The MOvES Lab would like to recognize senior Katie Jira, who is graduating in December of 2018 with her B.S. in Exercise Science with a minor in Human Development and Family Science. Through her two years spent in the lab, Katie has been involved in a multitude of projects ranging from concussion to dual-task paradigms. For her senior thesis project, Katie chose to focus on the effects of a cognitive and motor dual-task paradigms on a healthy population by creating her own testing procedure. After graduation, Katie is planning on pursing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy and is interested in specializing in Sports Medicine. Because of her personal experience with sports-related injuries and love for anatomy, she chose to pursue physical therapy to help those recover from injuries both physically and mentally.
During her time in the lab, Katie expanded her communication and teamwork skillsets. Through her position as our Undergraduate Research Coordinator, Katie was able to participate in administrative tasks such as hiring new lab personal, leading meetings, and working one-on-one with doctoral students. She was also able to participate in many practical experiences in the field of sports medicine and biomechanics that she would not have been exposed to without the MOvES Lab.
“Through my time with the MOvES Lab, I was able to apply what I have learned in the classroom to real-life, clinical scenarios. By working with very goal-oriented and passionate peers, I feel as though my critical thinking and communications skills have grown and left me feeling more confident in my ability to become a great physical therapist. I am so thankful for all the opportunities that Dr. Onate and his team members have provided me with over the years and hope that other future medical professionals are able to channel their interests into exploring research.”
Update: Katie has been accepted in to OSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and will start in the Summer of 2019, Congradulations Katie!