Researcher Profiles

Mohammad Abdoli-Eramaki

Dr. Mohammad Abdoli is an assistant professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health at Ryerson University. His research is focused on ergonomic design and biomechanical evaluation using EMG, human motion capture and force platform of external trunk supports to be used with manual material handling and stationary work tasks. This work has lead to a re-examination of optimal work heights and reach distances with static and dynamic trunk postures with standing work while leaning forward (desk, conveyer belts,hospital beds, etc.). In addition to research, Dr. Abdoli teaches Ergonomics, Physical Agents, Control Methods and Occupational Health and Safety Seminars. More...
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Stacey Acker

Dr. Stacey Acker is an assistant professor in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. She received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University. Dr. Acker’s research focuses on lower limb biomechanics and exposures on the knee joint, in particular, during high flexion activities of daily living. Work tasks that require deep knee bending expose the knee joint to unique loading conditions and put the worker at a higher risk of developing lower limb musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Dr. Acker’s research program uses an innovative combination of non-invasive measurement and advanced biomechanical modeling to characterize joint exposures, investigate the links between exposure and musculoskeletal disorders, and provide strategies or interventions to prevent joint damage and injury. More...
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Benjamin Amick III

Dr. Benjamin C. Amick III was appointed Scientific Director of the Institute for Work & Health in January 2007. He has been affiliated with the Institute since 1996 as an Adjunct Scientist and 2002 as a member of the Scientific staff. He has served as co-investigator on multiple projects at the Institute. He is a Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health. He completed his PhD in social epidemiology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in chronic disease epidemiology at Yale University. His research focuses on how to build healthy labour markets through an understanding of how to change policy, organizations, work conditions and the design of occupational health services. More...
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David Andrews

David Andrews has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Education (1989) and Human Biodynamics (1992), respectively, from McMaster University. His doctoral work was in Occupational Biomechanics at the University of Waterloo (1996). Dr. Andrews' current research in ergonomics and biomechanics is generally focused on the reduction or prevention of disorders and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Specifically, he is interested in low back pain and its association with the loads placed on the spine as a result of workplace activities in sectors such as automotive, agriculture and nursing. The designing and evaluation of biomechanical methods for assessing physical exposure are central to Dr. Andrews' occupational research. His work on the quantification and modeling of non-rigid tissue motion following impacts, such as those experienced during running or landing from a fall onto outstretched arms, is principally concerned with understanding the mechanisms by which impact-induced shock waves are attenuated actively and passively by the tissues of the lower and upper extremities. This understanding is critical in terms of our ability to develop strategies aimed at reducing or preventing acute and chronic tissue injuries that can result from activities involving impact to the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Andrews' research has been funded by various sources including NSERC, the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, and CRE-MSD (WSIB). He currently holds a research leadership chair position and is Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor. More...
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Nadia Azar

Dr. Azar holds both Bachelor’s (2001) and Master’s (2004) Degrees in Human Kinetics from the University of Windsor. She also holds a Master of Science Degree (2006) in Biomedical Engineering from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) and has recently completed her PhD in the same (2009). She worked for the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor as a Research Technician and taught several courses on a sessional basis before joining the faculty full-time in January 2008. She currently teaches at both the undergraduate (advanced biomechanics, introduction to occupational biomechanics and ergonomics, applied neurophysiology, and pathophysiology of pain) and graduate levels (applied biomechanics of human movement). Dr. Azar’s current research projects include an evaluation of the muscular recruitment patterns and relaxation response of the lumbar and cervical spines during movements about single axes (i.e. flexion, lateral bend, and axial twist) and in coupled postures (e.g. combined flexion-axial twist); quantification of whole-body vibration exposures in infants using commercial products with vibration modules; and the effects of motor imagery on the amplitude and timing of knee extensor muscle recruitment. Her research interests also include the changes in muscular recruitment and morphology in whiplash patients, and the role each of these may play in the generation and/or maintenance of whiplash pain. Dr. Azar has received funding from the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD). She is an author on four peer reviewed journal articles, has supervised three undergraduate students, and is currently supervising two graduate students. She is currently serving as a co-chair for the 2010 Ontario Biomechanics Conference.
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Phil Bigelow

