Work in Our Lab
Description of MSc thesis
Worldwide, millions of people have movement disorders cause by various pathologies, such as spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. The costs associated with treating these pathologies are in the billions. However, the neuromechanical mechanisms involved in the control of walking, and how these evolve after spinal cord injury remain poorly understood. There is thus an urgent need to better understand these mechanisms as this is required to facilitate the recovery of walking in people with movement disorders.
The goal of the project is to better understand the systems involved in coordinating the limbs during locomotion before and after injury to the spinal cord in a feline model. In our lab, we evaluate locomotion on a treadmill that independently controls the speed of the four limbs (split-belt treadmill) or in a walkway with straight and circular paths, without and with obstacles. We characterize the locomotor pattern by implanting electrodes for chronic recordings of muscle activity and to simulate peripheral nerves. We also analyze kinematics using a camera system and deep learning approaches. This interdisciplinary project is funded by the National Institutes of Health in collaboration with Ilya Rybak (Drexel University) and Boris Prilutsky (Georgia Institute of Technology) experts in modeling neuronal circuits and biomechanical properties of the locomotor systems.
The University and the lab
The Université de Sherbrooke welcomes more than 37 000 students from over 100 countries, with more than 85 % coming from outside of the city of Sherbrooke. The Université de Sherbrooke employs 6700 people and 10% of faculty members of the province. The Sherbrooke region is known for having one of the highest qualities of life in Canada and the world.
The lab’s main goal is to elucidate the mechanisms involved in controlling locomotion in health and spinal cord injury. We have a variety of equipment to study movement, including a 4-way split-belt treadmill, a walkway, electrophysiology systems, stimulators, a sonomicrometry system, video cameras and several computers for data collection and analysis.
Profile of the candidate
We are looking for serious and motivated students seeking to deepen their understanding in motor control and neurophysiology and to contribute to advancing science. The candidate must have completed a Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or a related discipline (e.g. biology, physiology, kinesiology/physical education). It is vital that the candidate works well in a team and is comfortable working with animals, specifically the cat.