Call for Applications  

2026 APTA Biomechanics SIG Student & Post-Doc Travel Awards

Due Date 11/07/2025

Application Instructions

The APTA Biomechanics Special Interest Group (SIG) is pleased to announce the 2026 APTA Biomechanics Student Travel Award. Awardees will be selected based upon the submitted material to support promising scientists in the field of biomechanics. There are mutiple awards available, each consisting of a certificate and a $600.00 check.

 Eligibility

Current or pending student member of the APTA Biomechanics Special Interest Group at the time of submission. A student is considered eligible for the award if they are currently enrolled in a terminal research degree program or completing post-doctoral research experience in the year prior to the APTA CSM annual meeting within the area of biomechanics.

 The Awardee must attend the 2026 CSM to present their work as either a poster or podium as the presenting author and must attend the Biomechanics SIG Business Meeting to receive their award.

 Application Process

Electronic applications must be submitted by November 7, 2025 to the Biomechanics SIG Awards Committee Chair Dr. Oscar Vila-Dieguez ([email protected]).

 Application Submission Material:

a. Letter of nomination from graduate advisor (1 pg. max.)

b. Cover letter (1 pg. max.) from the applicant describing benefit of attending CSM.

c. Copy of APTA CSM 2026 abstract acceptance email notification.

d. Copy of accepted abstract.

e. One-page document listing relevant publications, abstracts, presentations & awards.

f. APTA membership number

 

Submission Instructions

Applications should be submitted electronically to the APTA SOR Biomechanics SIG Awards Chair, Dr. Oscar Vila-Dieguez ([email protected]).  All material must be submitted by November 7, 2025.  Awardees will be notified via email by Friday, December 21, 2025.

 Applications should be submitted as a single pdf.  Please use the following format to name the file and put “LAST NAME _ FIRST NAME_BIOMECHANICS TRAVEL AWARD” in the subject header of the application e-mail.

 2025 Biomechanics SIG DPT Student and PhD student/Post-Doc Travel Award Winners

2025 Ph.D.student/PostDoc Travel Awards:

Oscar Vila-Dieguez, PT, PhD: Oscar Vila-Dieguez is a postdoctoral fellow in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at the University of California San Diego. His research involved the study of muscle tissue mechanical and histological properties in patients with low-back pain and rotator cuff tears.

Andrew Babcanec, PT, DPT, OCS: I am a second year PhD student within Arcadia University’s Movement Science program and my current research focus is the biomechanical analysis of individuals with Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS) during squat tasks. Specifically, I am interested in quantifying coordination and understanding the contribution of altered motor control to squat-related biomechanical deficits.

Jeffrey Paskewitz, PT, DPT, OCS: Jeff is a physical therapy researcher and graduate student enrolled in the PhD in Movement Science program at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. His research interests include biomechanical risk factors for throwing-related upper extremity injuries as well as mechanisms and interventions relating to chronic shoulder pain.


Hyo-Jung Jeong, PT, PhD, MS: Hyo-Jung Jeong is a 4th year postdoc at Washington University in St. Louis, working with Dr. Mary Hastings. Her research investigates early-onset foot and ankle complications in youth-onset type 2 diabetes and their impact over the lifespan.


Daniel Syrett, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS: E. Daniel Syrett is a Research Fellow at the Central Virginia VA Medical Center who completed his PhD in Rehabilitation and Movement Science at Virginia Commonwealth University in May. His current research utilizes muscle-driven musculoskeletal modeling and simulation to examine how alterations in gait may affect lower extremity joint loading in populations likely to develop osteoarthritis.


Mitchell Adam, PT, DPT, NCS: Mitchell Adam is a PhD candidate in the Exercise and Rehabilitation Science program at Marquette University. His work focuses on the impact of high intensity exercise on gait stability and neurophysiologic function in people with multiple sclerosis

 

Thank you to our Sponsors

AMTI: AMTI Force & Motion is a leading manufacturer of force measurement systems for biomechanics research, clinical gait analysis, rehabilitation, and sports performance. With 50 years of experience, AMTI force plates are trusted worldwide for their accuracy, durability, and seamless integration with motion capture and other 3rd party data acquisition systems.

Novel: Novel is the gold-standard in force distribution measurement.  Novel provides the emed barefoot pressure platform, the pedar in-shoe pressure system, and the pliance system for any application with a flexible pressure sensor. The loadsol is a force-measuring in-shoe wearable sensor for real-time and long-term measurements.  The loadpads are flexible force measuring sensors including the loadglove, texsens, buttonsens, manual therapy loadpad and more.  novel utilizes fully calibrated capacitive sensors. Real-time display of data makes the systems perfect for feedback. 

Delsys: Delsys has been at the forefront of innovation in wearable sensor technology for understanding and augmenting human movement. We continue to redefine the boundaries of EMG, providing solutions for world-leading research, and enabling breakthroughs with pioneering technology.

VALD Performance Technology: VALD technology is used and trusted in high performance organizations around the world to measure, manage and improve teams’ and athletes’ strength, power, movement, balance, asymmetry and more.

TheMotionMonitor (Innovative Sports Training): a Real-time 3D motion capture system designed for use in medical research; physical therapy clinics; sports medicine labs; motor control & neurological labs; etc.

Bertec: Bertec partners with clinicians and physical therapists worldwide, delivering gold-standard technologies — including our Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) system — to advance balance assessment, rehabilitation, and patient outcomes.