MEMBERS

Susan H. Brown, PhD

Dr. Brown, Thurnau Professor of Kinesiology, is a neurophysiologist by training with specific research interests in the area of upper limb sensorimotor coordination across the lifespan and in neurological conditions. Current research areas include arm and hand function in older adults, upper limb neurorehabilitation in individuals with peripheral nerve injury, and factors contributing to upper limb sensorimotor control. Dr. Brown teaches courses in Motor Control, Disorders of Voluntary Movement, and Sensorimotor Aspects of Aging.

Kathy L. Kern, MSc

Kathy has been a member of the Motor Control Laboratory since 2007, when she was an undergraduate at the School of Kinesiology. She carried on in the laboratory while pursuing her Master's in Human Movement. Upon graduation, she became a research associate managing the daily operations including UROP projects. As part of the School of Kinesiology, she also teaches classes in the disciplines of motor control, biomechanics, and exercise physiology for both the Movement Science and Health & Fitness programs. Additionally, both in and out of the classroom, she has been able to counsel students on how to best navigate their college careers and understand the opportunities of an education in kinesiology.

Allison C. Niemiec

Ally joined the Motor Control Lab in 2018 as a freshman through Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. Her work focuses on analyzing grip force at low force levels in the NBPP population, examining the use of commerical board games in measuring upper limb function of older adults, and investigating the relationship between patient-initiated arm use and patient-reported outcomes following peripheral nerve reconstruction. She plans to graduate with an honors degree from the School of Kinesiology Movement Science program in May of 2022 and eventually get her PhD.

Rachel N. Logue, MS

Rachel came to The University of Michigan in the Fall of 2018 as a Movement Science Master's student after graduating with a B.S. in Kinesiology from San Diego State University in San Diego, California. Her lab work focuses on comparing the contribution of the Posterior Parietal Cortex to Motor Cortex pathway using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and upper limb function in aging populations. Rachel graduated with her Master's in Movement Science in the Spring of 2019 and is now in the Kinesiology PhD program working with Dr. Brown in understanding and improving the assessment of upper limb function in aging populations.

Ejlal Bin Mulayh

Ejlal is assigned as a faculty member in Biomechanics and Movement Science in the Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. Ejlal is at the University of Michigan completing her Master's in Movement Science and plans to graduate in Spring of 2022. She has an interest in clinical physical therapy and rehabilitation in the medical field. Her current work in the lab focuses on implementation of a home training program for individuals with NBPP to improve rehabilitation of upper limb function.

Larken R. Marra, MSK

Larken enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2017 as a Ph.D. student and research assistant. She received her her bachelors and master’s degrees from Indiana University, Indianapolis in Exercise Science with a specialty in Adapted Physical Activity. She has experience working with all disability categories in both clinical and community based programs, but specializes primarily in cerebral palsy. Her dissertation work will focus on the natural history of functional capacity in adults with cerebral palsy from ages 18 to 55. Larken will complete her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Activity in 2022 after which time she hopes to acquire an academic position at a university.

Briana Sukert

Briana joined the Motor Control Lab in 2019 as a freshman through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at Michigan. She is currently a third year Movement Science student in the School of Kinesiology and is also in the Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Program. Her lab work focuses on a telerehabilitation program aimed to improve upper limb function for individuals with NBPP.

Caitlyn Tse

Caitlyn joined the lab in 2021 and is a fourth year undergraduate student in Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology. Her current work in the lab involves working on the use of commercial board games as an assessment tool for hand function in older adults.

Jaden Levinson

Jaden joined the lab in 2022 as a second year undergraduate student studying Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology with plans to graduate with honors. Her current work in the lab involves working with Rachel on her dissertation, which focuses on assessing and improving hand function in the aging population.

Hannah Greshak

Hannah joined the lab in 2022 and is a third year undergraduate studying Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology. Her current work in the lab involves working with Ally on the use of commercial board games as an assessment tool for hand function in older adults. She plans to graduate from the School of Kinesiology Movement Science program in May of 2023 with a minor in Crime and Justice.

Tanner Trenary

Tanner joined the lab in 2022 and is a third year undergraduate in the Movement Science program in the School of Kinesiology. His work in the lab focuses on assessment of hand function in older adults and in individuals with glaucoma in relation to administering eye drop medication.

Sofiya Malanchuk

Sofiya joined the lab in 2022 as a second year undergraduate in the Movement Science program in the School of Kinesiology. Her work in the lab focuses on implementation of home rehabilitation for individuals with NBPP.

Jordyn Haddrill

Jordyn joined the lab in 2022 as a sophomore Movement Science major in the School of Kinesiology. Her current work in the lab focuses on working with Ally on the use of commercial board games as a hand function assessment tool. She plans to graduate in 2023 and attend graduate school to become a Physical Therapist.

Robert Burridge

Robert joined the lab in 2022 as a third year undergraduate in Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology with a minor in Applied Statistics. His current involvement includes working with Ejlal on the remote rehabilitation of NBPP to improve upper limb function.