People
Zachary Domire, Ph.D. – Director – Dr. Domire is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology. His research interests include prevention of musculoskeletal injury, diagnosis of and rehabilitation from mTBI, and influence of tissue material properties on physiological function.
Anthony S Kulas, PhD, LAT, ATC – POL Faculty – Dr. Kulas is an associate professor in the Department of Health Education and Promotion. He serves the director of the MS in Athletic Training program. His research focuses on soft tissue injury risk identification, prevention, and restoration of function post-injury.
Caitlin O’Connell – Post Doc –
Erica Bell – PhD Student – Erica is a senior PhD candidate in the Bioenergetics and Exercise Science PhD program. Erica transferred to ECU in 2010 and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2013 while competing as a Women’s Track and Field athlete during her 3 years of undergraduate study at ECU. Erica’s research interests focus on the influence of soft tissue material properties on injury mechanisms in healthy and clinical populations. Erica’s dissertation work is investigating the influence of material properties of foot soft tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament) on plantar pressures in diabetics. This work is based on the idea that a relationship exists between the stiffness (material properties) of intrinsic foot structures and plantar pressures and will help us better understand the mechanism behind the development of diabetic foot ulcers. Additional work, sponsored by a New Balance Footwear Research Award, will assess the influence of footwear on foot soft tissue material properties over an 8-week training period in experienced runners. When she’s not trapped in the lab, Erica enjoys staying active and spending time with her son.
Christopher Curran – PhD Student – Chris is a second year student in the Bioenergetics and Exercise Science PhD program, with a concentration in Biomechanics and Motor Control. He is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and has earned a B.S. in Exercise Science from Grove City College in Pennsylvania and an M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Biomechanics here at ECU. At Grove City, Chris was also a 4-year letterman on the baseball team, which has shaped much of his research interests. His research is focused on injury prevention and athletic performance, specifically as it relates to baseball pitching. His Masters thesis examined changes in the structural and material properties of the ulnar collateral ligament in baseball pitchers over the course of a season. For his dissertation, he plans on expanding that research to examine the shoulder as well and relate changes to an individual pitchers’ mechanics. After graduating, he plans on pursuing a research career in academia focused on baseball pitching. Outside of the lab, Chris enjoys spending time outdoors and travelling to see family and friends.
Kelsey Reeves – MS Student – Kelsey is a first-year masters student in the Biomechanics and Motor Control program at East Carolina University. She earned her BS in Exercise Physiology at East Carolina. She is a former student-athlete who played soccer for the ECU Women’s Soccer team. Safe to say she bleeds purple and gold. She is currently working on a research study examining the biomechanical differences between accurate and maximal effort soccer kicking in female athletes. By the end of the program, she hopes to be a “master” at everything soccer.
Andy Jung – MS Student – Andy is a second-year masters student in the Biomechanics program at ECU. He received my bachelor’s degree in exercise science from UNCW in 2015. During my time at UNCW he was a pole vaulter on the track and field team. His research interests are focused around implementing emerging technologies into high level sport and exercise. Following graduate school he hopes to obtain my PhD an continue research in biomechanics/sports science. When he’s not in the lab, you can find him traveling and surfing!
David Harrison – MS Student – David is a student in the Biomechanics and Motor Control program and his research interests are focused on muscle material property changes in athletes. His thesis aims to track stiffness changes in the hamstring muscle group of track & field athletes. He earned is BS in Sports Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As an undergraduate, he worked in the Applied Neuromechanics Research Laboratory assisting with several dissertation projects. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a manager of two exercise facilities specializing in helping the aging population stay active. In his spare time, he is either on a road trip, outdoors with his dog, or cheering his hometown team…the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Brian Diefenbach – MS Student – Brian is a first year Master’s student in the biomechanics program. His thesis work will investigate mechanotransduction in the anterior cruciate ligaments of rabbits. This work will hopefully make strides to one day reduce the risk of ACL tears. He is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and earned his BS in Movement Science from the University of Michigan. During his time at the University of Michigan, he worked as a student manager for the Michigan football team. Following graduate school, he hopes to obtain a PhD and continue research in biomechanics and sports science.
Michael Hoff – MS Student – Michael is a first-year masters student in the Biomechanics and Motor Control program at ECU. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a BS of Science in Education. His thesis focuses on the effect of quadriceps strength in ACL reconstructed individuals. When he’s not working in the lab, he enjoys spending time with friends and watching college football.
The Performance Optimization Lab has had the opportunity to work with many excellent undergraduate students on research protocols. The following is a list containing current and past interns in our lab.
Spring 2019: Hannah Black, Brittney Purcell, Dean Ogot
Fall 2018: Michaela Dunlap
Spring 2018: Caroline Yeomans, Kaila Eudy
Fall 2017: Kelsey Reeves