Applied Session Chairpersons

Professor Joe Hamill
Joseph Hamill attended York University in Toronto (B.A., Political Science) and Concordia University in Montreal (B.S., Science). He completed his graduate work in Biomechanics at the University of Oregon (M.S., Ph.D.). He is currently a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, an Adjunct Professor at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and a Distinguished Research Professor at the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore. He has authored over 95 research papers, over 100 research proceedings, several book chapters and three books. He has also presented over 150 papers at both national and international conferences. He has been an invited speaker at numerous universities in the United States and in countries such as Brazil, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Austria, Singapore and New Zealand.

He is a Fellow of the Research Consortium of AAHPERD, the American College of Sports Medicine, the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, the Canadian Society of Biomechanics and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. During his academic career, he has mentored more than 45 graduate students. Dr. Hamill’s research interests are focused on lower extremity biomechanics during normal and pathological locomotion.

His current projects include studies on coordination variability in the determination of cumulative micro-trauma injuries and the interaction of biomechanical and biochemical factors in ligamentous injuries. Professionally, he has served on the Executive Boards of the New England Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, the Footwear Biomechanics Group, the International Society of Biomechanics, the Canadian Society of Biomechanics and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports. Currently, he is the Chair-Elect of the Footwear Biomechanics Group and a Member-at-large on the Executive Board of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Professor Randy Jensen
Randy Jensen received his Ph.D. in Exercise Science (majors in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics) from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This followed a B.A. double major in Physical Education and Biology from St. Cloud State University and an M.S. in Adult Fitness and Cardiac Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse. He’s taught classes in Biomechanics, Applied Exercise Physiology, Strength Training and Conditioning, Statistics, and Research Methods at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels at Northern Michigan University since 1995. He received the Northern Michigan University Excellence in Professional Development Award in 2007. Previously he taught at Michigan Technological University and the University of North Texas and was involved in a number of research projects at the University of Limerick while on sabbatical.

He’s been a member of the NSCA since 1995 (CSCS since August 2004), a Fellow of ASCM since 1998 (member since 1985) and on the ISBS Board of Directors since 2006 (member since 2000). He has supervised 61 MS students and five PhD students and has 70 peer reviewed publications and 100+ presentations at international meetings covering the effect of strength on performance, upper body and aquatic exercise, and bicycling.

Professor Duane Knudson
Dr. Duane Knudson is Associate Dean of the College of Communication and Education and a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the California State University, Chico. His primary areas of research are the biomechanics of tennis, stretching, and the qualitative analysis of human movement. He has published about seventy peer reviewed articles and eight book chapters. He is the author of thee books: Qualitative Analysis of Human Movement 2nd ed. (2002), Fundamentals of Biomechanics 2nd ed. (2007), and Biomechanical Principles of Tennis Technique (2006). He has been elected Fellow of three scholarly organizations in exercise science and sports medicine.

Professor Ross Sanders
Professor Ross Sanders is Chair of Sport Science, Department of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies (PESLS), The University of Edinburgh (from 2000). In 2001 he founded the Centre for Aquatics Research and Education (CARE) and now leads a team comprising current and completed PhD students Dr Roozbeh Naemi (postdoctoral fellow), Dr Carla McCabe, Dr Stelios Psycharakis (Napier University), Chris Connaboy (final year PhD student), and Georgios Machtsiras (PhD student). Professor Sanders completed his PhD through the University of Queensland (1991) following employment as a teacher of Physical Education (1977-1984).

Previous academic appointments include The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (1987-1996), and Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia (1996-1999) where he hosted the 1999 ISBS scientific conference and its applied sessions. His research applies the scientific disciplines of biomechanics and motor control with particular emphasis on enhancing performance in aquatic sports.

Associate Professor Richard Smith
Richard Smith's academic career began with a Bachelor's degree (University of New South Wales) and Master's degree (Macquarie University) in physics. His interest in education of young people was fostered by a Diploma of Education (The University of Sydney) and of adults through a Master of Adult Education and Community Development (Manchester, U.K.) and Master of Arts (Macquarie). Returning to physics (this time of human movement) while teaching at the University of Technology, Sydney, he developed his interest in biomechanics. He pursued this interest through research into mechanical energy expenditure during movement and in 1997 received his PhD in biomechanics from Wollongong University.

His major research interest in sport is rowing performance and in the clinical area, gait, with particular emphasis on mobility for the spinal cord-injured individual and on foot mechanics and its effects on the motion of the rest of the body. Richard is currently Associate Professor of Biomechanics in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney.