Taylor Dick is a Senior Lecturer in The School of Biomedical Sciences. She was awarded her PhD in 2016 from Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada). Her PhD research, in partnership with the Concord Field Station at Harvard University, focused on developing an experimental and modelling framework to predict in vivo motor function using advanced image-driven musculoskeletal models. Following this, she conducted a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University- The University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) where her research focused on using wearable assistive devices (e.g., exoskeletons and prosthetics) to augment or restore movement--with a particular focus on how devices influence lower limb biomechanics and neuromuscular function. She has implemented innovative imaging approaches to discover how humans recover from unexpected perturbations during movement, which provided critical biological insight for the design of robotic devices capable of assisting movement in real-world environments.
Taylors research group uses novel imaging methods and modelling frameworks to answer fundamental questions about how movement underpins evolution, health, and disease. Her current research is focused on:
Taylor has established herself internationally as an emerging leader in biomechanics research. This reputation is supported by prestigious awards, invited talks and review papers, and media attention. Her research has been funded through competitive grant schemes and industry partnerships, with total research support exceeding $1.5 million since the completion of her PhD (2016). She was awarded the Jaquelin Perry Emerging Scientist Award from the International Society of Biomechanics (2021) and has been nominated (2020 and 2021) for the Faculty of Medicine Rising Star of the Year Award. Taylor is an elected Executive Council member of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) and the elected Chairperson of the Comparative Neuromuscular Biomechanics Technical group. She is a passionate promotor of STEM for young girls—having co-developed the led a government-funded nationwide program to boost girls’ engagement in STEM, BRInC https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/faculties/health/brinc
The outcomes from my groups research will advance our understanding of neuromotor and musculoskeletal function to (1) augment healthy locomotor performance; (2) treat and prevent movement impairments that result from age, obesity, or neuromotor disease and (3) inform the design of biologically-inspired assistive wearable robotic devices.
Journal Article: Exploring the Impact of Passive Ankle Exoskeletons on Lower-Limb Neuromechanics during Walking on Sloped Surfaces: Implications for Device Design
Williamson, James L., Lichtwark, Glen A. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). Exploring the Impact of Passive Ankle Exoskeletons on Lower-Limb Neuromechanics during Walking on Sloped Surfaces: Implications for Device Design. Machines, 11 (12) 1071, 1071. doi: 10.3390/machines11121071
Journal Article: Muscle research in biomechanics – In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society of Biomechanics
de Brito Fontana, Heiliane, Dick, Taylor J.M., Han, Seong-won and Herzog, Walter (2023). Muscle research in biomechanics – In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society of Biomechanics. Journal of Biomechanics, 161 111740, 111740. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111740
Journal Article: Elastic ankle exoskeletons influence soleus fascicle dynamics during unexpected perturbations
Williamson, James L., Lichtwark, Glen A. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). Elastic ankle exoskeletons influence soleus fascicle dynamics during unexpected perturbations. Journal of Biomechanics, 159 111775, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111775
(2024–2026) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA)
(2023–2026) University of the Sunshine Coast
Looking under the hood of elite rowers: skeletal muscle determinants of rowing performance
(2022–2024) Queensland Academy of Sport
Beyond the steady-state: exploring the influence of passive ankle exoskeletons on the neuromechanics of movement in real-world conditions
Doctor Philosophy
Neuromechanical Determinants of Muscle Shape Change and Gearing
Doctor Philosophy
Closed-loop Functional Electrical Stimulation control using real-time estimation of muscle properties
Doctor Philosophy
Williamson, James L., Lichtwark, Glen A. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). Exploring the Impact of Passive Ankle Exoskeletons on Lower-Limb Neuromechanics during Walking on Sloped Surfaces: Implications for Device Design. Machines, 11 (12) 1071, 1071. doi: 10.3390/machines11121071
