About

Print this page

View Faculty Video

Jill L. McNitt-Gray

Professor of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering
Director, Integrative and Evolutionary Graduate Program
Director

Contact Information
E-mail: mcnitt@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-7902
Office: PED 107

LINKS
Biomechanics Research Lab
 

Education
A.B. Mathematics and Statistics, Coaching Certification, Miami University, 5/1980
M.A. Biomechanics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 5/1985
Ph.D. Biomechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 5/1989
 

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History
Professor, University of Southern California, 02/03/2006-  
Joint Appointment Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, 01/01/1989-  
 

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Professor McNitt-Gray studies mechanisms organisms use to control and distribute mechanical load during goal-directed multijoint movements involving external loading.
 

Research Keywords
biomechanics, multijoint movement, impact, motor control, neuroscience, mechanical engineering, injury prevention, performance, sports, dance, music, clinical populations, ergonomics, rehabilitation engineering
 

Affiliations with Research Centers, Labs, and Other Institutions
Biomechanics Research Lab, Director,http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/kinesiology/biomech/index.htm
Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems,http://cres.usc.edu/Research/labs.php
Center for Excellence in Genomic Science, mentor-Genomic Research Experience for Undergraduates(GREU)
Colburn School of Music, Collaborator
Department of Veterans Administration, Researcher (WOC)
Get SSet Sports Science, Engineering, and Technology Academy, Co-Director,http://www.sdsa.org/pub/sdsa_docs/programs/getsset.html
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Consultant/Collaborator
UCLA Dept of Music, Music Education,http://www.music.ucla.edu/People/Faculty%20bios/FHeuser.html
USC Athletics, Biomechanics/Performance Consultant
USC Center for Excellence in Teaching National Science Foundation Young Scholars Program, Mentor,http://www.usc.edu/admin/provost/cet/
 

Publications

Journal Article
Lee, J., Flashner, H., McNitt-Gray, J. L. (2011). Lee, J., Flashner, H., & McNitt-Gray, J.L. (2011). Estimation of multibody kinematics using position measurements. Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics. Journal of Computational and Nonlinear Dynamics. Vol. January 2011
J.L. Mc Nitt-Gray, J. J. (2011). Raina, S., McNitt-Gray, J.L., Mulroy, S., Requejo, P.S. (2011). Effect of increased load on scapular kinematics during manual wheelchair propulsion in individuals with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Human Movement Science.
Munaretto, J. (2011). Munaretto, J., McNitt-Gray, J.L., Flashner, H., & Requejo, P.S. (2011). Effect of reaction force redirection on the upper extremity mechanical demand imposed during manual wheelchair propulsion. Clinical Biomechanics.
Raina, S. (2011). Raina, S., McNitt-Gray, J.L., Mulroy, S., & Requejo, P.S. (2011). Effect of recovery patterns on wheelchair propulsion kinetics of users with paraplegia and tetraplegia. Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
Tseng, Z. (2011). Tseng, Zhijie Jack, McNitt-Gray, J.L., Flashner, H., Wang, X., & Enciso, R. (2011). Model sensitivity and use of the comparative finite element method in mammalian jaw mechanics: mandible performance in the gray wolf, PLoS ONE, 6(4).
McNitt-Gray, J. L. (2009). Requejo, P.S., Maneekobkunwong, S., McNitt-Gray, J.L., Adkins, R., & Waters, R. (2009). Influence of hand-rim wheelchairs with rear suspension on seat forces and head accelerations during curb descent landings. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 41: 459-466.
McNitt-Gray, J. L. (2007). Mathiyakom, W. *& McNitt-Gray, J.L. & Wilcox, R. (2007). Regulation of angular impulse during two forward translating tasks, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 23, 149-61. Journal of Applied Biomechanics.
Mathiyakom, W., McNitt-Gray, , Wilcox, R. R. (2006). Mathiyakom, W.*, McNitt-Gray, J.L. & Wilcox, R. (2006). Lower extremity control and dynamics during backward angular impulse generation in backward translating tasks, Experimental Brain Research, 169(3):377-88. Experimental Brain Research/Springer. Vol. 169(3), pp. 377-88.
McNitt-Gray, (2006). McNitt-Gray, J.L., Requejo, P.S., & Flashner, H. (2006). Multijoint control strategies transfer between tasks, Biological Cybernetics. 94(6):501-10. Biological Cybernetics/Springer. Vol. 94(6), pp. 501-10.
Mathiyakom, W., McNitt-Gray, , Wilcox, R. R. (2006). Mathiyakom, W.*, McNitt-Gray, J.L. & Wilcox, R. (2006). Lower extremity control and dynamics during backward angular impulse generation in forward translating tasks, Journal of Biomechanics, 39(6):990-1000. Journal of Biomechanics/Elsevier. Vol. 39(6), pp. 990-1000.
Mathiyakom, W. (2004). Mathiyakom, W.*, McNitt-Gray, J.L., Requejo, P.S.*, & Costa, K.* (2004). Modifying center of mass trajectory during sit-to-stand tasks redistributes the mechanical demand across the lower extremity joints, Clinical Biomechanics. 20(1),105-111.
McNitt-Gray, J. L. (2001). McNitt-Gray, J.L. Hester, D.M.E.,* Mathiyakom, W.,* & Munkasy, B.A.* (2001). Mechanical demand and multijoint control during landing depend on orientation of the body segments relative to the reaction force. Journal of Biomechanics. 34, 1471–1482.
Heuser, F. (1993). Heuser, F. & McNitt-Gray, J.L. (1993). EMG potentials in trumpet players with asymmetrical mouthpiece placement, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 8(3), 96-102.
 

