People

Principal Investigator

Rajiv Ranganathan, Ph.D. 

I have a background in both Engineering and Kinesiology and am interested in issues of how humans learn to produce complex, coordinated movement. My ultimate goal is to use this knowledge for developing more effective neurorehabilitation techniques and design better assistive devices for facilitating movement.

[CV] [Twitter]

Graduate Students

Simon Cone

I am currently working towards a PhD in motor control and neuroscience.  I am interested in the motor learning process and how this process can be enhanced and made more efficient. I grew up and went to high school in Chelsea, MI. I did my undergrad at Calvin University in Grand Rapids and earned my masters from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. My hobbies include weightlifting, reading, and watching sports. 

Brian Fox

I am a third year PhD student studying Cognitive and Motor Neuroscience. I received my Masters Degree in Biomechanics from Ball State University, and a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology from Iowa State University. My research interests include musculoskeletal injuries and traumatic brain injuries in military personnel. In my spare time, I enjoy playing trumpet and guitar, lifting heavy things and setting them back down, and playing online games with my friends back home in Iowa. 

Narae Shin

I’ve started my coursework as a Ph.D. student in 2022. My research interests lie in how technology could assist people to learn a new motor skill and how the variability of elements could help people acquire a new motor skill effectively. I got my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Seoul National University in South Korea. When I have spare time, I love to be at home but once I made my mind to go out, I enjoy playing volleyball, taking a walk, and trying new activities. 

Joey Wijffels

I joined the MOTRE lab because I am fascinated by movement, as is everyone I work with! I move all the time; it inspires my work and is my greatest joy. I am interested in how the way we think influences the way we move. My most treasured activities in life are yoga, motorcycle touring and my research. I am born in the Netherlands, which is where I received my master’s degree in neuroscience from the Radboud University.