Paula Silva

Paula Silva is an Associate Professor and Co-director of graduate training in the Psychology Department at the University of Cincinnati, and a primary faculty member of the Center for Cognition, Action & Perception. She holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Connecticut (2009) and prior academic roles include Professor of Physical Therapy at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2010–2015). Her research focuses on human performance through complexity science and ecological psychology, examining action strategies, perceptual capabilities, and their applications in rehabilitation and sports medicine.

Education: Bachelor's in Physical Therapy (UFMG, 2000), Master's in Rehabilitation Science (UFMG, 2002), PhD in Experimental Psychology (UConn, 2009), and a Certificate in Quantitative Methods (UConn, 2009).

Research emphasizes theoretical principles of biological movement coordination, motor strategies in diverse populations, and perceptual adaptation. She has led or collaborated on grants totaling over $160,000, including projects on motor strategies, gait biomechanics, and AI-driven injury prevention. Her work bridges theory and clinical practice, with applications in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Notable grants include CNPq-funded studies on motor strategies (2011–2013) and FAPEMIG-funded research on children with disabilities (2012–2014). Current collaborations involve Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and UC’s Digital Futures program, focusing on AI and phenotypic plasticity for injury prevention.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Center for Cognition, Action & Perception, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on biofeedback and AI applications.