Dr. Pamela J. Bryden Professor After completing her BA from the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Bryden completed both her M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the Univeristy of Waterloo. Currently she holds tenure as a Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and has recently taken the role as the Associate Dean of Student Services. Her program of research is an attempt to understand lateral preference and performance first from a bottom-up perspective to determine the motor requirements for particular tasks, and secondly, from a top-down perspective of how the brain is lateralized for skilled movement. This research to date has attempted to answer why there is a preferred-hand advantage in motor tasks and how this advantage is related to hand preference, in order to understand handedness and manual asymmetries, as well as how the hemispheres are organized for motor control in complex, goal-directed movement.

Dr. Michael E. Cinelli Professor Graduated with a M.Sc. (Biomechanics) in Kinesiology and a Ph.D. (Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience) in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, Canada. Following the completion of his Ph.D. he went on to complete a two-year CIHR-funded post doctoral fellowship at Brown University, USA. Since 2008 he has been a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. His research interests are in understanding how perception guides action during collision avoidance situations over the life span, determining the changes in balance control and visuomotor processing following a concussion, and using novel techniques to improve the dynamic stability of older adults.

Amy Hackney PhD Candidate Graduated with a BA in Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. Currently, Amy is a 2nd year Master of Science student working with Dr. Michael Cinelli. Her research focuses on obstacle avoidance and locomotion over a lifespan and how these actions change with age. Her research is currently funded by the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. In the fall of 2012, Amy plans to begin her PhD in the Kinesiology (Neuroscience) department at the University of Waterloo with Dr. Jim Frank. A native from St. Thomas ON, Amy skates competitively with Team Velocity from Woodstock, ON.

Sara Scharoun PhD Candidate Completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Human Performance, with a minor in Biology from the University of Louisville. Currently in her second year of the Master’s program, Sara is working under the supervision of Dr. Pam Bryden. Her research interests are in motor development. She is currently investigating motor control, motor planning and the development of hand preference and performance in typically developing children and children with Autism. In September, Sara will start Doctoral Studies in Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Dr. Pam Bryden and Dr. Eric Roy.

Robyn Hubbert MSc Candidate In her second year as aMaster’s student, her research interests lie in the development of locomotor patterns in both typically-developing children and children with autism. Robyn is a long-time, involved volunteer in the autism community and continues to support children with autism and their families. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in the department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University. While in her fourth year, she completed an Honours thesis examining the relationship between foot preference and spatial ability. Still under the supervision of Dr. Bryden, she is now researching the locomotor patterns of typically-developing children and children with autism during an obstacle avoidance task. Robyn has a passion for working with people and helping others in the community, she has recently applied to the Waterloo Regional Police Service in the hopes of following in her parents’ footsteps and representing the community as a Police Constable.

Luke Denomme MSc Candidate Enrolled in his second year as a Master's student of Wilfrid Laurier Universty, Luke works in the Lifespan &Psycho-Motor Behaviour Lab under the supervision of Dr. Michael E. Cinelli. Luke recently completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology & Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University where his interest in research was propelled by his undergraduate thesis work and senior level research based course experiences. Luke's passion for the research he is a part of has further stimulated his plans to continue on with research following the completion of his current M.Sc. degree.

Adam Harper MSc Candidate Completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2010. His current supervisor is Dr. Michael Cinelli who has advised Adam throughout formulating his thesis. Adam’s research interests include assessments of concussions through the use of biomechanics. Adam grew up just north of Kingston, Ontario in a little town called Harrowsmith. After completing his master’s degree in August 2012 he is planning on taking some time off from research and doing some traveling.

Spencer Gooderham MSc Candidate Graduated with a BSc in Kinesiology and Physical Education and a minor in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Spencer wrote his Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Pamela Bryden. His research focuses on the development of motor control across the lifespan, specifically the trends and determinants of lateralization beyond adulthood. Beginning in Fall 2012, Spencer will begin his MSc degree in Health Studies and Gerontology at the University of Waterloo, School of Public Health and Health Systems with Dr. Anita Myers.

Brittany Baxter MSc Candidate A local from Cambridge, Brittany has just completed her undergraduate degree in Honours biology and psychology. Her Honours thesis was supervised by Dr. M. Cinelli, where she used a pointing task on a touch screen monitor to test upper- limb visuomotor integration between non-concussed and previously concussed (>6 months) varsity athletes. She will be continuing her research interests on the effects of concussion on motor control in athletic populations. In the fall she will begin her MSc in Kinesiology and Physical Education under the continued supervision of Dr. M. Cinelli.

Alanna Cornish BSc Completed her Bachelor of Science degree here at WLU in the Kinesiology and Physical Education program. She has worked with Dr. Pam Bryden as a research assistant for the last 3 years, and in her final year wrote her Honours thesis in the area of handedness and laterality. Alanna has been involved in a number research projects exploring and developing the use of measurement tools to assess handedness in children and adults.