Spearheading Clinical-Based, Biomedical Engineering Human Performance-Related Research
Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive technology Center for Human performance (REACH)
Within REACH, we strive to understand and determine accessible, innovative solutions for a broad range of impaired and unimpaired people. Our work places a focus on gait and balance (aging adults with imbalance leading to falls, to high performers (athletes or warfighters), to those that had suffered concussion or traumatic brain injury), as well as other areas, such as feature identification tied to pediatric motor control speech disorders and Alzheimer's disease.
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REACH's commitment to student experiential learning
Aligned with the mission of UMass Lowell, Massachusetts #1 public institute of higher education, REACH prepares diverse student researchers, of various demographics, degree majors and backgrounds, to become informed scientists and engineers and lifelong learners. Our cutting-edge equipment alongside hands-on interactions with human participants provides invaluable real-life training and clinical interaction to our student researchers, much needed for success within the biomedical engineering workforce, and the capacity to witness first-hand the impacts of research on the lives people.
Dr. Lara Thompson, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
News
Photo by Ed BrennenÂ
Photo by Ed BrennenÂ
Photo by Ed BrennenÂ
We use cutting-edge equipment, such as motion capture and forceplate, to collect data on human movement (kinematics) and forces (kinetics)
what We do
We use a variety of instrumentation, from EMG to virtual reality headsets to collect human data tied to electric muscle activity and eye tracking
Who we Are
The lab consists of a PI, staff, graduate student research assistants (RAs), and undergraduate student RAs, Graduate RAs are professionals studying to get their masters or doctoral degrees. A major part of their curriculum is completing research or thesis projects. A number of undergraduate RAs, are trained in experimentation, assisting with data collection or data processing and analysis. A few of these students even have their own research projects. ​​Our students receive support from the PI and staff member, there to cultivate ideas, projects, and research.
Photo by Ed BrennenÂ