Alert

Holiday closures: our outpatient programs will be closed from Dec. 25, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025. Regular services resume January 2, 2024. Day program will be closed from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, 2024 inclusive, and will be closed on Jan. 1, 2025. Orthotics and prosthetics will be available for urgent care.

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PROPEL Lab - Our Team

A biomedical engineering research team

We are a team of passionate professionals from diverse fields—biomedical, mechanical, and electrical engineering, neurosciences, and rehabilitation science—united by our commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impacts on the lives of those we serve.

Principal Investigator & Lead of the PROPEL Lab

Staff

  • Dr. Calvin C. Ngan, Research Manager
  • Dr. Zeeshan Arshad, Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Mobeen Akhtar, Wearable Systems App Developer

PhD Candidates

  • Hafsa Zahid
  • Mohammad Aghababa
  • Vishal Pendse
  • Ammara Faiyaz

Master's Students

  • Thierry Dugas
  • Katrina Meng
  • Sebastian Silva
  • Julia Takimoto
  • Nader Allam
  • Aman Rahimatpure
  • Emma Calovini
  • Elijah Birley

Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Arezoo Eshraghi
Dr. Matt Leineweber, Dec 2014 - Jun 2017

Doctor of Philosophy

Dr. Gabriel Ng      
Thesis: Gait Pattern and Gait Quality Assessment using Machine Learning and Inertial Sensor Data, 2019-2024

Dr. Aliaa Gouda      
Thesis: A Wearable Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation-Based Biofeedback Gait Training System for Lower-Limb Prosthesis Users, 2019-2024

Dr. Calvin C. Ngan      
Thesis: Towards Developing a Digital Workflow for Transradial (Below-Elbow) Protheses, 2019-2024  

Dr. Rafael Escamilla Nunez       
Thesis: Development and Evaluation of a Wearable Vibrotactile Biofeedback System and a Gait Event Detection Algorithm to Improve Gait Symmetry of Individuals with Lower-Limb Amputation, 2016-2022

Master of Applied Science/ Master of Health Science

Connor Matton, MASc
Thesis: Developing digital technology for the design of ankle-foot orthotics (AFO), 2022 - 2024

Alexandra Ball, MHSc
Thesis: Quantifying Lower Limb Sagittal Plane Alignment Based on 3D Scans: Method Validation and Implementation to Compare Conventional and Digital AFO Shape Capture Processes, 2021 - 2023

Alexandra Michelini, MHSc
Thesis: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rhythmic Vibrotactile and Auditory Stimulation for a Biofeedback Gait Training System for Individuals with Lower Limb Amputation, Sep 2018 - Sep 2020

Firdous Hadj-Moussa, MHSc
Thesis: The Biomechanical Characterization of Running-Specific Prostheses for Children with Lower Limb Absence, Sep 2018 - Sep 2020

Megan Hamilton, MHSc
Thesis: Novel Approaches to Evaluating and Characterizing Force Sensor Performance at Body-Device Interfaces, Sep 2017 - Sep 2019

Rachel Reding, MHSc
Thesis: Studying the Performance of a Novel Stance-Phase Control Mechanism, Sep 2016- Sep 2018

Sam Shi, MHSc
Thesis: Designing a Vibrotactile Feedback System for Use in Lower-Limb Prostheses: Exploring the Tactor Configuration Variables, Sep 2015 - Sep 2017

Mark Fletcher, MHSc
Thesis: Design and Validation of a Transfemoral Amputee Walking Model with Passive Prosthesis Swing Phase Control, Sep 2015 - Sep 2017

Jessica Tomasi, MHSc
Thesis: Development and Evaluation of a Sensor System to Monitor the Stance-Phase Control Function of the Automatic Stance-Phase Lock (ASPL) Mechanism, Sep 2014 – Sep 2016

Calvin Ngan, MHSc
Thesis: Design and Evaluation of a Prosthetic Knee Joint based on Automatic Stance-Phase Lock (ASPL) Technology for Children with Transfemoral Amputations, Sep 2013 – Sep 2015

Monica Gomez-Orozco, MASc
Thesis: Assessment of Postural Deviations Associated Errors in the Analysis of Kinematics Using Inertial and Magnetic Sensors and a Correction Technique Proposal, Sep 2013 – Sep 2015

Juan Francisco Morales Gonzalez, MASc
Thesis: Development of a Real-Time System to Measure Foot Clearance Based on Inertial Sensors, Sep 2012 – Jan 2015

Emma Rogers, MHSc
Thesis: Analysis of Force Distribution on Upper Body Limbs During Ambulation with Crutches, Sep 2012 – Sep 2014

Aman Sharma, MHSc
Thesis: Assessing the Use of Vibrotactile Feedback as a Means for
Providing Sensory Information to the Upper Thigh, Sep 2011 – Sep 2013

Caroline Chen, MHSc
Thesis: Evaluation of Dynamic Prosthetic Alignment Techniques for Individuals with Transtibial Amputation, Sep 2010 – Sep 2012

Dominik Wyss, MHSc
Thesis: Evaluation and Design of a Globally Applicable Rear-Locking Prosthetic Knee Mechanism, Sep 2010 – Sep 2012

Alex Furse, MHSc
Thesis: Development of a Low Cost Swing-Phase Control Mechanism, Sep 2008 – Sep 2010

Dan Harrison, MASc
Thesis: Feasibility and design of a low-cost prosthetic knee joint using a compliant member for stance-phase control, Sep 2007 – Sep 2009

Master of Engineering

Mobeen Akhtar, MEng, 2021
Harry Sivasambu, MEng, 2019

Undergraduate

Emilie Kuepper, 2024
Karthik Sivakumar, 2024
Emily Cui, 2024
Elise Schwarz, 2023
Kansas Mackay, 2023
Katie Currie, Apr 2023 - Dec 2023
Sabine Sanchez, 2022
Naomi Thomas, 2022
Titouan Lecuyer, February 2022 - June 2022
Alexandra Colville-Reeves, May 2021 - Aug 2021
Hafsa Zahid, May 2020 - Aug 2020
Diana Cancelliere, May 2020 - Aug 2020
Samuel Weininger, May 2018/19 - Aug 2018/19
Maggie Zhu, Sep 2017 - Apr 2018
Alexandria Michelini, May 2017 – Aug 2017
Megan Hamilton, May 2017 – Aug 2017
Victoria Cheng, May 2016 – Aug 2016
Daniel Tovbis, May 2016 – Jul 2016
Rachel Reding, Sep 2015 – Apr 2016
Hankyu Lee, May 2015 – Apr 2016
Daniel Tovbis, May 2015 – Aug 2015
Mark Fletcher, May 2014 – Aug 2014
Ben Leaker, May 2014 – Aug 2014
José Enrique Chen, May 2012 – Aug 2014
Joshua Ma, Sep 2013 – Apr 2014
Karin Lam, May 2013 – Aug 2013
Xiaojing Guo, Sep 2012 – Apr 2013
Jirapat Likitlersuang, May 2012 – Apr 2013
Michael Thorne, Sep 2012 – Dec 2012
Lutan Hu, May 2011 – Dec 2011
Alyssa Randall, May 2009 – Dec 2009
Jennifer Irwin, May 2008 – Dec 2009
James Christensen, May 2009 – Aug 2009
Alex Furse, Sep 2007 – Apr 2008
Ray D’sa, Sep 2007 – Apr 2008
Jenna Usprech, May 2007 – Apr 2008
Mubin Shaikh, May 2006 – Aug 2006
Hansheng Sun, May 2006 – Aug 2006
Saman Safavi, Sep 2005 – Apr 2006