The Team
We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers studying how sensorimotor experience shapes motor development in infants and children.
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator
Claudio Luis Ferre, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
Claudio Ferre, PhD, is the director of the DEMR Lab and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University and the BU Neurophotonics Center. He received his B.S. in Psychology from DePaul University, M.A. in Developmental Psychology from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Columbia University. Prior to joining BU, he completed his postdoctoral training in Clinical Neuroscience at the Burke Neurological Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine.
Dr. Ferre’s research focuses on the importance of sensorimotor experiences for development of manual skills and the role of activity in adaptation to developmental brain injury.
When Dr. Ferre is not doing science, he loves to spend his time biking over bridges, making homemade pasta, dancing salsa and tango, playing fútbol, and supporting La Celeste.
Lab Members
Lab Manager Marie Kelly, MPHMarie received her master’s degree in Public Health with an emphasis on Epidemiology from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2021. Her master’s work focused on patients with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and differences in gait mechanics over time. Marie received her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019. Her neuroscience background helped her pursue research in the Neuromechanics Laboratory (UN Reno) where she expanded her knowledge in concussion research while assisting with collegiate concussion testing. When not in the lab, Marie enjoys working with youth lacrosse programs and spending time with friends! |
PhD Student HyunJoon Kim, MAHyunJoon is a Ph.D. student in Rehabilitation Science at Boston University. He received his B.S. in Sports Science and M.A. in Human Movement Science from Incheon National University. During his master’s program, HyunJoon focused on meta-analyses, bimanual force control in individuals with neurological impairments, and non-invasive brain stimulation. His current goals are to develop activity-based rehabilitation protocols and explore optimal brain stimulation protocols to improve quality of life in children with neurological disease. In his extra time, he enjoys football, swimming, working out at the gym, going to famous restaurants, and reading books at cafés. |
PhD Student Xiwen Su, MSXiwen received her MS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and BS in Biological Sciences from Beijing Normal University. Her previous research focused on physical activity and health promotion in children and college students using emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality and active video games. In her free time, she likes to practice guitar, write stories, and watch soccer games. |
PhD Student Evan YarnallEvan is a Ph.D. student with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a minor in neuroscience research from Temple University in Philadelphia. He previously worked as a clinical research coordinator and research technician, conducting outcomes research on treatments for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions, and evaluating digital medicine tools for sleep quality. His goal is to develop more effective therapies for people with motor impairments. Outside academia, he enjoys distance running and playing basketball. |
Join the lab
Interested in joining the DEMR Lab? We welcome inquiries from prospective PhD students, postdocs, and research assistants. Learn more about our PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences or contact Dr. Ferre directly at clferre@bu.edu.