معرفی
Andrew J. Spence is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Temple University's College of Engineering, where he leads the Spence Lab focused on locomotor neuromechanics and spinal cord injury. His work integrates experimental biology, mathematical modeling, robotics, and molecular genetic tools to understand how animals move and how movement can be restored after injury.
- PhD in Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University
- Postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley with Bob Full and Eileen Hebets
- Former RCUK Fellow and faculty at the Royal Veterinary College, London
- Joined Temple University in 2013
His research interests center on the control of locomotion, gait analysis, spinal cord injury, neuroprosthetics, and the application of optogenetics and chemogenetics (DREADDs) in neuromuscular disorders. He also explores biomechanics in diverse species, from insects to racehorses, seeking general principles of movement.
The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong trend toward integrating genetic tools with biomechanical analysis, particularly in rodent models of spinal cord injury. His work spans fundamental questions in animal locomotion and applied research in rehabilitation, with increasing emphasis on closed-loop systems, automated tracking, and neuromodulation.
- RCUK Tenure Track Research Fellowship
- W.M. Keck Foundation predoctoral fellowship
Spence advises a multidisciplinary team of students and postdocs, collaborates with Professors Michel Lemay and George Smith on spinal cord injury projects, and leads NIH-funded research. His lab develops open-source tools for locomotion analysis and has contributed significantly to understanding stability, gait transitions, and sensory feedback in movement. He teaches courses in neuroengineering and biomechanics at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
The Spence Lab is actively involved in developing neurogenetic interventions for spinal cord injury, studying gait adaptation in complex environments, and creating innovative instrumentation for neuromechanical research.