de Brito Fontana, Heiliane, Dick, Taylor J.M., Han, Seong-won and Herzog, Walter (2023). Muscle research in biomechanics – In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society of Biomechanics. Journal of Biomechanics, 161 111740, 111740. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111740
Elastic ankle exoskeletons influence soleus fascicle dynamics during unexpected perturbations
Williamson, James L., Lichtwark, Glen A. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). Elastic ankle exoskeletons influence soleus fascicle dynamics during unexpected perturbations. Journal of Biomechanics, 159 111775, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111775
Roberts, Thomas J. and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2023). What good is a measure of muscle length? The how and why of direct measurements of skeletal muscle motion. Journal of Biomechanics, 157 111709, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111709
Hamard, Raphaël, Aeles, Jeroen, Avrillon, Simon, Dick, Taylor J.M. and Hug, François (2023). A comparison of neural control of the biarticular gastrocnemius muscles between knee flexion and ankle plantar flexion. Journal of Applied Physiology, 135 (2), 394-404. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00075.2023
Advances in imaging for assessing the design and mechanics of skeletal muscle in vivo
Dick, Taylor J.M. and Hug, François (2023). Advances in imaging for assessing the design and mechanics of skeletal muscle in vivo. Journal of Biomechanics, 155 111640, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111640
Influence of internal muscle properties on muscle shape change and gearing in the human gastrocnemii
Kelp, Nicole Y., Clemente, Christofer J., Tucker, Kylie, Hug, François, Pinel, Sabrina and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2023). Influence of internal muscle properties on muscle shape change and gearing in the human gastrocnemii. Journal of Applied Physiology, 134 (6), 1520-1529. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00080.2023
How scaling approaches can reveal fundamental principles in physiology and biomechanics
Clemente, Christofer J. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). How scaling approaches can reveal fundamental principles in physiology and biomechanics. Journal of Experimental Biology, 226 (7) 226, 1-12. doi: 10.1242/jeb.245310
Williamson, James L., Lichtwark, Glen A., Sawicki, Gregory S. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2023). The influence of elastic ankle exoskeletons on lower limb mechanical energetics during unexpected perturbations. Royal Society Open Science, 10 (2) 221133, 1-12. doi: 10.1098/rsos.221133
Coltman, Celeste E., Barzan, Martina, Besomi, Manuela, Brackley, Victoria, Bousie, Jaquelin A., Choisne, Julie, Diamond, Laura E., Dick, Taylor J.M., D’Souza, Nicole, Fien, Samantha, Fong Yan, Alycia, Gho, Sheridan A., Giraldo-Pedroza, Alexandra, Hutchinson, Laura A., Hutchison, Laura V., Kean, Crystal O., Kirk, Maddison M., Lewis, Amy, Maharaj, Jayishini N., Maher, Nina, Mann, Kerry J., Martin, Suzanne, Mickle, Karen J., Nasseri, Azadeh, Oon, Isobel H., Purdie, Rory, Quinlan, Shayan L., Radcliffe, Ceridwen R., Snodgrass, Suzanne J. ... Hall, Michelle (2023). The Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge: Development, Implementation, Uptake, and Reflections on the Inaugural Program. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 1-11. doi: 10.1123/jab.2023-0056
Thornton, Lauren H., Dick, Taylor J. M., Bennett, Mike B. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2022). Understanding Australia's unique hopping species: a comparative review of the musculoskeletal system and locomotor biomechanics in Macropodoidea. Australian Journal of Zoology, 69 (4), 136-157. doi: 10.1071/ZO21048
Hamard, Raphaël, Hug, François, Kelp, Nicole Y., Feigean, Romain, Aeles, Jeroen and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2022). Inclusion of image-based in vivo experimental data into the Hill-type muscle model affects the estimation of individual force-sharing strategies during walking. Journal of Biomechanics, 135 111033, 111033. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111033
Cieri, Robert L., Dick, Taylor J. M., Morris, Jeremy S. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2022). Scaling of fibre area and fibre glycogen concentration in the hindlimb musculature of monitor lizards: implications for locomotor performance with increasing body size. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (Supp. 1) jeb243380. doi: 10.1242/jeb.243380
