Peter M. Quesada, Ph.D.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies Coordinator
449 Lutz Hall
502-852-5981
Email...

Biography

Dr. Peter M. Quesada is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Louisville. He received his B.S. Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Bioengineering from the University of California. His research activities lie in the general area of biomechanics. Specific interests include kinematics and kinetics of human motion, plantar foot surface loading, and biomechanical instrumentation. Dr. Quesada has published and presented papers on such topics as post-surgical kinematic and kinetic assessment of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, finite element analysis of a below-knee prosthesis, and evaluation of silicone gel filled orthotic shoe insoles. Dr. Quesada's background includes research affiliations during his graduate studies with the Rehabilitation Research and Development Services of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco and the Department of Orthopaedics at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland. After completing graduate studies, he worked one year as a Senior Research Associate Engineer in the Ohio State University Gait Analysis Laboratory and the last three years as an assistant professor in the Division of Orthopaedics in the Biomedical Engineering Center.

Education

Ph.D. in bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley & S.F., 1991.
M.Sc. in bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley & S.F., 1989.
B.Sc. in mechanical engineering, University of Texas, Austin, 1986.

Appointment Information

Original appointment as assistant professor - 1995.
Tenure and promotion to associate professor - 2001.
Promotion to Professor - 2008.
Portion of time committed to teaching- 50 percent.
Portion of time committed to research and scholarly activities - 40 percent.
Portion of time committed to institutional and professional service - 10 percent.

Professional Experience

1992-1995, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedics, assistant professor.

1991-1992, Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus, OH, Gait Analysis Laboratory, senior research associate.

1990-1991, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, United States Naval Hospital, Oakland, CA, gait analysis laboratory engineer.

1991, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Department of Biostatistics and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, teaching assistant.

Consulting

Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Kinney, Attorneys, Safety assessment of a treadmill design, 2008.
Sidney Gilreath, Attorney, biomechanical assessment of a fall injury, 2008.
Applied Ergonomics, Inc., Biomechanical Assessment of equipment, 2003.

Recent Publications

Magnuson, D., Smith, R., Brown, E., Enzmann, G., Angeli, C., Quesada, P. and Burke, D., "Swimming as a Model of Task-Specific Locomotor Re-Training After Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat," Neurorehabilitation & Neural Repair, March 2009.

Doane, J.E. and Quesada, P.M., "A New Method for Estimating Subject Specific Body Segment Parameters Using Motion Tracking Data," Theoretical Issues in Ergonomic Science, 10(1), 69-76, 2009.

Leijnse, J.N.A.L., Campbell-Kyureghyan, N.H., Spektor, D. and Quesada, P.M., "Measuring Independent Finger Muscle Action in the Extensor Digitorum and Other Finger Extensors by Surface EMG," Journal of Neurophysiology, 100, 2008.

Nyland J., Frost, K.L., Swank, A.M., Quesada, P.M., Angeli, C.A., Topp, R.V. and Malkani, A., "Self Reported Chair Rise Ability Relates to Stairclimbing Readiness of Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients: A Pilot Study," Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 44(5), 751-760, 2007

Quesada, P.M., Durham, M.P., Topp, R.V., Swank, A.M. and Biton, D., "Quantitative Assessment Of Balance Performance On a Passively Unstable Surface," Occupational Ergonomics, 7(1), 3-10, 2007.

Jang, R-L., Karwowski, K., Quesada, P.M., Rodrick, D., Sherehiy, B., Cronin, S.N. and Layer, J.K., "Biomechanical Evaluation of Nursing Task in a Hospital Setting," Ergonomics," 50(11), 1835-1855, 2007.

Khalaf, T., Karwowski, W., Quesada, P.M. and Sherehiy, B., "Effects of Three Keyboard Designs on Wrist and Forearm Postures and Typing Task Performance," Occupational Ergonomics, 7(2), 115-123, 2007.

Scientific and Professional Societies

• American Society of Biomechanics (ASB)
• Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society (GCMAS)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Honors and Awards

• National Science Foundation Fellow
• Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi
• University of Texas Achievement Award

Institutional and Professional Service

• University Human Subjects Committees (Biomedical and Social/Behavioral)
• University Faculty Senate Committee on Libraries
• Mechanical Engineering Graduate Studies Coordinator
• Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Committee
• Associate editor, IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering
• Reviewed submissions for four different technical journals
• Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society: Executive Committee member, Communications Committee chair, Education Committee member.

Professional Development Activities

• Attended and/or presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
• Attended/presented, 20th Congress of Int. Society of Biomechanics, 2005
• Principal or co-principal investigator on research projects in the areas of ortho¬paedics, rehabilitation, and physical therapy (funding of approx. $1,950,000)
• Attended ARENA/PRIM & R Conference, 2005, 2008
• 23rd Annual Houston Conference on Biomedical Engineering Research, 2006