PROFILE
Pragmatic scientist/engineer with 15+ years of experience leading projects focused on characterizing, understanding, and enhancing the mechanical behavior of biological and man-made systems. Experience includes lead positions in both academia and industry (aerospace). Core skills encompass:
Project Management Scientific Writing & Editing Classical Stress Analysis
Proposal Development Data Analysis (Matlab) Fracture Mechanics
Experimental Design Motion Analysis Biomechanics
Research Statistics Finite Element Analysis
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Scientist
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago & Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, 2000-2015
• Director of the Upper Extremity Mechanics Lab. Conceive, conduct and manage research aimed at understanding and restoring coordination of the statically redundant upper limb musculature
• Publish in, and peer-review for, major scientific journals
• Supervise postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and interns
• Led technical development of the MACARM cable-robot for upper limb rehabilitation, including evaluation of static and dynamic positional performance and the feasible force space
• Directed small-scale clinical trial of gravity-compensated robot-assisted therapy for enhancement of reaching in chronic stroke patients
• Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI on highly competitive federal and foundation grants
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, 1997-2000
• Co-PI on studies of innovative multijoint torque pattern training paradigms for upper limb rehabilitation
• Investigated abnormalities in the neural control of multijoint upper limb movements in stroke patients. Developed expertise in inverse dynamics analysis, forward dynamics simulation and electromyography
• Devised and implemented seminal studies of muscle weakness and abnormal across-joint torque patterns in stroke patients based on multi-axis load cell measurements
Rockwell International Corporation, Rocketdyne Division, Canoga Park, California
Technical Specialist, 1983-1986
• In-house consultant on fatigue issues related to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME)
• Performed fracture mechanics analyses of SSME components
• Developed monograph for the analysis of welded ducts with offset centerlines
• Determined optimal material orientation for anisotropic (directionally solidified and single crystal) turbine blades using ANSYS
Lead Structures Engineer, Advanced Programs Stress Unit, 1981-1983
• Directed structural analyses of R & D rocket engines and associated test fixtures. Supervised 2-3 engineers. Coordinated personnel in stress, dynamics, heat transfer and material properties design technology groups
• Defined strain gage locations, test procedures and data reduction methodology resulting in successful experimental determination of sodium pump bearing reactions
Structures Engineer, Advanced Programs Stress Unit, 1979-1981
• Classical hand and linear and nonlinear finite element analysis of turbomachinery components; design signoff; MR stress analysis; structural stability of nonprismatic support struts; evaluation of time/cycle-dependent failure modes including low and high cycle fatigue, stress rupture, and stress corrosion fatigue
• Performed structural analyses leading to resolution of seal leakage and fatigue failures on the RS-27 rocket engine
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
M.S. in Structural Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
B.S. in Civil Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Roh J, Rymer WZ, Beer RF (2015). Evidence for altered upper extremity muscle synergies in chronic stroke survivors with mild and moderate impairment. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9:6, doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00006.
Roh J, Rymer WZ, Perreault EJ, Yoo SB, Beer RF (2013). Alterations in upper limb muscle synergy structure in chronic stroke survivors. Journal of Neurophysiology, 109:768-781.
Roh J, Rymer WZ, Beer RF (2012). Robustness of muscle synergies underlying three dimensional force generation at the hand in healthy humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 107:2123-2142.
Beer RF, Naujokas C, Bachrach B, Mayhew D (2008). Development and evaluation of a gravity compensated training environment for robotic rehabilitation of post-stroke reachi...
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