Dr. Richard E.A. van Emmerik is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. He received his undergraduate degree in Movement Science from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and his Ph.D. degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in the USA.
In his research, he applies principles from complex and nonlinear dynamical systems to the study of posture and locomotion, with a focus on coordinative processes underlying expert performance as well as movement disorders. The research in his laboratory is integrative and focuses on the interaction between mechanical, neural and perceptual factors underlying the control of posture and gait, with applications to aging, rehabilitation, and optimal performance. A particular focus of his research is on the role of movement variability as it relates to postural and gait stability and adaptability in older individuals and people with movement disabilities (such as Multiple Sclerosis).
He is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), and serves on the editorial boards for Human Movement Science, Motor Control, Kinesiology Review, and the Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior.