Shijun Yan

Biography

Shijun Yan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia (UGA), and the director of the Motor Control and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at UGA. Before she joined UGA in 2025, she was a postdoctoral researcher in the field of neurorehabilitation and engineering at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Northwestern University.

Shijun’s research focuses on 1) identifying neuromuscular mechanisms responsible for impaired motor control and learning in individuals with neurological diseases, for example, children with cerebral palsy, patients post-stroke, patients with spinal cord injury, and individuals with multiple sclerosis; 2) improving walking function and balance in individuals with neurological diseases using robotic intervention; 3) investigating the relationship between visual perception and motor control.

Areas of Expertise

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Pediatric Neurorehabilitation
  • Postural Control
  • Visual illusion
  • Gait Rehabilitation

Interests

  • Motor Control and Planning
  • Robotic intervention
  • Biomechanics
  • Biomedical Engineering

Education

  •  PhD in Kinesiology (Motor Behavior), 2020
    Louisiana State University
  •  MS in Sports Medicine & Health Science, 2013
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  •  Bachelor in Kinesiology, 2012
    Hunan Normal University

Contact

Research Summary

We are seeking one to two doctoral students to join our team starting in Spring or Fall 2026. We welcome applicants with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in kinesiology, biomechanics, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related field.

Grants