Aeles, Jeroen, Bolsterlee, Bart, Kelp, Nicole Y., Dick, Taylor J. M. and Hug, François (2022). Regional variation in lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscle fibre lengths obtained from diffusion tensor imaging. Journal of Anatomy, 240 (1) joa.13539, 131-144. doi: 10.1111/joa.13539
Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults
Kelp, Nicole Y., Gore, Anna, Clemente, Christofer J., Tucker, Kylie, Hug, François and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2021). Muscle architecture and shape changes in the gastrocnemii of active younger and older adults. Journal of Biomechanics, 129 110823, 110823. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110823
Pinel, Sabrina, Kelp, Nicole Y., Bugeja, Jessica M., Bolsterlee, Bart, Hug, François and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2021). Quantity versus quality: age-related differences in muscle volume, intramuscular fat, and mechanical properties in the triceps surae. Experimental Gerontology, 156 111594, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111594
Hamard, Raphaël, Aeles, Jeroen, Kelp, Nicole Y., Feigean, Romain, Hug, François and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2021). Does different activation between the medial and the lateral gastrocnemius during walking translate into different fascicle behavior?. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224 (12) jeb242626, 1-9. doi: 10.1242/jeb.242626
Dick, Taylor J. M., Clemente, Christofer J., Punith, Laksh K. and Sawicki, Gregory S. (2021). Series elasticity facilitates safe plantar flexor muscle–tendon shock absorption during perturbed human hopping. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288 (1947) rspb.2021.0201, 20210201. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0201
Lower-limb muscle function is influenced by changing mechanical demands in cycling
Lai, Adrian K. M., Dick, Taylor J. M., Brown, Nicholas A. T., Biewener, Andrew A. and Wakeling, James M. (2021). Lower-limb muscle function is influenced by changing mechanical demands in cycling. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 224 (3) jeb228221. doi: 10.1242/jeb.228221
Cieri, Robert L., Dick, Taylor J. M., Irwin, Robert, Rumsey, Daniel and Clemente, Christofer J. (2021). The scaling of ground reaction forces and duty factor in monitor lizards: implications for locomotion in sprawling tetrapods. Biology Letters, 17 (2) 20200612, 1-8. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0612
Lai, Adrian K. M., Dick, Taylor J. M., Biewener, Andrew A. and Wakeling, James M. (2021). Task-dependent recruitment across ankle extensor muscles and between mechanical demands is driven by the metabolic cost of muscle contraction. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 18 (174) 20200765, 20200765. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0765
Age-related differences in gastrocnemii muscles and Achilles tendon mechanical properties in vivo
Lindemann, India, Coombes, Brooke K., Tucker, Kylie, Hug, François and Dick, Taylor J.M. (2020). Age-related differences in gastrocnemii muscles and Achilles tendon mechanical properties in vivo. Journal of Biomechanics, 112 110067, 110067. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110067
Cieri, Robert L., Dick, Taylor J. M. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2020). Monitoring muscle over three orders of magnitude: widespread positive allometry among locomotor and body support musculature in the pectoral girdle of varanid lizards (Varanidae). Journal of Anatomy, 237 (6) joa.13273, 1114-1135. doi: 10.1111/joa.13273
Biomechanical insights into the role of foot pads during locomotion in camelid species
Clemente, Christofer J., Dick, Taylor J. M., Glen, Christopher L. and Panagiotopoulou, Olga (2020). Biomechanical insights into the role of foot pads during locomotion in camelid species. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 3856, 3856. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60795-9
Nuckols, R. W., Dick, T. J.M., Beck, O. N. and Sawicki, G. S. (2020). Ultrasound imaging links soleus muscle neuromechanics and energetics during human walking with elastic ankle exoskeletons. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 3604, 3604. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60360-4
Dick, T. J., Punith, L. K. and Sawicki, G. S. (2020). Correction to ‘Humans falling in holes: adaptations in lower-limb joint mechanics in response to a rapid change in substrate height during human hopping’. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 17 (163) 20200047, 20200047. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0047
