Our current students bring a variety of experiences and backgrounds to the Movement Science Program.
Kayla Bell, PT, DPT is originally from Belleville, IL. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Health Sciences with minors in Health Advocacy and Spanish from the University of Kentucky in 2021, with an interest in pursuing Physical Therapy. After completing her undergraduate studies and prior to attending PT school, she completed a Clinical Research Fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma under the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of Kentucky. During her fellowship, she discovered her passion for working in research. Following the completion of her fellowship, she went on to pursue and receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from WashU Medicine in 2025. During her professional studies, she participated in the NIH TiDe Program and worked in a neuro rehabilitation laboratory that studies accelerometry as a means to quantify human movement. Kayla is mentored by Dr. Gammon Earhart in the Movement Science Program. Outside of the lab, Kayla enjoys watching sports, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family, especially her dog, Norbert.
Christina Bourantas, BA is originally from Wilmington, DE. Christina graduated from DePauw University with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Physics. At DePauw, she conducted research in both the Kinesiology and Physics departments, researching force output of Division III swimmers and astrophysics, respectively. In addition to on campus research, Christina researched at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, DE. Her research focused on long-term rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy and casting effects of children with arthrogryposis. In the Movement Science Program, Christina will be mentored by Dr. Michael Harris and have the opportunity to research orthopaedic biomechanics. Outside of the lab, Christina enjoys playing field hockey, cooking, Greek dancing, and traveling!
Yiliu Cao, PT, DPT, MPH, is originally from Ningbo, China, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Movement Science from the University of Michigan in 2021 before completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Public Health degrees at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2025. During her graduate training, she participated in research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where she studied factors associated with stroke rehabilitation outcomes and explored how transportation barriers affect access to prosthetic and orthotic services. She also received postgraduate clinical training in orthopedic physical therapy at Duke Health. In the Movement Science Program, Yiliu will be mentored by Dr. Jennifer Zellers and will have the opportunity to research Achilles tendon pathology and biomechanics using advanced diagnostic imaging to inform treatment strategies. Outside of school and work, Yiliu enjoys endurance sports and is always looking for new ways to stay active. She can often be found swimming, running, or cycling, and also enjoys crafting and exploring creative hobbies.
Stacey Chen, PT, DPT, MSCI, ATC received her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Evansville in 2015. While pursuing her clinical degree, she concurrently worked in a biomechanics laboratory. As she became more passionate in both clinical care and clinical research, she decided to advance her training in both areas and completed a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation and Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2021 and 2023 at WashU Medicine. She is currently mentored by Dr. Rebekah Lawrence and her research focuses on understanding factors contributing to rotator cuff pathology and developing targeted treatment strategies to improve an individual’s quality of life. In her free time, Stacey enjoys playing pickleball, listening to podcasts, and working on jigsaw puzzles.
Yi Kang, DPT, originally from Beijing, China, earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Mathematics from Benedictine College in 2021. In 2024, she completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at WashU Medicine. During her studies, she participated in research on hip and spine biomechanics and their role in lower back pain. She also worked in an epidemiology lab, investigating how lifestyle factors, such as circadian rhythm disruptions, influence gastrointestinal cancer risk using accelerometer data. Yi is currently pursuing her PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Jennifer Zellers, focusing on Achilles tendon pathology. Her research combines clinical performance measures, advanced diagnostic imaging, and experimental animal studies to identify factors contributing to tendon dysfunction. Outside of the lab, Yi enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, photography, painting, and attending musicals and concerts.
Ejew Kim, BA is from Gainesville, FL and grew up in Rhode Island and many cities of South Korea. Ejew received her Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 2024, with a major in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. Studying abroad at the University of Melbourne during her junior year of college, Ejew found interest in the use of sound, music, and dance in physical and neurological rehabilitation in people with Parkinson’s Disease. As such, she conducted research on physical interventions for neurodegenerative diseases post-graduation, working as a clinical research coordinator at Dr. Madeleine Hackney’s lab at Emory University. Ejew will be mentored by Dr. Gammon Earhart (who was also Dr. Hackney’s graduate mentor!) to continue research on improving movement of people with neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, Ejew enjoys dancing, running, and spending time with friends and family.
Grace Purcell is originally from Elburn, IL. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Missouri in 2023. While at Mizzou, she contributed to research validating a portable clinical device designed to assess motor function. Following graduation, Grace spent a year in industry as a service technician before deciding to return to research. She then became a full-time research assistant in a neuro and biomechanics lab at the University of Minnesota, where she investigated age-related changes in cerebral blood flow velocity. In the Movement Science Program, Grace will have the opportunity to study orthopedic biomechanics under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Harris. Outside of the lab, Grace enjoys running, hiking, camping, and traveling.
Anna Spracklin, PT, DPT, MS is originally from Kenosha, WI. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota in biomedical engineering. There, she performed research in shoulder biomechanics and modeling, which inspired her to pursue physical therapy and research. Then, Anna studied at Northwestern University, where she obtained her doctorate in physical therapy. She worked in an outpatient orthopedics clinic, where she treated many patients with shoulder pain, which led her back to research. Anna is currently mentored by Dr. Rebekah Lawrence, focusing on how shoulder morphology and kinematics affect individuals with shoulder pain to ultimately inform treatment strategies. Outside of the lab, Anna enjoys reading, playing volleyball, going on hikes with her dog Ollie, and stand up paddleboarding.
Madison Wissman is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering from the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. During her time in Chapel Hill, Madison worked in a biomechanics lab researching how changes to the foot and ankle as a result of aging may impact their ability to function effectively during walking. In the Movement Science Program, Madison is mentored by Dr. Michael Harris and has the opportunity to focus her research on orthopaedic biomechanics as it relates to the hip. Outside of the lab, Madison enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Affiliated PhD Students
Gerson Moreno Romero, BS, Department of Biomedical Engineering. Gerson is from El Salvador and grew up in Miami, FL, where he received his bachelor’s in biomedical engineering from Florida International University in the Fall of 2020. Gerson began his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at WashU and joined the PMRF Lab, led by Dr. Jacob G. McPherson in the Fall of 2022. In the lab, Gerson has been exploring the implementation of in-vivo electrophysiology and neural computer interfaces to understand the changes of neuronal circuits throughout spinal cord injury to leverage intrinsic properties of these networks to develop multi-modal therapeutics for motor and sensory deficits. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time at Forest Park, exploring creative mediums, spending time with friends, and trying out new restaurants.