Welcome to my research portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of some of my recent projects. Explore my projects to learn more about what I do.
Select Current Research Projects
Measuring Shoulder Muscle Fatigue State with Shear-Wave Elastography
Funding:
NSERC PGS-D Scholarship
Date:
December 2023 - est. June 2024
Location:
York University
For the fourth study of my PhD dissertation, I am using ultrasound shear-wave elastography to measure shoulder muscle stiffness changes with fatigue.
Shear-wave ultrasound is rapidly becoming a common research assessment technique to evaluate tissue stiffness. Previous research has used shear-wave ultrasound to assess muscle fatigue state, yet very little research exists at the shoulder.
Few lab-based methods to quantify viscoelastic muscle element stiffness changes are currently available. This study hopes to reveal whether viscoelastic muscle element stiffness changes can improve our ability to predict fatigue state.
Click on Poster to Magnify
Predicting Scapulothoracic Kinematics Changes with Fatigue
Funding:
NSERC PGS-D Scholarship
Date:
September 2023 - May 2024
Location:
York University
In the third study of my PhD dissertation, I am using the DELFT Shoulder and Elbow Model (DSEM) to predict shoulder kinematics changes associated with fatigue.
The inspiration for this study was to harness the powerful and rapid advancements in musculoskeletal modeling to target specific muscle weaknesses, which would be impossible to implement in human participants.
Current testing (top figure) shows that model-predicted kinematics appear within one standard deviation of empirical human scapulothoracic data (dark shaded region). Next steps will involve simulating muscle weakness due to fatigue.
This study is a collaborative effort with national and international biomechanics modeling experts and computer engineers.
Select Completed Research Projects
Shoulder Injury Risk Associated with Overhead Work
Funding:
NSERC PGS-D Scholarship (2023)
CRE-MSD Seed Grant
OGS Scholarship (2021-2022)
Date:
September 2022 - March 2023
Location:
York University
The first study of my PhD dissertation, this study looked at how working with our arms overhead can lead to Subacromial impingement and Rotator Cuff Tears; two of the most prevalent shoulder injuries.
This study was developed to try and understand why overhead workplace tasks are associated with a high likelihood of shoulder injury.
This study discovered that there is a large degree of variability in the muscle coactivity changes associated with fatigue. Overall, increased injury risk was associated with increased Upper Trapezius coactivity with fatigue (top figure).
In total, data collection for this research involved setting up 14 channels of surface EMG, 4 channels of intramuscular EMG, full body motion capture, force dynamometry, and force plate analysis of each foot. These systems were all synchronized to a visual feedback display for participants.
Variability in Kinematic Responses during Overhead Work
Funding:
NSERC PGS-D Scholarship (2023)
CRE-MSD Seed Grant
OGS Scholarship (2021-2022)
Date:
December 2022 - May 2023
York University
Location:
The second project of my PhD dissertation, this study looked at how participant's kinematics respond to an identical overhead task completed on two separate days, 1 week apart.
This project was a follow up on my first PhD dissertation study, looking at injury risk with overhead work. The purpose was to determine if the same individuals would compensate for fatigue with the same strategy on separate days.
We found that participant's shoulder joint torque was significantly lower on day 2 (top figure), and kinematics were less variable. This suggests that participants learned a more efficient strategy to cope with fatigue.
This project was the culmination of 6 months of data collection, in order to collect multiple 4-5 hour data collection sessions on 30+ participants.
Coefficient increases are disadvantageous (white), and decreases are advantageous (black).
The Effect of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness on Surface and Intramuscular EMG Amplitude Comparisons
Funding:
OGS Scholarship (2021-2022)
York Entrance Scholarship (2020-2021)
Date:
September 2020 - Jan 2022
Delayed due to COVID
York University
Location:
This study was a precursor to my PhD dissertation. We investigated whether subcutaneous fat (the layer of fat between skin and muscle) would affect comparisons between EMG amplitude from surface and intramuscular electrodes.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether predictive regression equations could be used to control for the thickness of participant's subcutaneous fat, and allow for comparisons between surface and intramuscular EMG signal amplitude.
This study determined that the relationship between surface and intramuscular EMG amplitude is muscle-specific (top figure), and a general predictive equation to estimate surface EMG amplitude from intramuscular EMG amplitude is not feasible. Factors like muscle cross-talk and intramuscular fat are muscle-specific, and may improve the ability to make EMG amplitude predictions.
