Visiting Scientists

John Brooke, PhD. Professor Emeritus in Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences

Tim Carroll, PhD. School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Australia

Tomoyoshi Komiyama, PhD. Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

Ole Andersen, PhD. Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

Irene Roozen, student, 2006, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

Mark Bowden

Chetan Phadke

Post doctoral fellows

Tsuyoshi Nakajima, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Japan) 2010 - 2011

Rinaldo A. Mezzarane, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Brazil) 2008 - 2010

Bachelor in Biology, M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at University of Sao Paulo.

He worked as a Post-Doctoral fellow in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory from 2008 - 2010 under the supervision of Dr. E Paul Zehr. His main research topic was the study of spinal cord neurophysiology including neural control of locomotion and posture. Rinaldo investigated homosynaptic depression and presynaptic modulation of soleus stretch reflex in stroke survivors during locomotor activity.

Read more: Rinaldo A. Mezzarane, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Brazil) 2008 - 2010

Graduate Student Trainees

Marc Klimstra, PhD 2005-2010, Neuromechanical considerations for the incorporation of rhythmic arm movement in the rehabilitation of walking

Geoff de Ruiter, MSc 2008-2010, Phase-dependent modulation of the soleus H-reflex induced by rhythmic arm cycling

Sandra Hundza, PhD 2002-2008, Modulation of within limb and interlimb reflexes during rhythmic arm cycling

Erin Vasudevan, PhD 2005-2008, Currently an Institute Scientist; Director, Motor Learning Lab at Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Bahar Javanrohbakhsh, MSc 2004-2006, Rhythmic arm cycling induces short-term plasticity of the soleus H-reflex amplitude

Yasaman Barsi, MSc 2004-2006, Effect of rhythmic arm movement on soleus H-reflex amplitudes in the less and more affected legs after stroke

Olle Lagerquist, MSc 2004, Cross education & the Hoffmann reflex response.

Matt Hodgson MSc 2004, Effects of Contractile History on Neuromuscular Output

Katie Dragert

Katie is a research assistant in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, and is involved with various ongoing motor control projects. She began graduate studies at UVic under the supervision of Dr. Zehr in 2005, and fast-tracked to the PhD program in 2009. Her research focus is on reflex plasticity associated with movement and exercise training.

Her current work is in the area of lower leg spinal reflex modulation associated with targeted resistance training at the ankle. She has studied healthy participants, and is currently exploring the effects of this
training in a post-stroke clinical group.

When not in the lab, Katie is a member of an outrigger paddling club and competes in long distance races throughout the year. She enjoys cycling and outdoor pursuits in the comfortable Victoria climate. She is also an aspiring apiarist, and has two honeybee hives in her backyard.

Allen Lewis 2009 - 2011

Allen joined the Rehabilitation Neuroscience lab team from 2009 to 2011 and has combined his clinical experience as a physiotherapist with research interests that include exercise and the aging adult, neural control during ambulation, and falls prevention. As a graduate student, Allen investigated the neural control of locomotion and possible influence of assistive device use on this control. Allen strives to blend research with his passion for teaching. When not in the lab, Allen may be found running at Elk Lake with his golden retriever, Finnegan.

Alejandro Villasenor-Herrera 2011-2012

Alejandro became a Biomedical Engineer in his home town Mexico City. His involvement in martial arts raised his interest in human movement. In 2002 he came to Canada to study Biomechanics in the Kinesiology Department at McGill University in Montreal, QC. He obtained his MSc degree in 2004 and in 2005 started his PhD in Biomedical Engineering also at McGill University. In the spring of 2011Alejandro decided to move to beautiful British Columbia, and found that Dr. Zehr and his team are doing very interesting research in the RNL. Presently Alejandro is finishing his dissertation leading to obtain the PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering. His research interests are towards the understanding the function of the neuromuscular system and how this knowledge can be applied to the development of new rehabilitation techniques and treatments of human motor disorders. He is a research assistant with the ongoing projects in the lab and is willing to learn neuroscience for future applications in the next stage of his career.

Tim Mack

Tim is interested in how mechanisms of neural plasticity can be used to maintain or recover cognitive abilities as we age and to promote recovery and functional independence following brain illness or injury. Of particular interest is how clinically proven interventions can be translated into accessible and cost effective community and outpatient based programs.

Through Tim\'s Ph.D. program he is currently researching the use of intra-individual variability (IIV) as a prodromal marker of central nervous system integrity in older adults. To measure IIV, he is using Near Infrared Spectroscopy, gait analysis and reaction time variability. Tim is interested in better understanding if these types of IIV markers are malleable to rehabilitation or lifestyle interventions and if interventions can change the trajectory of cognitive decline. He is also using health related quality of life (HRQoL) measures to compliment objective clinical markers of stroke recovery following an exercise rehabilitation intervention. Tim is interested in applying these same HRQoL measures in longitudinal studies of aging to better understand when someone becomes aware of cognitive decline, when this begins to impact their quality of life and how this interacts with their willingness to commit to lifestyle or rehabilitation type interventions.

