Research Fellow - Running Biomechanics

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

The ASICS x Michigan Sport Innovation Center (AMSI) is a groundbreaking partnership dedicated to redefining the boundaries of athletic performance and sport science. By uniting ASICS? global leadership in footwear and apparel with the University of Michigan?s world-class research ecosystem, AMSI creates a unique environment for discovery- where art, science, and engineering converge to spark transformative breakthroughs. Through direct engagement with elite athletes and vibrant sporting communities, AMSI?s

dynamic research ecosystem is committed to driving progress, shifting paradigms, and delivering real-world impact for athletes and the public worldwide.

We are seeking passionate innovators and collaborators to join our team and help shape the future of sport science. AMSI has an immediate, full-time opportunity for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our team as a Lead Running Biomechanist.

We are seeking a highly independent, self-motivated, and experienced researcher to administer lab-based biomechanical assessments, participate in athlete performance-based research studies, and work with a multi-disciplinary team of investigators and engineers and designers to translate high-level science into real-world innovation.

• Lab Setup & Technical Management Lead the technical setup, integration, calibration, and routine troubleshooting in a newly established high performance biomechanics lab. This lab includes VICON motion capture, AMTI force plates integrated into an indoor running track, a Bertec instrumented split-belt treadmill, and hp cosmo force plate treadmill, and Noraxon IMU measurement system.
• Data Collection & Analysis Collect and analyze complex human movement data in-lab and in-field using marker-based and markerless motion capture, overground/treadmill force plates, and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, with a heavy emphasis on high performance distance running.
• Data Pipeline Development:
  Independently write, optimize, and maintain custom data processing pipelines and scripts for large-scale biomechanical datasets
• Dissemination and Translation:
  Author high-impact manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, present research findings at professional conferences, and translate complex scientific data into actionable insights for key stakeholders, including industry partners, product design engineers, elite athletes, and coaching staff.
• Mentorship & Project Operations:
  Oversee the day-to-day project and operational workflows. Supervise, mentor and review the work of undergraduate and graduate students working on AMSI projects.

The successful candidate must have demonstrated experience in running gait biomechanics, data collection, and computational modeling.

• Education:
  
  PhD in Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Technical Expertise in Running Biomechanics:
  Demonstrated, extensive hands-on experience independently testing and analyzing human running gait. A strong peer-reviewed publication record focused on gait biomechanics is required.
• Musculoskeletal Modeling:
  Demonstrated expertise in advanced musculoskeletal modeling software (e.g. Open Sim) for calculating internal joint contact forces, muscle-tendon dynamics, and tissue-level mechanical loading during running.
• Hardware Proficiency:
  Plentiful, turn-key technical expertise with motion capture systems and force plate integration. Experience with advanced multi-system integration and hardware synchronization protocols.
• Advanced Programming
  
  Skills:
  
  Strong, independent programming skills (e.g. MATLAB, Python, R) for custom processing, filtering and modeling of kinematic and kinetic datasets.
• Autonomy:
  Proven ability to operate with a high degree of independence, solve complex technical/equipment problems without direct supervision, and manage multiple study timelines concurrently.
• Communication &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to interface professionally and dynamically with a diverse cohort of faculty, engineering partners, elite athletes, and corporate practitioners in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for Sport & Performance Innovation: A deep, intrinsic passion for sports, athletic culture, and human performance science. The ideal candidate must be highly driven by real-world athletic outcomes, showing a genuine motivation to help athletes optimize their movement mechanics and achieve their highest competitive potential while seeing their research directly…