Eric G. James, Ph.D.
Department of Physical Therapy
University of Massachusetts Lowell
3 Solomont Way, Weed 210
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 934-4632
[email protected]
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Education
Ph.D., Motor Control, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 2009 Thesis Title: Coordination Dynamics in Redundant and Non-Redundant Motor Tasks Advisor: Karl M. Newell
M.S., Exercise Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 2006 Thesis Title: Effects of Internal and External Focus of Attention on Relative Phase
Stability in Rhythmic Bimanual Coordination Advisor: Charles S. Layne
B.A., Sociology, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY 1988
Academic Appointments
Research Associate 2015 – present Veterans Administration, New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center
Associate Professor 2014 – present
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA
Assistant Professor
Department of Health and Human Performance, University Texas, Brownsville, TX 2009 – 2014
Honors and Awards
Faculty Exceptional Merit, University of Texas Brownsville 2014
Professional Memberships and Activities
Gerontological Society of America 2009 – present
Society for Neuroscience 2009 – present
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity 2009 – present
Society for Motor Control 2011 – present
American Physiological Society 2013 – present
Editorial Responsibilities
Experimental Brain Research, ad hoc reviewer 2010 – present
PLoS One, ad hoc reviewer 2011 – present
Human Movement Science, ad hoc reviewer 2011 – present Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 2011 – present
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Publisher, ad hoc reviewer 2013 – present Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, ad hoc reviewer 2015 – present
Teaching Activities
Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science, Instructor; 35 students/semester 2009 – 2011 Self-Defense, Instructor; 40 students/semester 2010 – 2013 Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Instructor; 35 students/semester 2009 – 2014 Biomechanics, Instructor; 70 students/semester 2009 – 2014 Motor Control (M.S. program), Instructor; 10 students/year 2011 – 2013 Motor Control & Learning, Instructor; 35 students/semester 2014
Coordination Dynamics (M.S. program), Instructor; 2 students 2013
Kinesiology Laboratory, Instructor; 28 students/semester 2014 – present Neuroscience (DPT program), Instructor; 33 students/semester 2015 – present Neuroscience Lab (DPT program), Instructor; 11 students/semester 2015 – present
Graduate Student Education
M.S. Thesis Committee, Jose Leal 2012 – 2013
M.S. Thesis Committee, Agnelia Hernandez 2013 – 2014
Development of Curricula and Educational Materials
Developed course: Motor Control & Learning (undergraduate) 2013 University of Texas Brownsville
Developed course: Motor Control (M.S. program) 2013 University of Texas Brownsville
Developed course: Coordination Dynamics (M.S. program) 2013 University of Texas Brownsville
Advising and Mentoring
Research Mentoring
Sarah Cote, Graduate Research Lab Coordinator 2014 – present Michael Chiauzzi, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015
Stephen DeBay, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015 Rory Feeney, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015 Samantha Kroll, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015 Michael Mouawad, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015 Rebecca Sauter, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015 Laila Tokatli, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015
Paige Grimes, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Celeste Pipia, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Julia Villanova, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Chris Durgin, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Yonnie Collins, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Erica Kiesling, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Haley LaFreniere, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
Shannon Walsh, Research Co-op Scholar 2015
MaryKatherine Mey, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015 Diwesh Poudyal, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015 Tamara Arnold, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015 Kaitlyn McHugh, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015 Jacqueline Pellecchia, Undergraduate Research 2014-2015 Max Franco, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2013-2014 Edgar Lee, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2013-2014 Matt Leffler, Undergraduate Research Assistant 2013-2014 Advising
25 – 35 undergraduate student advisees each semester. 2014 - present
Grants
Current
PI. University of Massachusetts Lowell Startup funds 2014 – 2019 PI. University of Massachusetts Seed Money grant 2015 – 2017
Completed
PI. Texas Higher Education Assistance Funds 2013 Funding to purchase motion capture equipment for research laboratory
PI. College of Education Dean’s Competitive Travel Funding 2013 Funding for conference travel PI. University of Texas Brownsville, Startup funds 209
Under review
PI. NIH K01. Testing the dose-response of coordination training in older adults. Direct costs: $767,842 over 5 years. Submitted October 2015.
In-progress
PI. NIH R21. Risk for subsequent mobility limitations and falls due to coordination impairments in Hispanic and non-Hispanic older adults. Target submission date: February 2016.
PI. NIH R21. Changes in neural activation patterns in mobility limited older adults after a coordination intervention. Target submission date: June 2016.