Dr. Phil Bigelow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Studies and Gerontology at the University of Waterloo and has a background in occupational epidemiology. He teaches epidemiology in the MPH program and provides research mentorship in the Collaborative PhD Program in Work and Health, a new inter-departmental program within the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. Dr. Bigelow holds an appointment at the Institute for Work and Health where he was a specialist in program evaluation and intervention studies prior to joining the University of Waterloo. He was a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Health at Colorado State University for over ten years where he conducted research in exposure assessment, occupational epidemiology, and construction health and safety. His current research interests include gaining an understanding of factors the improve safety performance of firms and improve the implementation and uptake of health and safety interventions. In addition to his extensive research experience, Dr. Bigelow has managed occupational health and safety programs in a variety of industries and is a Registered Occupational Hygienist. He has served on a number of advisory boards in the field of health and safety and has held leadership positions on the Threshold Limit Values Committee and is a current member.
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Kristina Calder

Dr. Calder is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at McMaster University in the School of Rehabilitation Science. She received her BPhed (Kinesiology) in 2002 and her MSc (Biomechanics) in 2004 at Brock University. She completed her PhD at Queens University in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy in 2008. Her research expertise involves performing electrodiagnostic tests to study chronic neuromuscular disorders and degenerative joint disease. Specifically she researches the mechanics and neurophysiology of repetitive strain injuries and osteoarthritis. Her current Post-Doctoral work in Dr. Monica Maly’s laboratory focuses on a CIHR funded cohort study designed to evaluate the impact of biomechanical pathology on the progression of cartilage damage and clinical progression of knee OA. Her role in the research group is to utilize her expertise in electromyography to measure muscle activation patterns during gait and strength performance tests. She is also being trained to use magnetic resonance imaging and 3D gait analysis methods to study of knee OA. Her career goal is to advance osteoarthritis (OA) research by emphasizing the critical role of neuromuscular abnormalities in the initiation of OA. In particular, to identify changes in muscle that occurs prior to changes in joint integrity and disability.
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Jack Callaghan

Dr. Jack Callaghan is a Professor in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Waterloo. He is CRE-MSD's Associate Director, Research and holds the Canada Research Chair in Spine Biomechanics and Injury Prevention. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Ottawa and his Masters and Doctorate degrees at the University of Waterloo where he specialize in spinal biomechanics. His area of research focuses primarily on spine injuries from cumulative loading exposure. His research is concerned with the etiology of spine injuries at the tissue level from exposure to cumulative loading scenarios and is currently funded by NSERC, CIHR, WSIB and AUTO21. More...
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Donald Cole

Dr. Donald Cole is a physician who practiced in a variety of settings prior to returning to McMaster University where he obtained a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (1988) and a MSc in Design, Measurement and Evaluation in Health Services (1991). He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Occupational Medicine (1990) and Community Medicine (1992). He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, and provides scientific leadership on workplace intervention evaluation at the Institute for Work & Health. More...
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Joel Cort

My basic research focuses on examining the mechanics of human articular joints with the emphasis of my work on the lumbar spine and the knee joints. Specifically, combining human anatomy, mechanical and motor control principles, I am interested in understanding joint stability, with the ultimate goal of joint injury prevention. To aid me in my research I utilize electromyography recordings, 3 dimensional motion capture, robotics and biomechanical mathematical modeling to determine the level of joint safety during various joint motions. My overall ambition of injury prevention has also directed my applied occupational biomechanics research focus. I continue to have the great pleasure of working with automotive industry leaders in an effort to reduce musculoskeletal injuries during the assembly of automobiles. In particular, I have been part of a research team that has developed threshold limit values (TLVs) for specific upper extremity intensive tasks that are integrated into automotive design specifications. More...
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Clark Dickerson

Dr. Clark Dickerson is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on identifying, quantifying, and reducing work-related stresses in the shoulder through mathematical modeling and experimentation. In order to quantify the impact of work tasks on the shoulder, he is developing and experimentally evaluating several biomechanical computer models. His laboratory experiments are monitoring movement, muscle activity, work perception, and hand forces. The outputs of the models are then compared with this collected empirical data. The primary purpose of this approach is to enable informed prospective job design. Integration of the models with existing software allows simulated jobs to be analyzed for potentially injurious stresses to shoulder tissues in digital design environments, using technologies such as digital human modeling (DHM). Secondarily, increased worker comfort and decreased effort can be achieved in designs through implementation of force-perception relationships that are unique to the shoulder. This research results in the creation of computerized design tools and biomechanical insights. These can then be used together to improve the safety and usability of workspaces and other man-machine interfaces, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of occupational shoulder injuries. More...
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Janessa Drake

Janessa D.M. Drake received her PhD in Kinesiology from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo in 2008. She was a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor from 2007-2009. She has taught at the undergraduate level (ergonomics and injury prevention, advanced biomechanics, and research concepts) and at the graduate level (signal processing, instrumentation, modelling, and applied biomechanics of human movement). As of July 2009 she will be moving to the Faculty of Health, School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. Currently, her research is focused on understanding the acute and time varying responses of the spine, associated injury mechanisms, and resulting pain pathways due to combined loading (multi-axis) exposures. To gain this understanding she uses primarily an in-vivo biomechanical testing approach. Research quantifying the spine's responses to these exposures is crucial in the effort to increase the ability for biomechanical models to represent biological responses, thus enabling injury prediction and prevention. Dr. Drake has received funding from the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD). She is an author on eight peer reviewed journal articles, has presented over 20 papers at conferences, and has supervised two undergraduate students.
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Genevieve Dumas

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Tammy Eger

Tammy Eger is an Associate Professor at Laurentian University in the School of Human Kinetics. Her research interests focus around the application of ergonomic and human factors principles in industry. Her current research work involves the assessment of whole body vibration exposure, line of sight, posture and musculoskeletal injury risk during the operation of large industrial equipment. She obtained her masters and doctorate degree in occupational biomechanics from Queen's University. She is an author of over 20 journal papers, 60 conference abstracts and several invited presentations. She has also received over 2 million dollars in research funding as a principal and co-investigator and she is the co-founder of the Centre for Research in Occupational Health and Safety at Laurentian University. Prior to joining Laurentian University fulltime, Tammy worked as an Ergonomist with the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association for three years, which enabled her to visit numerous mine sites throughout Ontario. Tammy continues to consult with mining companies, and equipment manufacturers throughout Ontario, the United States, Finland and Australia. More...
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Steven Fischer

Dr. Steven Fischer is an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University. His research aims to develop innovative strategies to facilitate the matching between functional capacity and occupational demands to optimize performance and minimize injury risks. The objectives of his research program are: To investigate and understand how biomechanical principles impact on postural or movement pattern selection during occupational performance; to develop and improve digital human modeling tools to robustly estimate biomechanical capacity in the workplace; and to advance knowledge and practice in the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders by improving the match between demands and capacities. His research tools include computer modeling, motion capture technology, and EMG. More...
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Monique Gignac

Dr. Monique Gignac is a Senior Scientist with the Division of Health Care & Outcomes Research and a research investigator with the Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit (ACREU) at the Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI), Toronto, Canada. She is also an Associate Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Scientist with the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto. In 2008, she became Co-Scientific Director of the Canadian Arthritis Network, a Networks of Centres of Excellence. Dr. Gignac's research expertise is in the areas of health and social psychology. Her research examines psychosocial factors like coping and adaptation and their importance in understanding the impact of arthritis and other chronic diseases in the lives of middle- and older-aged adults. In addition, her work focuses on ways to enable people with chronic disease to maintain involvement in valued roles and activities like employment.
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Alison Godwin

Dr. Alison Godwin is an assistant professor in the School of Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. Her research interests include the use of virtual ergonomics, advanced methods of data analysis for understanding human motion and the impact of gender on MMH risks. She has published many articles in the area of line-of-sight investigations for underground mining machinery and continues to pursue methods of analyzing and improving this problem for underground operators. This work is reflected in her ongoing interest to improve the success of ergonomic intervention through proactive computer analysis of humans interacting in a virtual environment. Using new wireless technology, she hopes to be able to validate a system that will enable the documentation of cumulative load and musculoskeletal injury for workers in a variety of workplace settings. Her ultimate goal is to establish the consistency of motion patterns in the workplace across the shift, across the week and across months in order to understand what role cumulative load plays in perceived exertion and pain and injury symptoms. Further, this type of data collection will allow her to determine gender differences inherent in workplace motion patterns and whether cumulative load exposure can account for differences in risk of injury between males and females in industrial workplaces. More...
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Howard Green