This study was the first of 3 studies in my PhD that utilized intramuscular EMG. To date, I have performed over 400 insertions in the leg, back, and shoulder regions.
Biomechanics Assessment of Shoulder Exposures and Fatigue during Simulated Wingsuit Flight
Funding:
Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities
Date:
Feburary 2018 - May 2018
Location:
OntarioTech University
Automotive Centre of Excellence
During my Master's degree at OntarioTech University, my lab was approached by British Wingsuiting champion Dr. Angelo Grubisic to help capture biophysical indices of fatigue during wingsuit flight.
This project was one of the first-ever biophysical studies conducted during live wingsuit flight.
Electromyographic mean power frequency and force decline were used to assess muscle fatigue exposures during wingsuit flight. This data was used to identify elements of the wingsuit design that could be improved to support the athlete's fatigue-resistance.
This project was a collaborative research effort between the OntarioTech University Faculty of Health Science, the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), and Dr. Angelo Grubisic's Icarus Wingsuit Project.
Research-Adjacent Activities
Below is a short synopsis of my curricular and extracurricular activities that are associated with my research, training, and development. Reflected in these activities are my passions for mentorship, teaching and training, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Want the full story? Check out my curriculum vitae on the taskbar.
Extracurricular Appointments
Program Mentor
York University Agents of Change
As a Course Director and researcher with a learning disability and neurodivergent learning practices, I take great pride in contributing to York University's Sustainable HealthCare Spotlight and Undergraduate Health Research Exploration initiatives. In these programs, I take on roles as a mentor and panelist for undergraduate health science students.
The MHRC is an interdisciplinary research organization, focused on being Canada's leader in exercise and muscle health research, training and education.
As the Lead Media and Social Media Committee member, I design and manage the organization's web page, run the organization LinkedIn profile, create internal and external research communications, and support seminar and research events hosted by the MHRC.
Planning and Social Committee
In 2024, the Hurley Biomechanics Lab at York University was successful in our bid to host both the ISG 2024 and OBC 2024 research conferences.
As the senior lab member, I oversaw event co-hosting and focused on website design, registration setup, social event planning, and event sign-in. I also hosted question-and-answer panel sessions with industry leaders, and mentor-mentee round table activities for faculty mentors and trainees.
Faculty Graduate Council
The Faculty Graduate Council is responsible for facilitating graduate education and overseeing curricular and program components for the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University.
As the elected graduate representative, my role was to advocate for graduate students and other stakeholder interests to the faculty and administration. Key initiatives during my term included the development of a new Masters in Athletic Therapy program, and reorganizing the annual graduate student seminar series to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
Student Supervision
Hurley Biomechanics Lab
Drake Lab
Emily Lefebvre (Master's Thesis, Supervised by Dr. Janessa D.M. Drake, 2023-2024)
Project Title: TBD
Oriana Culig (Undergraduate Thesis, Supervised by Dr. Jaclyn N. Chopp-Hurley, 2023)
Project Title: Reliability of subacromial space echogenicity measurements using ultrasound and MRI.
Alexandra Mahna (Master's Thesis, Supervised by Dr. Jaclyn N. Chopp-Hurley, 2020-2022)
Rahul Pabla (Master's Thesis, Supervised by Dr. Nicholas J. la Delfa, 2019-2020)
Project Title: The Effect of Concurrent Mental and Physical Fatigue on Physical Endurance Performance, Strength and Muscle Activity: A Pilot Study
David Abdel-Malek (Undergraduate Thesis, Supervised by Dr. Nicholas J. la Delfa, 2019)
Project Title: Reliability of common biophysical indices of neuromuscular fatigue.
Curriculuar Appointments
Course Director - Contract Limited
KINE 1101 Applied Anatomy and Physiology
KINE 3460 Regional Anatomy
Designed, administered, and evaluated blended-style anatomy courses at the 1st year and 3rd year undergraduate level. Cohort size ranged from 50-250 students. Average student course evaluation score of 6.1/7.
Laboratory Technician - Contract Limited
OntarioTech University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Trained graduate and undergraduate students in the proper use of kinesiology teach lab equipment and technology, including: Isokinetic dynamometry, electrical muscle stimulation, electromyography, near-infrared spectroscopy, force-plate analysis, and kinematic motion capture. Assisted with graduate student thesis research conceptualization and set up.