Principal Investigator
Rajiv Ranganathan, Ph.D.
IM Sports Circle Rm 126C
Tel: (517) 353-6491
Email: rrangana@msu.edu
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.
Graduate Students
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.
Ashrut Aryal
I am a second-year PhD student in the MOTRE Lab, which I joined in 2024. I am interested in understanding how humans perform specific movement-related tasks and translating these insights into robotic applications for assistive, human-robot interaction scenarios or automating such tasks. Currently, I am investigating how humans approach the task of flattening wrinkled cloth and developing a robotic implementation based on human strategies. In my free time, I enjoy exploring the outdoors, connecting with nature, and traveling to new places. I also watch football whenever I get the chance
Joshua Vicente
I am a first year PhD student studying Cognitive and Motor Neuroscience. I received my Bachelors in Kinesiology: Exercise Science and Masters Degree in Kinesiology at California State University Northridge (CSUN). My research interests include the use of emerging technologies in servicing gait-impacted populations, motion analysis in subjective performance based sport (hip-hop dance), and the application of cross-disciplinary approaches to research problems. Before coming to MSU, I served as adjunct faculty at CSUN & Cal Lutheran University. Outside of school, I thoroughly enjoy taking dance classes, running, and am an avid gaming enthusiast as well.
Undergraduate Assistants
- Ethan Hunt, ME
- Gordy Hartford, KIN
- Tim Earle, ME
Lab Alumni
Postdocs
- Shanie Jayasinghe. Currently postdoc at Penn State University
Graduate Students
- Tzu-Hsiang Lin, PhD. Currently postdoc at Florida International University
- Rakshith Lokesh, PhD. Currently postdoc at University of Delaware
- Aimee Tomlinson, MS