Dr. Howard Green is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. He has been a faculty member a the University of Waterloo since 1965. Green's research is in muscle physiology and biochemistry. He is particularly interested in the mechanisms, both acute and chronic, whereby energy homeostasis is protected in skeletal muscle. Special attention is being paid to the excitation-contraction coupling processes both with regards to acute and chronic regulation. A number of models are being employed that manipulate both energy availability and energy expenditure. Models designed to reduce energy supply are based on decreasing the availability of oxygen to the muscle cell and include hypoxia, ischemia, hypovolemia and hypervolemia and altitude. Different exercise protocols are employed to alter energy utilization. Green is also involved in investigating the adaptations that occur in skeletal muscle due to certain diseases and injuries such as chronic heart disease, chronic obstructive lung disease and repetitive strain injury. The effect of these different models on the metabolic organization and the excitation and contraction processes in the muscle cell and the role of changes in these properties on muscle performance, pain and fatigue remain as a central focus. More...
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Sylvain Grenier

Sylvain Grenier is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Kinetics at Laurentian University. His research focuses on the application of ergonomic and human factors principles in industry. Current work includes the interaction of musculoskeletal loading and line of sight in industrial vehicles, the assessment of whole body vibration exposure, and the control of spine stability to prevent back pain. Dr. Grenier obtained a PhD from the University of Waterloo. He has authored over 20 peer reviewed papers and 50 conference abstracts. He is the director of the newly established Centre for Research in Occupational Health and Safety at Laurentian University. More...
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Ted Haines

Dr. Ted Haines is an occupational physician and epidemiologist. He has a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and a MSc in Design, Measurement and Evaluation from McMaster University. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Occupational Medicine and Community Medicine. He is an Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Program in Occupational Health and Environmental Medicine, McMaster University. He works closely with McMaster's Surgical Outcomes Research Centre on work-related studies on Dupuytren's contracture and carpal tunnel syndrome. More...
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Mike Holmes

Mike received his PhD from the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University in 2011. Previously, he received a Bachelor of Kinesiology (Honors) and a Master of Science degree, both from Memorial University of Newfoundland. His PhD work evaluated joint stability in the distal upper extremity through an interdisciplinary focus that implemented both in-vitro and in-vivo techniques to examine muscle and ligament contributions to stability at the elbow and wrist. Mike is now a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo and was recently awarded a CRE-MSD seed grant to examine distal upper extremity joint loading, workflow characteristics and worker performance related to changes in mobile data terminal orientation in police cruisers.
The overall objective of his research program is to better understand work-related musculoskeletal disorders by identifying mechanisms of injury and pain related to the mechanical properties of muscles and ligaments. Using laboratory based techniques, including cadaveric research and computer modelling, this fundamental approach leads to workplace applications and investigations.

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Peter Keir

Dr. Peter Keir is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. His research aims to determine the mechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity. The objectives of his research program are to improve understanding of the mechanics and control of the upper extremity to a point where biomechanical mechanisms of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders can be defined. By developing a solid link between control and mechanics, disorders can be prevented at a fundamental level. The disorders include those pertaining to muscle tissue (e.g. myalgia), connective tissue (e.g. tendinitis, epicondylitis), and peripheral nerve (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome). His research tools include MRI, tissue measurement, computer modeling, EMG and motion measurement.
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Mickey Kerr

Dr. Mickey Kerr holds appointments as an Associate Professor in School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario, and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. His research interests include risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, the workplace psychosocial environment, stress research, and biological mechanisms for injury. Kerr is a specialist in occupational musculoskeletal disorders and job stress. His research includes studies of workplace physical and psychosocial factors, including measures of job stress. Much of his recent work has been focused on the work environment and health in the health sector. More...
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Desre Kramer

Dr. Desre Kramer is the Associate Director of the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD) at the University of Waterloo. She is also the Associate Director of the Occupational Cancer Research Centre (OCRC) based at Cancer Care Ontario, in Toronto. She is an Assistant Professor, Research at the University of Waterloo. She is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Public and Occupational Health at Ryerson University, and an Adjunct Scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. Her research interests are in knowledge transfer, knowledge mobilization, social network analysis, qualitative research, diffusion of innovation, and workplace intervention research. For the last seven years she has led a research study in the diffusion of innovation to improve the health of construction workers. She has conducted research in the construction, transportation, electrical utilities and manufacturing sectors. She was a journalist for many years and has over 550 articles published on many subjects, in over 35 Canadian trade and commercial magazines.

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Andrew Laing

Dr. Andrew Laing is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. His general field of interest is musculoskeletal biomechanics related to human health and injury prevention, and the role that advancing age has on these relationships. He uses a systematic approach to guide his research which involves: i) identifying the injury of interest, ii) determining the biomechanical age-related differences that may influence injury risk, and iii) developing and testing age-specific interventions to prevent or treat the injury. Within this framework, his current research program focuses on two injury categories: 1) workplace musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD); and 2) fall-related tissue trauma including hip fractures, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. His workplace research interests involve the development and implementation of participatory ergonomics processes in industry, assessment of potential age-related differences in knowledge capital and physical work capacity associated with manual materials handling, and the effects of flooring designs/properties on risk factors for WMSD in staff working in residential care facilities. This work will support interventions to promote healthy aging and work ability across the lifespan. More...

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Joy MacDermid

Joy MacDermid is a Professor and Assistant Dean in Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University (Hamilton, ON), and is the Co-director of Clinical Research at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre (London, ON).

She is a hand therapist/physical therapist/epidemiologist and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, 20 chapters and two books that focus on measuring and predicting musculoskeletal disability. Her methodology expertise is in measurement, knowledge translation, clinical trials, systematic reviews, clinical practice guidelines, cohort studies/clinical prediction. She has developed outcome measures that are used internationally including self-report measures like The Patient Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation; and impairment-based measures that assess the neuromusculoskeletal function of the upper limb. She has more than 25 years of clinical experience in treating patients with musculoskeletal pain and disability resulting from upper quadrant disorders. Dr MacDermid is co-editor of the book Evidence-based Rehabilitation which is used as a textbook internationally to teach evidence-based practice. Her research papers in open access are typically awarded “highly accessed” designation and the most downloaded /cited in print journals.
Dr. MacDermid is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, a past-President of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), has twice won its best scientific paper award, was awarded the Nathalie Barr Lecture in 2006; the Philadelphia Hand Meeting Honored Professorship in 2006 and 2012, the IMHA/CIHR Quality of Life Award in 2007 and the IMHA/CIHR Research Ambassadors Knowledge Translation Award in 2011.

She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Hand Therapy and the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy; and on the editorial board of Open Orthopedics and the Journal of Physiotherapy.

She has mentored 3 Postdoctoral Fellows, 20 PhD students, 40 Masters students, 40 physicians/other health disciplines to complete their research training/research. More...

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Norma MacIntyre

Dr. MacIntyre is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON with an adjunct appointment in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University, Kingston, ON. Dr. MacIntyre completed her undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto, her Masters of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario, her doctorate in Medical Sciences (Cell Biology and Metabolism) at McMaster University and postdoctoral fellowships in the Departments of Medicine and Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University and Queen’s University, respectively. She is currently completing the CIHR-funded Randomized Controlled Trials Mentorship Program in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at McMaster University. She is a Consultant on the Scientific Advisory Committee for Osteoporosis Canada and sits on the Research Committee for the Canadian Arthritis Health Professionals Association.
Dr. MacIntyre’s research program focuses on evidence-based rehabilitation practice to optimize functional mobility in people with bone and joint problems within the framework of the expanded chronic care model. Four themes of her current research projects include:
• Development and evaluation of in vivo imaging-based methods of assessing vertebral body and appendicular bone strength, joint integrity and skeletal response to exercise (using MRI, pQCT, CT, DXA)
• Evidence-based physiotherapy interventions to manage pain and optimize functional mobility in people with chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, stroke, and/or kidney disease within the framework of the expanded chronic care model
• Use of clinical assessment to profile risk for fracture in people with primary or secondary osteoporosis
• Measurement properties of clinical and imaging-based outcome measures used in rheumatology
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Monica Maly

