Monica Daley
Research Interests:
Monica's research team investigate a number of questions in the area of Comparative Neuromechanics. We are interested in understanding the interplay of mechanics and neural control within the body, particularly how muscles function to allow agile and stable movement in varied terrain conditions.
We often use ground birds as a model system for investigating these issues, because they are a diverse group of bipedal animals that span a large size range from tiny 35 gram painted quail to ostriches over 100 kg. Yet, they all use striding bipedal gaits that are mechanically similar to human walking and running. By investigating locomotor behaviour in ground birds, Daley's team strives to reveal basic principles of how body size and leg morphology influence bipedal locomotion. Current projects focus on the dynamics of unsteady locomotion, factors underlying energy cost of locomotion, the role of proprioception and balance sensing in the control of locomotion, and applicaiton of principles from animal neuromechanics to bio-inspired robotics.
Our research is at the interface of muscle physiology, neural control, mechanics and energetics. We use an integrative approach that combines biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology, and computer simulations of animal locomotion. The findings from this research can help us understand natural animal behaviours, evolution of leg morphology, and injury mechanisms in domestic and wild species. This research can also provide insight into health and welfare issues including gait pathologies, fall prevention and rehabilitation. The findings can also inspire novel robot and prosthetic designs, and we are collaborating with researchers in these fields to translate biological principles into technological applications.
Daley's Biography:
Monica first became involved in research at the University of Utah, where she completed an HBSc in Biology. It was here that Monica was inspired to pursue an academic career, through her undergraduate research on locomotor-ventilatory integration in human running with Dennis Bramble and David Carrier, and the support of the Bioscience Undergraduate Research Program. Monica then spent another year at the University of Utah as a research technician in the lab of Franz Goller, investigating motor control of singing in zebra finches. These experiences initiated a long-standing fascination with the interplay of mechanics and neural control.
Monica went on to graduate studies at Harvard University, where she completed an MA in 2003 and a PhD in 2006, both in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Monica's PhD research focused on the mechanics and neuromuscular control of running in birds with Andrew Biewener at the Concord Field Station of Harvard University.
After completing her PhD in 2006, she spent 15 months as a postdoctoral researcher with Dan Ferris in the Human Neuromechanics Lab at the University of Michigan, as a National Science Foundation Fellow in Bioinformatics.
Monica joined the RVC in January 2008 as one of the academic faculty members of the Structure and Motion Lab. She is now a Senior Lecturer in Locomotor Biomechanics (in the UK, 'Senior Lecturer' is a tenured academic rank).
Monica's research team investigate a number of questions in the area of Comparative Neuromechanics. We are interested in understanding the interplay of mechanics and neural control within the body, particularly how muscles function to allow agile and stable movement in varied terrain conditions.
We often use ground birds as a model system for investigating these issues, because they are a diverse group of bipedal animals that span a large size range from tiny 35 gram painted quail to ostriches over 100 kg. Yet, they all use striding bipedal gaits that are mechanically similar to human walking and running. By investigating locomotor behaviour in ground birds, Daley's team strives to reveal basic principles of how body size and leg morphology influence bipedal locomotion. Current projects focus on the dynamics of unsteady locomotion, factors underlying energy cost of locomotion, the role of proprioception and balance sensing in the control of locomotion, and applicaiton of principles from animal neuromechanics to bio-inspired robotics.
Our research is at the interface of muscle physiology, neural control, mechanics and energetics. We use an integrative approach that combines biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology, and computer simulations of animal locomotion. The findings from this research can help us understand natural animal behaviours, evolution of leg morphology, and injury mechanisms in domestic and wild species. This research can also provide insight into health and welfare issues including gait pathologies, fall prevention and rehabilitation. The findings can also inspire novel robot and prosthetic designs, and we are collaborating with researchers in these fields to translate biological principles into technological applications.
Daley's Biography:
Monica first became involved in research at the University of Utah, where she completed an HBSc in Biology. It was here that Monica was inspired to pursue an academic career, through her undergraduate research on locomotor-ventilatory integration in human running with Dennis Bramble and David Carrier, and the support of the Bioscience Undergraduate Research Program. Monica then spent another year at the University of Utah as a research technician in the lab of Franz Goller, investigating motor control of singing in zebra finches. These experiences initiated a long-standing fascination with the interplay of mechanics and neural control.
Monica went on to graduate studies at Harvard University, where she completed an MA in 2003 and a PhD in 2006, both in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. Monica's PhD research focused on the mechanics and neuromuscular control of running in birds with Andrew Biewener at the Concord Field Station of Harvard University.
After completing her PhD in 2006, she spent 15 months as a postdoctoral researcher with Dan Ferris in the Human Neuromechanics Lab at the University of Michigan, as a National Science Foundation Fellow in Bioinformatics.
Monica joined the RVC in January 2008 as one of the academic faculty members of the Structure and Motion Lab. She is now a Senior Lecturer in Locomotor Biomechanics (in the UK, 'Senior Lecturer' is a tenured academic rank).
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