Jonathan Dingwell
Biography
Dr. Dingwell is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Penn State University at University Park. He received his BS in Physics from Miami University (1990), MS in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio State University (1994), and Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Penn State University (1998). Dr. Dingwell completed Post-Doctoral work at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University (1998-2001). Dr. Dingwell served are Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor at the University of Texas Austin from 2002-2017 before returning to Penn State University in 2017. Previous research was funded by the Whitaker Biomedical Engineering Foundation, National Institutes of Health (NICHD & NIBIB), Department of Defense (CDMRP), and National Science Foundation. Current research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIA). Dr. Dingwell has authored or co-authored 70 peer-reviewed journal publications. He and his students were awarded the Clinical Biomechanics Award at ASB (1999) and Best Paper Awards at GCMAS (2007 and 2013). Dr. Dingwell served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Biomechanics from 2012-2018.
Dr. Dingwell’s research seeks to understand the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of complex adaptive human movements. His laboratory (the Locomotor Control Laboratory) conducts both basic science and clinically relevant research related to maintaining dynamic stability during human locomotion and determining how humans exploit redundancy and neuronal noise to control repetitive movements. We address these questions using models and experiments, with approaches derived mainly from nonlinear dynamical systems and statistical mechanics.
Abstract
Overcoming “Rigor Mortis” in Biomechanics Research
Issues of scientific rigor and reproducibility are gaining increased attention across many scientific fields. An excellent and carefully researched recent book (“Rigor Mortis” by Richard Harris) encapsulates these issues. Nature now hosts a special collection devoted to “Challenges in Irreproducible Research”. NIH and other granting agencies are updating grant policies to increase rigor and reproducibility: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/rigor-reproducibility. In my talk, I will try to give an overview of these issues, describe how and why many studies are likely irreproducible, describe specific examples and implications for biomechanics, and discuss strategies and approaches we as researchers can employ to avoid common pitfalls and improve the reproducibility of biomechanics research.