich
Graduate Student
Tasha is finishing up her 2nd year as a student in VCU's Doctor of Physical Therapy program and began working in the Motor Control Lab in the Fall of 2020. She assists with data collection for the VIGOR project, a phase II clinical trial that examines the impact of virtual reality-based intervention on pain perception and movement capabilities in individuals with chronic low back pain.
While still exploring which patient populations she would like to work with upon completion of her program, she has an interest in the chronic pain population and has enjoyed seeing the application of an emerging treatment technology for this condition.
In addition to working in the MCL, Tasha volunteers with VCU's pro bono physical therapy clinic (the CARES clinic) which helps to provide services to Richmond's lower income and underserved communities.
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University - 2022, DPT
University of Virginia - 2013, B.A. Economics
While still exploring which patient populations she would like to work with upon completion of her program, she has an interest in the chronic pain population and has enjoyed seeing the application of an emerging treatment technology for this condition.
In addition to working in the MCL, Tasha volunteers with VCU's pro bono physical therapy clinic (the CARES clinic) which helps to provide services to Richmond's lower income and underserved communities.
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University - 2022, DPT
University of Virginia - 2013, B.A. Economics
Clinical Research and Applied
Technologies Experience (CREATE)
Aligning with VCU Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences Internship requirements (HPEX 395/495), the Undergraduate: Clinical REsearch and Applied Technologies Experience (U:CREATE) provides students with an opportunity to explore the day-to-day workings of a clinical research facility. Students will be exposed to work at all stages of the translational research cycle (from basic to clinical trials research), and will learn to utilize specialty data collection techniques (e.g., kinematics, kinetics, virtual reality, cortical activity, neuromuscular stimulation) to analyze the relationship between neural control and movement in a range of orthopedic and neurological populations. At the heart of the experience is a desire to promote behaviors that will allow critical thinking to flourish, in a practical ‘hands-on’ learning environment, as students continue towards careers in the medical, engineering, or allied health professions. Additional opportunities exist for individuals interested in gaining experience in Unity, virtual reality and game development. For more information, contact us at: mcl@vcu.edu
- Current:
- Spring 2021
- Past:
- Fall 2020
- Daniela Cruz
- Richard Nguyen
- Kimberly Ito
- Spring 2020
- Fall 2019
- Spring 2021
- Fall 2020
- Daniela Cruz
- Richard Nguyen
- Kimberly Ito
- Spring 2020
- Fall 2019