Other
McNitt-Gray, McNitt-Gray, J.L., Koff, S.R. & Hall, B.L. (1992). The influence of dance training and foot position on landing mechanics, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 7(3), 87-91.
McNitt-Gray, Heuser, F.* & McNitt-Gray, J.L. (1991). EMG potentials prior to tone commencement in trumpet players, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 6(2), 51-56.
 

Multimedia Scholarship and Creative Works
Multimedia, Multimedia data base for analyzing movement http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/kinesiology/biomech/gallery.htm, 06/01/1992-  
 

Honors and Awards
Mellon Mentoring Award for Mentorship of Undergraduate Students, 3/2010-  
President-Elect, President, Past-President American Society of Biomechanics, 8/25/2009-8/26/2012  
Mentor: Doctoral Dissertation Award, International Society of Biomechanics, to S. Raina, 7/1/2009-12/31/2011  
Outstanding Research by Doctoral Student, runner up podium presentation, 14th Annual Fred S. Grodins’ Research Symposium, USC, 2010, Effect of reaction force and elbow orientations on mechanical load in wheelchair propulsion, Joseph Munaretto, Advisors: McNitt-Gray, J.L., Flashner, H., Requejo, P.S., Spring 2010   
Outstanding Research by Undergraduate Students, first place, Interdisciplinary Award for Research in Life Sciences, USC Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work 2010, Biomechanical analysis of movement strategies in collegiate volleyball players, Rami Hamzey, Michael Hazboun, Darcelle Kimble-Manalo, Kotaro Uyeda, Advisor: McNitt-Gray, J.L, Spring 2010   
Mentor: Outstanding Poster, first place, 10th Annual Fred S. Grodins’ Graduate Research Symposium, USC, 2006. Load distribution in the upper extremities during wheel chair propulsion, S. Raina*, Advisors: McNitt-Gray, J.L., Requejo, P.S., Flashner, H., Spring 2006   
Mentor: Outstanding Presentation, runner up, 8th Annual Fred S. Grodins’ Graduate Research Symposium, USC, 2004. Using quaternions to characterize lower extremity alignment in three dimensional movements, L. Held*, Advisors: McNitt-Gray, J.L., Flashner, H., Spring 2004   
Mentor: Outstanding Poster, third place, 7th Annual Fred S. Grodins’ Graduate Research Symposium, USC, 2003. Characterizing error in 3-D motion capture, L. Held* Advisors: McNitt-Gray, J.L., Flashner, H., Spring 2003   
Zumberge Fellow for Interdisciplinary Research with Flashner, H., University of Southern California, 1998, ongoing, 8/1/1998-12/31/1999  
USC Innovative Teaching Award, USC Center for Excellence in Teaching Innovative Teaching Award, 1992  
Winner of Prince Alexandre de Merode Award- Physical Sciences- International Olympic Committee, Medical Commission, 2002. Requejo P.S.*, McNitt-Gray, J.L., & Flashner, H. Flight phase joint control required for successful gymnastics landings. Presented by P.S. Requejo., 1988-1989   
 

Service to the University

Administrative Appointments
Chair, WiSE-College Committee, 08/20/2009-  
 
 
Faculty may update their profile by visiting https://myusccollege.usc.edu.