Monica Maly is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University. Her research areas include the assessment and prevention of disability due to arthritis, using methods ranging from qualitative research to biomechanical analysis.
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Stu McGill

Dr. Stuart McGill is a spinal biomechanist and currently Chair of the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. He has been the author of many scientific publications that address the issues of lumbar function, low back injury mechanisms, investigation of tissue loading during rehabilitation programs, and the formulation of work-related injury avoidance strategies. He has been an invited lecturer at many Universities and societies around the world. As a consultant, he has provided expertise on assessment and reduction of the risk of low back injury to various government agencies, many corporations, professional athletes and teams, and legal firms. He holds other academic appointments which include the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo; the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto; and the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Much of his work is summarised in the recent book "Low back disorders: Evidence based prevention and rehabilitation", published by Human Kinetics Publishers. More...
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Linda McLean

Linda McLean is an Associate Professor and Acting Chair of the Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Science within the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University. She received her BSc in Physiotherapy from McGill University in 1990, and her MSc (Electrical Engineering) and PhD (Interdisciplinary studies in Biomedical Engineering) in 1995 and1998 respectively from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. Her research work sits at the interface between health sciences and engineering, where she studies chronic muscle disorders using mechanical and neurophysiological assessment approaches. Specifically she researches the mechanics and neurophysiology of repetitive strain injuries as well as the mechanics of the female continence mechanism and the pathomechanics associated with stress urinary incontinence in women. Dr. McLean is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, and the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. She has been a member of the ISEK Executive committee since 2004 where and was co-scientific chair of the ISEK 2008 conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. More...
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Anne Moore

Dr. Anne Moore is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, Toronto. She has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University, and is a professional engineer (PEng). She obtained both her MSc and PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo specializing in Occupational Biomechanics/Ergonomics. Her research interests include physical exposure assessment for Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Limb, Occupational EMG assessment, and modeling of the upper limb during repetitive manual tasks. She is particularly interested in work rest cycles and has used psychophysical adjustment approaches to assess acceptable demands on the hands during manual tasks.
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Syed Naqvi

Dr. Syed Naqvi works as Ergonomist at the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., Toronto. Naqvi finished his PhD in Industrial Engineering from West Virginia University in 1991 and a Master's degree in Industrial Engineeringfrom Mississippi State University. Naqvi is a Canadian, American and Australian Certified Professional Ergonomist and is a Fellow of the Safety Institute of Australia. His research interests include: human computer modelling, industrial ergonomics (back injuries and repetitive strain injuries); application of ergonomics in manufacturing, occupational biomechanics; engineering standards and ergonomics; office ergonomics; ergonomics of vehicular cab in designs; designing for the aging population, and transportation and road safety issues (traffic signs). His current research and practice interests include: ergonomics and development of engineered standards; development of various ergonomic assessment tools for joint health and safety committees, non-profit organizations, farm workers, and immigrant communities; setting-up of ergonomics programs using participatory approaches in variety of industries; ergonomics in clothing industry.
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Patrick Neumann

Dr. W. Patrick Neumann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Ryerson University in Canada. Patrick graduated in Design Sciences at Lund Technical University while based at Sweden's National Institute for Working Life in Gothenburg where he conducted his PhD work. Formerly Executive Coordinator of the Ergonomics Initiative in Injury Prevention in the Faculty of Applied Health Science at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Patrick has been engaged in both epidemiological studies of low back pain in the auto sector and ergonomics intervention research. Patrick's research now focuses on the design of work systems that are effective and sustainable from both human and technical perspectives. Areas OF R&D interest include: Human Factors and firm strategy; Industrial System Design Processes; Organisational Design and Change Management; Simulation and Virtual Performance Modelling; and Performance and Exposure Measurement. More...
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Michele Oliver