Co-supervisors: Dr. Paul Zehr and Dr. Stuart MacDonald

Andres Palomino 2009 - 2011

Jacke Balter 2003 - 2006

Jackie Balter, originally from Golden Colorado, completed a B.S. degree in Kinesiology at Indiana University before beginning her M.S. at UVIC in 2003. Following the completion of her M.S degree in 2006, Jackie spent 3 months backpacking in Europe before returning to Denver Colorado. Since 2007 Jackie has been working as a Senior Professional Research Assistant in clinical research in the Physical Therapy program at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. In June of 2012 Jackie will begin a clinical master's program at the same school to become a Physician's Assistant.

Relative contributions from the arms and legs to cutaneous reflex modulation in the legs during a combined rhythmic task

Undergraduate Student Trainees

Kaitlin Jacobs 2010, Muscular strength training of the ankle dorsiflexors in a stroke population: Evidence for cross-education

Erica Giles 2010, Kinesiology Honours Student

Kendall Segin 2010, Kinesiology Honours Student

Evan Thomas 2008-2009, NSERC Undgergraduate Student Research Award

Julia Webb 2006, Kinesiology Honours Student, Linear increase of muscle activity by independent manipulation of crank load and cadence during recumbent leg cycling

Thea Wood, Kinesiology Honours Student

Kim Neufeld 2008, Biology Student

Kristy Inouye, May-August 2013, 2014

Kristy worked as a research assistant helping with data collection and analysis. Her work in the lab was funded by grants from the  National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. In June 2015, she graduated with a BSc Kinesiology (Honours) and looks forward to attending the University of British Columbia in September 2015 to complete her degree in occupational therapy. 

Kulveer Parhar, May - August 2011

Kulveer Parhar completed his undergraduate studies in Kinesiology and Health Sciences before earning admission into the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Currently in his second year, he was brought to our lab through the Faculty of Medicine\\\'s Summer Student Research Program with support from the Council of Undergraduate Associate Deans. His interests in neuroscience, musculoskeletal dynamics, and rehabilitation in neurotrauma patients attracted him to the research in Dr. Zehr\\\'s lab. Kulveer worked with Taryn Klarner (PhD candidate) investigating the effects of motor training on neuromuscular plasticity and function in the stroke population.

Kulveer\\\'s passion for exercise and health is not limited to the lab as he can be found playing any sport involving a field, court or track, especially soccer, basketball, squash and long distance running. Born and raised in Nanaimo, BC, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and is an avid fan of the Toronto Raptors.

Ryan Brodie, May - Aug 2010

Ryan joined the lab in the summer of 2010 through the co-op program with the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education. As a lab assistant, Ryan aided in several studies, helping to collect and analyze data with various other members of the lab.

His interests center around the use of computer technology in the analysis of human movement, both in rehabilitative and performance settings. Ryan also has a B.Sc in computer science, specializing in software engineering, also from the University of Victoria.

In addition to his other duties, Ryan was primarily responsible for the production of the websites for the lab and its principle investigator, Dr. E. Paul Zehr.

Kristy Lee, May - August 2004

As a Kinesiology Co-Op student, Kristy worked as a Research Assistant helping with data collection and analysis. After graduation she moved to Vancouver to complete her medical degree at the University of British Columbia. Currently (2012), Kristy is completing her residency in Radiology at UBC and has a research interest in trauma imaging.

Sabrina Gustafson, May - August 2003

Sabrina worked in the Rehab Neuro Lab during the summer of 2003, and was involved with various projects and experiments.  She has completed a B.Sc. (Hon) in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria and an M.Sc. in Neuroscience from the University of Alberta.  In the summer of 2012, she will receive her M.D. from the University of British Columbia and will begin training as a resident physician in Family Medicine in the Fraser Valley.  She is an outdoor enthusiast and hopes to integrate her interests in exercise and research with her clinical practice.

Stephanie van Citters, May - August 2003

Stephanie van Citters, 2003. Stephanie worked in the Rehab Neuro Lab during the summer of 2003. Steph assisted with various research projects. She is now an Occupational Therapist working with children. She is an avid rock climber and downhill skier.

Technicians

Karla Lopez Martinez, 2009, was a visting student from the Universidad Ibero-Americana in Mexico City, Mexico. She development a Controlled Tendon Tap Device for the lab.

Chris Elder , 2006, maintained our lab equipment and developed a current monitor for use with H-Reflex experiments.

Jen Magdelenich, 2004, was an Engineering co-op student who maintained our lab equipment and developed an optical sensor for our arm and leg cycling ergometers.

Gene Wey, 2003, was an Engineering co-op student who maintained our lab equipment and assisted in data collection.

Holly Murray, Research Coordinator

Holly was a research coordinator in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Lab and Behavioural Medicine Lab. She currently coordinates the second year human physiology labs in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education.

In the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Lab Holly took care of the administrative duties and helped with ongoing research projects.