Dick, Taylor J. M., Punith, Laksh K. and Sawicki, Gregory S. (2019). Humans falling in holes: adaptations in lower-limb joint mechanics in response to a rapid change in substrate height during human hopping. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 16 (159) 20190292, 20190292. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0292
McCain, Emily M., Dick, Taylor J. M., Giest, Tracy N., Nuckols, Richard W., Lewek, Michael D., Saul, Katherine R. and Sawicki, Gregory S. (2019). Mechanics and energetics of post-stroke walking aided by a powered ankle exoskeleton with speed-adaptive myoelectric control. Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, 16 (1) 57, 57. doi: 10.1186/s12984-019-0523-y
Clemente, Christofer J., Dick, Taylor J. M., Wheatley, Rebecca, Gaschk, Joshua, Nasir, Ami Fadhillah Amir Abdul, Cameron, Skye F. and Wilson, Robbie S. (2019). Moving in complex environments: a biomechanical analysis of locomotion on inclined and narrow substrates. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 222 (6) jeb189654, jeb189654. doi: 10.1242/jeb.189654
Geometric models to explore mechanisms of dynamic shape change in skeletal muscle
Dick, Taylor J. M. and Wakeling, James M. (2018). Geometric models to explore mechanisms of dynamic shape change in skeletal muscle. Royal Society Open Science, 5 (5) 172371, 172371. doi: 10.1098/rsos.172371
Lai, Adrian K.M., Arnold, Allison S., Biewener, Andrew A., Dick, Taylor J.M. and Wakeling, James M. (2017). Does a two-element muscle model offer advantages when estimating ankle plantar flexor forces during human cycling?. Journal of Biomechanics, 68, 6-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2017.12.018
Shifting gears: dynamic muscle shape changes and force-velocity behavior in the medial gastrocnemius
Dick, Taylor J. M. and Wakeling, James M. (2017). Shifting gears: dynamic muscle shape changes and force-velocity behavior in the medial gastrocnemius. Journal of Applied Physiology, 123 (6), 1433-1442. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01050.2016
Dick, Taylor J. M., Biewener, Andrew A. and Wakeling, James M. (2017). Comparison of human gastrocnemius forces predicted by Hill-type muscle models and estimated from ultrasound images. Journal of Experimental Biology, 220 (9), 1643-1653. doi: 10.1242/jeb.154807
Where have all the giants gone? How animals deal with the problem of size
Dick, Taylor J. M. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2017). Where have all the giants gone? How animals deal with the problem of size. PLoS Biology, 15 (1) e2000473, e2000473. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000473
A peak detection method for identifying phase in physiological signals
Mitrou, Nicholas, Laurin, Alexandre, Dick, Taylor and Inskip, Jessica (2017). A peak detection method for identifying phase in physiological signals. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 31, 452-462. doi: 10.1016/j.bspc.2016.07.001
Quantifying Achilles tendon force in vivo from ultrasound images
Dick, Taylor J. M., Arnold, Allison S. and Wakeling, James M. (2016). Quantifying Achilles tendon force in vivo from ultrasound images. Journal of Biomechanics, 49 (14), 3200-3207. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.07.036
Passive muscle-tendon unit gearing is joint dependent in human medial gastrocnemius
Hodson-Tole, Emma F., Wakeling, James M. and Dick, Taylor J. M. (2016). Passive muscle-tendon unit gearing is joint dependent in human medial gastrocnemius. Frontiers in Physiology, 7 (95) 95. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00095
Dick, Taylor J. M. and Clemente, Christofer J. (2016). How to build your dragon: scaling of muscle architecture from the world's smallest to the world's largest monitor lizard. Frontiers in Zoology, 13 (8) 8. doi: 10.1186/s12983-016-0141-5
Lesser, I. A., Dick, T. J. M., Guenette, J. A., Hoogbruin, A., Mackey, D. C., Singer, J. and Lear, S. A. (2015). The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and abdominal adiposity in postmenopausal, physically inactive South Asian women. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 783-787. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.09.007
Structural and mechanical properties of the human Achilles tendon: sex and strength effects
Morrison, Sidney M., Dick, Taylor J. M. and Wakeling, James M. (2015). Structural and mechanical properties of the human Achilles tendon: sex and strength effects. Journal of Biomechanics, 48 (12) 7259, 3530-3533. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.06.009
Olszewski, Katarzyna, Dick, Taylor J. M. and Wakeling, James M. (2015). Achilles tendon moment arms: the importance of measuring at constant tendon load when using the tendon excursion method. Journal of Biomechanics, 48 (6), 1206-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.02.007
Lesser, I. A., Dick, T., Gasevic, D., Mackey, D. C., Leipsic, J. A. and Lear, S. A. (2014). The association between physical activity and liver fat after five years of follow-up in a primary prevention multi-ethnic cohort. Preventive Medicine, 67, 199-203. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.038
Dick, Taylor J. M., Lesser, Iris A., Leipsic, Jonathon A., Mancini, G. B. John and Lear, Scott A. (2013). The effect of obesity on the association between liver fat and carotid atherosclerosis in a multi-ethnic cohort. Atherosclerosis, 226 (1), 208-213. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.10.040
Punith, Laksh Kumar, Williamson, James, Dick, Taylor J. M. and Sawicki, Gregory S. (2022). Spring like passive elastic exoskeletons may improve stability and safety of locomotion in uneven terrain. 5th International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2020, and of WearRAcon Europe 2020, Virtual, 13-16 October 2020. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-69547-7_7
Towards balance assessment using Openpose
Li, Brighton, Williamson, James, Kelp, Nicole, Dick, Taylor and Bo, Antonio P. L. (2021). Towards balance assessment using Openpose. Annual International Conference of the IEEE-Engineering-in-Medicine-and-Biology-Society (IEEE EMBC), Electr Network, 1-5 November 2021. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9631001
Punith, L. K., Mcknight, M., Narsipur, S., Dick, T. J. and Sawicki, G. S. (2018). Muscle-tendon units can automatically reject perturbations without feedback during everyday cyclic tasks. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), San Francisco, CA, United States, 3-7 January, 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icy002
Scaling of muscle architecture: from world's smallest to world's largest Monitor lizard
Dick, T. J. M., Wakeling, J. M. and Clemente, C. J. (2016). Scaling of muscle architecture: from world's smallest to world's largest Monitor lizard. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology (SICB), Portland, OR United States, 3-7 January 2016. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icw001
Dick, T. J. and Clemente, C. J. (2015). Scaling of muscle architecture in arboreal and terrestrial Varanus lizards: from V. tristis to V. komodoensis. Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), West Palm Beach, FL, United States, 3-7 January, 2015. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/icv011
(2024–2026) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA)
(2023–2026) University of the Sunshine Coast
Looking under the hood of elite rowers: skeletal muscle determinants of rowing performance
(2022–2024) Queensland Academy of Sport
A step forward against ageing: wearable assistive devices in fit and frailer older people
(2021–2023) Metro South Hospital and Health Service
(2021–2022) U21 Health Sciences Group Early Career Research Fund
(2021–2022)
(2021–2022) Queensland Academy of Sport
(2019–2020) Queensland Academy of Sport
A step forward against ageing: novel wearable assistive devices to enhance mobility
(2019) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2018) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
Beyond the steady-state: exploring the influence of passive ankle exoskeletons on the neuromechanics of movement in real-world conditions
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Neuromechanical Determinants of Muscle Shape Change and Gearing
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Closed-loop Functional Electrical Stimulation control using real-time estimation of muscle properties
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Investigating the neuromuscular and energetic effects of passive exoskeletons
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Movement behaviour and locomotor performance in a small Australian marsupial, the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Redefining digital technology to provide patient centric platform to meet the need of patients with Motor Neuron Disease
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Quantifying Muscle (A)symmetry in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Effects of Virtual Perturbations and Visual Illusions on Gait and Balance
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Effects of footwear interventions on pain, biomechanics, and motor control in individuals with patellofemoral osteoarthritis
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: