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Dr Kirsty McDonald is a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She sits at the intersection of health and engineering with expertise in human biomechanics, motor control, and physiology. Her research explores optimization principles in human movement across contexts including metabolic cost, muscle fatigue, musculoskeletal loading, stability, pain, and cognitive demands.
Dr McDonald earned her PhD from The University of Western Australia in 2018, following a BSc (Hons) in 2013 and a BSc in 2011, both from the same institution. She was Valedictorian in 2014 and received the Rod Fry Prize and Frank Pyke Memorial Scholarship in 2013.
Her research program applies biomechanical insights to improve quality of life for people with movement disability, enhance athletic performance and injury prevention, and promote physical activity engagement. She leads investigations into footwear biomechanics, prosthetic design, fall prevention in older adults, and fundamental principles of human movement optimization. Her work bridges theoretical biomechanics with practical applications in rehabilitation and sports performance.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong translational focus with significant contributions to understanding how advanced footwear affects running biomechanics (particularly with fatigued muscles), development of innovative prosthetic solutions for walking and running, and investigation of trip recovery mechanisms in older populations. Her research consistently connects fundamental biomechanical principles with real-world applications.
- Early Career Educator of the Year, School of Health Sciences, UNSW (2022)
- Australian Postgraduate Award and UWA Safety Net Top-Up Scholarship (2014-2017)
- Semi-finalist, Nike Ease Challenge (2016)
- Valedictorian, UWA (2014)
- Rod Fry Prize, UWA (2013)
- Frank Pyke Memorial Scholarship, UWA (2013)
Dr McDonald actively supervises PhD students including John Kerr and Key Nahan as primary supervisor. Her extensive grant portfolio includes Chief Investigator roles on projects related to pain stimulation during locomotion, footwear biomechanics, and prosthetic socket fitting. She has secured funding from UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme, ASICS Oceania, and the American Society of Biomechanics, totaling over $400,000 in recent years.
As leader of the Locomotion Research Group (LRG) at UNSW, she oversees research on fundamental movement principles and their application to develop innovative solutions for movement disorders and performance enhancement. The group collaborates with industry partners including ASICS and clinical organizations to translate research into practical applications.