Dr. Michele Oliver is a Professor and Professional Engineer in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph. Michele has a multidisciplinary background with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Kinesiology, and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Michele’s research area is in Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomics and she is the former holder of a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council University Faculty Award as well as an Ontario Early Researcher Award. She currently holds an NSERC Accelerator Supplement. While her research program has one goal, which is the reduction of work related musculoskeletal injuries, her approach is multi- and inter-disciplinary. Some of her current work involves the development of a 6 DOF heavy machine simulator to be used in understanding the etiology of whole-body vibration injuries as well as in the design and development of heavy equipment armrests. Another portion of her work involves the development of virtual tools for joystick and hand tool assessment to determine injury potential before design implementation. In addition to NSERC, her research has been funded by CFI, OIT and WSIB. More...
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Jim Potvin

Dr Jim Potvin is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University. The main focus of his basic research has been to study spine mechanics and coordination under a variety of load challenges. Studies have been conducted to assess subject responses to sudden trunk loading perturbations with manipulations of timing knowledge, load direction, local muscle fatigue and load delivery method. These studies have helped establish the hierarchy of criteria optimized by the spine to balance the conflicting need to keep tissue loads low while maintaining sufficient joint stability. The focus of his applied research is to improve our ability to quantify injury risk and establish acceptable forces for a wide variety of automotive assembly tasks. Biomechanical and psychophysical studies have been conducted to determine maximal acceptable forces for common assembly tasks, including: dynamic hand impact, hose insertions, electrical connector mating, thumb insertion, finger pulls, hand starts, hand tool use etc. More recent work has focused on optimizing the growing use of human simulation and virtual reality to analyse work tasks while they are still in the CAD/CAM stage of development.
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Joe Quadrilatero

Dr. Joe Quadrilatero is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo. His primary research focus is to investigate the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that regulate cell death processes (i.e., apoptosis and autophagy) in tissues, particularly in skeletal muscle. More specifically, his research examines: 1) the general mechanisms of cell death signaling during health, aging, and disease, 2) the role of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress on cell death signaling, 3) the influence of apoptotic factors, such as apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) on skeletal muscle development and apoptosis, and 4) the potential benefits of physical activity on cell death processes in skeletal muscle. He is also particularly interested in investigating the role of cell death processes in tissue susceptibility to and recovery from injury. Ultimately, Dr. Quadrilatero’s research will have important implications in the prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment of tissue injuries and disorders. More...
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Donald Ranney

Dr. Donald Ranney is a Professor Emeritus Dept. of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo. He was trained as an Orthopaedic Surgeon and became the Chief of Surgery at The Leprosy Mission, Schieffelin Leprosy Research Sanatorium, Karigiri, in South India. He was then Visiting Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Queen's University. He joined the University of Waterloo as Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and became Founder & Head-School of Anatomy in 1978. He is a Member of the Occupational and Environmental Committee of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (since 1992) and a Consultant in Orthopedic Medicine. He is currently President of Disability Assessment Services, Inc. but continues to be active in research there while seeing injured workers and victims of motor vehicle accidents in his clinic for the purpose of disability assessment. More...
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Alan Salmoni

Professor Salmoni is a researcher whose home department is Kinesiology, but whose research spans several interdisciplinary areas within Health Sciences. His research crosses two main disciplines, aging and ergonomics, but often combines the two areas conceptually and methodologically (e.g., falls in seniors). Two important aspects of his research program include a mixed methods approach (research combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies) and a community-based approach (a focus on helping people in communities improve their well-being). An example of these aspects is a community-based falls prevention research project called Stay on Your Feet in which Professor Salmoni has been involved. Another important aspect of his work is looking at the health effects (both bad and good) of exposure to whole-body vibration. One area is occupational exposure, which leads to lower back problems, and Professor Salmoni studies ergonomic interventions to minimize exposure. In recent work he has also begun to look at the potential benefits of whole-body vibration as an exercise intervention to improve balance and strength in seniors. More...
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Ivan Steenstra

Dr. Ivan Steenstra is an associate scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. Dr. Steenstra comes from the Netherlands. He obtained a masters degree in human movement sciences work and health from the University of Groningen and a masters degree in epidemiology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He completed his PhD at the Institute for Extramural Research (EMGO), Department of Public and Occupational Health at the VU Medical Center. Dr. Steenstra was the recipient of IWH's Mustard Fellowship in Work Environment and Health from 2006-2008. Dr. Steenstra's research interests involve measurement of work and health and focus on return to work and musculoskeletal and low back pain, with an emphasis on prediction and prognosis, and tailoring interventions to achieve a fast and safe return to work. More...
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Joan Stevenson

Dr. Joan Stevenson is a full professor in occupational biomechanics within the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies with a cross-appointment to the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen's University. She is also the current Chair of the General Research Ethics Board and Coordinator of the Ergonomics Research Group. Dr Stevenson has worked with research teams on low back pain in industry, effect of various lifting strategies, and biomechanical assessment for load carriage systems. Her latest research initiatives are in development of on-body ergonomic assistive devices, assessment of cumulative loading in industrial jobs, and design of specialize backpacks for professional movers. More...
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Nancy Theberge

Dr. Nancy Theberge is a professor at the University of Waterloo, where she teaches in the Department of Kinesiology and is cross appointed to the Department of Sociology. Early in her career she was appointed to the sociology of sport program in the Department of Kinesiology and in conjunction with this, established an extensive record of scholarship and granting support in gender and sport. In recent years, she has turned her attention to issues of work and health and the sociology of health professions. In 1999 she began working with the Ergonomics Intervention Research Group at the University of Waterloo and has contributed to research on ergonomics interventions to reduce injuries carried out in several settings, taking a lead role in the qualitative component of this research. Her current research is directed to an analysis of the professional work and relationships of ergonomists and industrial engineers. She is the coordinator for the Collaborative Doctoral Program in Work and Health in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. More...
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Emile Tompa

Dr. Emile Tompa is a Scientist at the Institute for Work and Health. He is a labour and health economist and his current research agenda is focused on the consequences of disability compensation system design features and other labour-market policies and programs for the health of individuals and populations. He also examines workplace interventions directed at improving the health and well being of workers, specifically the economic evaluation of such interventions. More...
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Dwayne Van Eerd

Dwayne Van Eerd got his start in occupational health and safety research in a clinical setting, studying musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper body in musicians, painters, writers, and other artists following his master of science degree in kinesiology. He is an associate scientist with the Institute for Work & Health and focuses primarily on the prevention of MSDs in office workers. Van Eerd is an active participant in the Institute's systematic review program, which enables him to analyze and share existing evidence on MSDs. In future research, he hopes to conduct an evaluation of knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) strategies. He is enrolled in the doctoral program in epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. More...
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Patricia Weir

Patricia L. Weir, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor. Her research interests span human performance and motor control, the basis of expert performance, and the relationship between physical activity and successful ageing. Specific to CRE-MSD her research experience covers perception and decision making in video-based posture assessment, and the evaluation of cumulative low back loads in acute care nursing staff. This work has been funded by AUTO21 and CRE-MSD. More...
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Richard Wells

Richard Wells is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo. He was educated as a Mechanical Engineer at the University of Manchester, England and McMaster University, Canada where he specialized in Applied Mechanics with application to human function and injury; head injury in boxing and description of human gait using assistive devices. Since joining the Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Richard has pursued similar work concerning seat belt loads and neck injury in head-first impacts. For the last two decades his main research and teaching interests have been work related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity and low back in industrial and office settings.

His interests are work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the back and upper limbs; their causes, patho-physiology and prevention. He address these issues using anatomical and functional anatomical studies in cadavers and volunteers, by biomechanical modeling of the structures affected. Another approach develops measurement, recording and processing approaches to document exposure at work and using these methods in epidemiological studies to assess the work-relatedness of various workplace exposures. Lastly he is involved in the development of workplace processes and changes to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and also to monitor their health effects.

He is Director of the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders, a multi-university Centre hosted at the University of Waterloo. He is also an Adjunct Scientist at the Institute for Work and Health. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW). He has been involved in ergonomics standards and regulations with ACGIH and OSHA in the USA and in the Ontario Strategy for the Prevention of MSD and CSA. He also acts as a consultant and speaker on ergonomic issues. More...
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