Lab Directors

Jacob Sosnoff, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Professor

Sosnoff's research focuses on examining the predictors, prevention, and consequences of mobility impairment in clinical populations including older adults and individuals living with multiple sclerosis. He and his team examine how we move, how to keep us moving and what happens when we don't move well. View bio.

Tobia Zanotto, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Research efforts by Zanotto focus on improving mobility and preventing adverse clinical outcomes, such as falls, in people living with frailty and/or with chronic diseases. Zanotto joined the Mobility and Falls Lab as a postdoctoral fellow, funded by a mentor-based fellowship, in the spring of 2021. View bio.

Research Team

Amir Tabatabaei, Ph.D.
Research Associate

Tabatabaei earned his doctorate of philosophy in physical therapy from Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2019 and served as assistant professor there from 2020 to 2022. Currently, his research focuses on the impact of spasticity and pain on mobility and balance in individuals with multiple sclerosis. His work also explores innovative therapeutic approaches, such as dry needling, to alleviate symptoms in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Recent award: Awarded National Best Thesis of the Year 2019.

Lingjun Chen, M.S., PT
Doctorate Student

Currently, Chen is exploring the head/neck control and arm responsive movements in prevention of fall-related head injuries among older adults. Recent awards include the 2023 Best Early Career Poster in Aging Research and Geriatric Rehabilitation & Spotlight (Top 30 posters) at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Annual Conference, the 2022 Lou Loescher-Junge Professional Development Award, and Best Research Platform Scientific Inquiry Award from the American Physical Therapy Association–Kansas Chapter.

James Fang
Doctorate Student

Fang's current dissertation topic focuses on age-related differences in neck control and its contribution to fall-related head injuries. He is also interested in quantifying human movement using sensors and wearable devices. Recent awards include the 2023 Lou Loescher-Junge Professional Development Award and 2022 Ringle Health Professions Scholarship from KU Medical Center.

Emilia Potts
Research Coordinator

Potts is the lab's point of contact with the Institutional Review Board and our study participants. She is active in promoting enrollment of participants and completion of research studies for the Mobility and Falls Lab. She earned her bachelor's degree in sport management from the University of Kansas and her master' degree in sport management from the University of Florida. 

Collaborators

Libak Abou, Ph.D. [rehabilitation, fall prevention]
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Michigan School of Medicine

Neil Alexander, M.D. [falls and injury prevention]
University of Michigan Internal Medicine and Institute of Gerontology
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System GRECC

Deborah Backus, Ph.D., PT [rehabilitation, multiple sclerosis]
Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Ga.

Shelley Bhattacharya, D.O., MPH [geriatrics]
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
University of Kansas School of Medicine

Hannes Devos, Ph.D. [neurorehabilitation, cognition, mobility]
Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
University of Kansas School of Health Professions

Linda D’Silva, Ph.D., PT [vestibular rehabilitation, balance]
Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science, and Athletic Training
University of Kansas School of Health Professions

Jason Franz, Ph.D. [neuromuscular biomechanics]
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jeff Hausdorff, Ph.D. [gait, cognition]
Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility
Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Sagol School of Neuroscience, and Department of Neurology
Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Sharon Lynch, M.D. [neurology, multiple sclerosis]
Department of Neurology
University of Kansas School of Medicine

Devin McCaslin, Ph.D. [vestibular function]
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
University of Michigan School of Medicine

Elizabeth Peterson, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA [falls in clinical populations]
Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Illinois at Chicago

Laura Rice, Ph.D., MPT, ATP [falls in wheeled-device users]
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alumni

Karla Francioni, Ph.D.
Kinesiology and Health Studies
Georgetown College

Katherine Hsieh, Ph.D.
Department of Physical Therapy,
Georgia State University

Chandra Jayranam, Ph.D.
Human factors/ergonomics consultant, Amazon

Ed Ofori, Ph.D.
College of Health Solutions
Arizona State University

Yaejin Moon, Ph.D.
Exercise Science
Syracuse University

Sunghoon Shin, Ph.D.
School of Kinesiology
Yeungnam University

Robin Sun, Ph.D.
School of Medicine
Stanford University

Doug Wajda, Ph.D.
Department of Health and Human Performance
Cleveland State University

Tyler Wood, Ph.D., ATC
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education
Northern Illinois University