Neural Control of Posture and Movement Lab – Dr. Mark G. Carpenter

Mark Carpenter, PhD

Professor, Co-Director, School of Kinesiology

Post-Secondary Education

PhD Kinesiology, University of Waterloo (1998-2001)
MSc Kinesiology, University of Waterloo (1996-1998)
BSc Honours Kinesiology, University of Waterloo (1992-1996)

Employment Record

Professor, University of British Columbia (2015-present)
Tier II Canada Research Chair, University of British Columbia (2005-2015)
NSERC Post-doctoral Fellow, Karolinska Institute, Sweden (2002-2004)
Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Waterloo (2002)
Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Basel (2001)

Academic Memberships

President- International Society of Posture and Gait Research
Centre Investigator – Brain Research Centre, UBC
Associate Member – International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries
Advisory Board Member – Balance and Dizziness Disorder Society
Member – International Society of Posture and Gait Research
Member – Society for Neuroscience
Member – American Physiological Society

Keara completed her BSc(Hons) in Human Kinetics at the University of Guelph and a master’s in Kinesiology at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her master’s research examined the muscular activity in the lower leg and foot during slip recovery. She has recently moved to Vancouver to pursue a PhD with Dr. Carpenter to continue to investigate underlying mechanisms that contribute to static and dynamic balance control.

Contact: keara.sutherland@ubc.ca

Xiangwei is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and the human body. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Interactive Art and Technology from Simon Fraser University, where she focused on human body interfaces and wearable devices for rehabilitation. Xiangwei believes that technologies like virtual reality and wearable devices hold immense potential in medical applications and must be designed with a profound understanding of human physiology.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Xiangwei is an avid mountain climber. Having summited several high-altitude peaks, she understands the critical importance of body awareness for climbers. Her dream of reaching Mount Everest drives her continued research in human body mechanics and postural control.

Contact: xiangwei.zhang@ubc.ca

Emmarie completed her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at Acadia University and continued to her master’s at the University of Saskatchewan on Concussion and postural control where her research was funded by Canadian Graduate Scholarship-Masters (CIHR) and Mitacs to create and implement a protocol for assessing and rehabilitating underlying performance deficits at a local physiotherapy clinic in Saskatoon. Emmarie is a certified athletic therapist, and her passion lies in bridging research and clinicians. Emmarie is currently part of the Neural Control of Posture and Movement Lab under the supervision of Dr. Mark Carpenter where her research will look at peripheral vestibular function and perception with a specific focus on individuals with a concussion.

Contact: emmrh@student.ubc.ca

Sayna completed her bachelor of Kinesiology at UBC. She is currently pursuing her MSc in Kinesiology under the supervision of Dr. Mark Carpenter. Her thesis examines the effects of self-talk on postural and emotional changes related to height-induced postural threat.

Contact email: sayna.soleymanian@ubc.ca

Daniel earned his B.Kin. at UBC and is pursuing his MSc. under the supervision of Dr. Mark Carpenter and Dr. Romeo Chua. During his undergraduate degree, he completed a directed studies research project which looked at the relationship between postural threat and upper limb fine motor control. Within his M.Sc., Daniel seeks to explore the effect of risk-behaviour on decision-making within threatful environments. In his free time, you can find Daniel either at the Vancouver Japanese Language School teaching iaido or at Rec North flexing in front of a mirror.

Contact: deverard@ubc.ca

Christina completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree at the University of British Columbia in Spring 2025 and is now pursuing her Master of Science in Kinesiology under the supervision of Dr. Mark Carpenter. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in research through her involvement in multiple laboratories and diverse ongoing projects, including a brief collaboration with researcher at the University of California, Berkeley on an fMRI-based neuroimaging project. Christina looks forward to continuing her research on balance and sensorimotor control as part of her graduate studies.

Contact: christina.cheng@ubc.ca