News

  • August 2024 - I presented “Controlling a simple model of bipedal walking to adapt to a wide range of target step lengths and step frequencies” in the Canadian Society for Biomechanics conference, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

  • June 2024 - I presented “Adapting walking to a range of target step lengths and frequencies” in the Dynamic Walking conference, Pensacola, FL, USA.

  • June 2023 - I presented “Reinforcement learning of energy optimal walking” in the Dynamic Walking conference, Munich, Germany.

Sina Mehdizadeh

Sina Mehdizadeh

Postdoctoral Fellow

Simon Fraser University

Hello!

Of all the wonders in the world, three fascinate me most: the brain, human movement, and mathematics. This fascination led me to become a scientist in computational neuromechanics, dedicated to understanding how the brain generates and controls movement through the lens of mathematics. My research is on the neuromechanics of human locomotion. In other words, I try to understand principles underlying control of walking and to use these principles to design rehabilitation protocols for affected groups. My research results have been published in premier academic journals in the field of biomechanics, motor control, and gerontology. Currently, I am a CIHR postdoctoral fellow at professor Max Donelan’s Locomotion Lab in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. I investigate gait adaptation through understanding the nervous system’s mechanisms of learning. Previously, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN. I am also a member of editorial board of the Gait & Posture.

Interests

  • Locomotion neuromechanics
  • Biomechanics
  • Gait
  • Motor Control
  • Movement variability

Education

  • PhD in Biomedical Engineering- Biomechanics, 2014

    Tehran Polytechnic (Amirkabir University of Technology)

  • MSc in Biomedical Engineering- Biomechanics, 2009

    Tehran Polytechnic (Amirkabir University of Technology)

  • BSc in Biomedical Engineering- Biomechanics, 2007

    Tehran Polytechnic (Amirkabir University of Technology)

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Sessional Lecturer

Simon Fraser University

Aug 2022 – Jan 2023 Vancouver, Canada
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Fellow

Locomotion Lab- Simon Fraser University

Sep 2021 – Present Vancouver, Canada
 
 
 
 
 

Postdoctoral Fellow

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network

Oct 2018 – Aug 2021 Toronto, Canada
 
 
 
 
 

Senior Biomechanics

National Sports Institute of Malaysia

Sep 2016 – Oct 2018 Kula Lumpur, Malaysia

Certificates

Knowledge Mobilization

Invention to Innovation (i2I) Skills

Instructional Skills

Computational Neuroscience

University Teaching Fundamentals

Advanced University Teaching

Prospective Professors in Training

Grants, Awards & Fellowships

Grants:

  • Februray 2024- Physics-based modelling of the determinants of walking’s energetic cost. NSERC Intl. Alliance. My Role: Co-author

  • Februray 2020- Computer vision for daily monitoring of gait instability to detect an increased risk of falling. CIHR. My Role: Co-investigator

  • Novemeber 2019- Video-Based gait assessment to monitor changes in health status and reduce hospital visits in older adults with dementia. CABHI. My Role: Co-investigator

Fellowships:

  • June 2022- June 2025. CIHR Postdoc Fellowship- Accelerating gait adaptation through understanding the nervous system’s mechanisms of learning - 135K CAD

  • September 2020-September 2022. CANSSI Ontario Postdoc Fellowship- Deep learning to predict optimality of future foot placements in walking of older adults - 10K CAD

  • September 2020-September 2021 AGE-WELL postdoc fellowship- Artificial intelligence for the real-time prediction of optimal foot placement in the gait of older adults- 20K CAD

  • January 2019- December 2020. Mitacs Accelerate postdoc fellowship- A Vision-based system for intelligent monitoring of gait poses in Dementia- 45K CAD
  • September 2009- June 2014. Graduate fellowship- Quantifying stability and coordination in agility drills- Covered tution fees

Awards:

  • 2020- Focus on Accessibility Awards- Government of Ontario, Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility - 2K CAD
  • 2019- CIHR Travel Award - 1K CAD
  • 2019- AGE-WELL ACCESS Award - 2K CAD
  • 2019- UHN Travel Award - 500 CAD
  • 2018- AGE-WELL Travel Award - covered travel and accommodation
  • 2015- 2nd International Berlin Autumn School on Movement Science Travel Award - covered travel and accommodation

Publications

Please see my Google Scholar page for a complete list of my publications.

Teaching

My most recent teaching

  • BPK 207: Sensorimotor Control and Learning at the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University—a second year undergraduate course with 120 students.

I have also taught the following courses in both graduate and undergraduate levels:

  • Biomechanics
  • Motor control
  • Rehabilitation Engineering
  • Statics
  • Dynamics

Please see my CV for further information.

I have also received the following certificates on teaching in higher education from the University of Toronto:

  • Fundamentals of Teaching in Higher Education- University of Toronto
  • Advanced Teaching in Higher Education- University of Toronto
  • Prospective Professors in Training- University of Toronto
  • Instructional Skills- Simon Fraser University

Please see the Certficate section on this website.