Publications
Peer-reviewed publications
1. James, E.G., & Conatser, P. Effects of practice variability on unimanual arm rotation. Journal of Motor Behavior, 46: 203-210 (2014).
2. James, E.G. Non-stationarity of stable states in rhythmic bimanual coordination. Motor Control, 18: 184-188 (2014).
3. James, E.G. A model of postural coordination dynamics. Gait & Posture, 39: 194-197 (2014). 4. James, E.G. Short-term differential training decreases postural sway. Gait & Posture, 39: 172-176 (2014).
5. James, E.G. Metastable postural coordination dynamics. Neuroscience Letters, 548: 176-180 (2013).
6. James, E.G., & Karabulut, M. Vascular restriction decreases EMG regularity during walking. Human Movement Science, 32: 389-399 (2013).
7. James, E.G. Dimensionality in rhythmic bimanual coordination. Human Movement Science, 32: 147-156 (2013).
8. Conatser, P., James, E.G., & Ledingham, C.M. Early intervention developmental screening assessment. Palaestra, 27(3): 37-41 (2013).
9. James, E.G. Dynamical degrees of freedom and correlations in isometric finger force production. Experimental Brain Research, 223: 533-539 (2012).
10. James, E.G. Fixed-point drift and hysteresis in frequency-scaled unimanual coordination. Journal of Motor Behavior, 44: 281-288 (2012).
11. James, E.G. Body movement instructions facilitate synergy level motor learning, retention and transfer. Neuroscience Letters, 522: 162-166 (2012).
12. James, E.G., & Newell, K.M. Hierarchical control in redundant and non-redundant postural tasks. Human Movement Science, 30: 1167-1184 (2011).
13. James, E.G., Molenaar, P.C.M., & Newell, K.M. Time dependence of coupling in frequency-scaled bimanual coordination. Neuroscience Letters, 490: 156-160 (2011).
14. James, E.G., Layne, C.S., & Newell, K.M. Distributional properties of relative phase in bimanual coordination. Motor Control, 14: 478-489 (2010).
15. James, E.G., Hong, S.L., & Newell, K.M. Development of dynamic stability in children’s rhythmic movement. Developmental Psychobiology, 51: 465-473 (2009).
16. Hong, S.L., James, E.G., & Newell, K.M. Age-related complexity and coupling of children’s sitting posture. Developmental Psychobiology, 433: 119-124 (2008).
17. Hong, S.L., James, E.G., & Newell, K.M. Age-related complexity and coupling of children’s sitting posture. Developmental Psychobiology, 50: 502-510 (2008).
Under review
James, E.G., Leveille, S., Hausdorff, J., Travison, T., Manor, B., McLean, R., & Bean, J.F. Coordination impairment is associated with mobility in older adults. Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Medical Sciences and Biological Sciences.
Books & Chapters
1. Newell, K.M., & James, E.G. The amount and structure of human movement variability. In Routledge Handbook of Biomechanics and Human Movement Science (Hong, Y. & Bartlett, R. Eds.) pp 93-104.
Non-peer-reviewed publications
1. Conatser, P., & James, E.G. Early intervention assessment tool for adapted physical educators. P.E. Links for You website (2013).
2. James, E.G., & Conatser, P. Athletic trainers’ beliefs & injury report toward working with Special Olympic athletes. P.E. Links for You website (2012).
3. James, E.G., & Conatser, P. Application of research on coordination, control and skill to physical education. P.E. Links for You website (2011).
4. Conatser, P., & James, E.G. Starting an adapted aquatic program. P.E. Links for You website (2011).
5. James, E.G., & Conatser, P. Lifetime learning for physical and mental health. P.E. Links for You website (2010).
6. Conatser, P., & James, E.G. Utilizing ‘differential learning’ and ‘dynamical systems’ in physical education. P.E. Links for You website (2009).
Invited Presentations
Coordination impairments contribute to mobility limitations. November 2015 Dept. of Exercise and Health Sciences Seminar, University of Massachusetts Boston.
The contribution of coordination impairments to mobility limitations. October 2015 Dept. of Clinical Lab and Nutrition Sciences Colloquium, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Application of motor control and learning theory to enhance motor function. April 2014 University of Massachusetts Lowell
Application of motor control and learning theory to enhance motor function. February 2014 University of Texas Tyler
Application of motor control & learning theory to enhance health-related motor function. November 2013 University of Buffalo
Motor behavior, dynamic systems theory and rehabilitative interventions. April 2013 University of Mississippi
Motor behavior, dynamic systems theory and rehabilitative interventions. March 2013 University of Texas El Paso
Theoretical approach to understanding motor control. April 2012 University of North Carolina Wilmington
Differential learning to enhance motor learning. March 2010 New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Other Presentations, Posters & Abstracts
International
James, E.G., & Bean, J.F. A Pilot Study of the Association of Gait Coordination and November 2015 Preferred Walking Speed in Older Adults. Gerontological Society of America. Orlando, FL.
James, E.G. Elderly gait dynamics and the effects of environmental constraints. November 2014 Society for Neuroscience. Washington, D.C.
James, E.G. Effects of environmental constraints on elderly gait dynamics. November 2014 Gerontological Society of America. Washington, D.C.
James, E.G. Short-term differential training decreases postural sway. June 2013 North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. New Orleans, LA. Oral presentation.
James, E.G. Self-organized learning in rhythmic unimanual coordination. October 2012 Society for Neuroscience. New Orleans, LA.
James, E.G., & Newell, K.M. Hierarchical control in redundant and non-redundant June 2011 postural tasks. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. Burlington, VT. James, E.G., Alcoser, J., Hernandez, A., & Santibanez, R. Learning to play golf: October 2010 improving in the short-term vs. long-term. Border Binational Health Week Research Symposium. Brownsville, TX.
James, E.G., & Newell, K.M. Human coordination variability and postural task November 2008 performance. Society for Neuroscience. Washington, D.C.
James, E.G., Hong, S.L., & Newell, K.M. Aging changes the complexity of low frequency June 2008 postural dynamics. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. Niagara Falls, Canada.
James, E.G., Hong, S.L., & Newell, K.M. Distinct time-scale changes in postural November 2007 dynamics across the lifespan. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA. Oral presentation.
James, E.G., Hong, S.L., & Newell, K.M. Complexity of postural dynamics across the November 2007 lifespan. Gerontological Society of America. San Francisco, CA.
James, E.G., Hong, S.L., & Newell, K.M. Aging alters coupling and irregularity in finger June 2007 postural and movement. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. San Diego, CA.
James, E.G., Kurz, M.J., & Layne, C.S. Frequency and relative phase information in the February 2007 stability of coordination dynamics. Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida International University. Boca Raton, FL.
Regional
James, E.G., & Conatser, P. Utilizing differential learning and dynamic systems theory in December 2010 physical education. Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Galveston, TX.
Local
James, E.G. Coordination dynamics in redundant and non-redundant coordination tasks. March 2010 12th Annual UTB/TSC Research Symposium.
James, E.G., & Layne, C.S. Effects of internal and external focus of attention on relative February 2006 phase stability in rhythmic bimanual movements. Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology. Houston, TX.
James, E.G., & Layne, C.S. Time course of recovery from whole-body vibration induced February 2005 postural sway. Houston Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology. Houston, TX.
Professional Development
Visiting Fellowship Program in fMRI 2005
Massachusetts General Hospital
Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
NIH K-award Writing Group 2014 – 2015
University of Massachusetts Medical School
NIH R-award Writing Group 2014 – present
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Committee Assignments and Administrative Service
University
University Independent Review Board Committee 2013-2014 University of Texas Brownsville
College
College of Education NCATE Standard 5 Committee 2011 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
College of Education Distinguished Lecturer Series Committee 2009 – 2012 University of Texas Brownsville
Department
Undergraduate Exercise Physiology Curriculum Committee, Dept. of Physical Therapy 2014 – present University of Massachusetts Lowell
Doctor of Physical Therapy Curriculum Committee, Dept. of Physical Therapy 2014 – present University of Massachusetts Lowell
NCATE and Program Review Committee, Dept. of Health & Human Performance 2012 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Exercise Science Faculty Search Committee, Dept. of Health & Human Performance 2011 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Pedagogy Faculty Search Committee, Dept. of Health & Human Performance 2011 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Department of Health & Human Performance 2009 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Graduate Curriculum Committee, Department of Health & Human Performance 2009 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
TExES Committee, Dept. of Health & Human Performance 2009 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Johnny & Nena Cavazos Scholarship Committee, Dept. Health & Human Performance 2009 – 2014 University of Texas Brownsville
Field Day Committee, Department of Health & Human Performance 2009 – 2011 University of Texas Brownsville
