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Lab Director

Lawrence D. Abraham, Ed.D.

Professor, Department of Kinesiology & Health Education
Director, Motor Coordination Lab
The University of Texas at Austin

About Dr. Abraham
Current CV
Background
Current Research and Professional Interests
Professional Memberships
Graduate Academic Program Development
Evidence of Teaching Excellence
Special Honors and Awards

About Dr. Abraham

Lawrence D. Abraham, Ed.D. is Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education and has been on the faculty of UT Austin since 1975, with research leaves in 1980-81 at the National Institutes of Health and in 1987-88 at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In 1993-94 he held the William David Blunk Memorial Professorship in recognition of outstanding teaching and service to students. Dr. Abraham serves as a graduate faculty member in programs in Movement Science (Kinesiology), Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, Science and Math Education, and Curriculum and Instruction. His research focuses on the coordination of movement, with particular interests in skill acquisition and in interactions between mechanical and neural (reflex and voluntary) components of movement. Drawing on his extensive background in biomechanical analysis of movement, he has developed several generations of computer-based instructional systems in human biomechanics. In Spring 2006 Dr Abraham received a IITAP Gold Award for his latest, web-based application. In 2002, as an Associate Dean for Teacher Education, he spearheaded a major initiative in instructional technology featuring a one-to-one computer laptop program for future teachers. Since 2003 he has served as a Co-Director of the UTeach Natural Sciences Program for preparing secondary science and mathematics teachers.

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Background:

  • A.B. Physical Education, Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH): 1971
  • M.S. Physical Education (Motor Learning), Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia KS): 1972
  • Ed.D. Physical Education (Motor Learning and Biomechanics), Teachers College, Columbia University (NY): 1975

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Current Research and Professional Interests:

  • Interactions between postural and voluntary motor activity
  • Neuromuscular aspects of motor coordination
  • Computer-assisted modeling of neuromuscular control systems
  • Utilization of instructional technology in teaching and learning

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Professional Memberships:

  • American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (Kinesiology Academy, Motor Development Academy, Research Consortium Fellow)
  • American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education
  • American College of Sports Medicine; Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • International Brain Research Organization/ World Federation of Neuroscientists
  • International Society of Biomechanics
  • International Society of Biomechanics in Sports
  • International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
  • National Association of Physical Education in Higher Education
  • North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
  • Phi Delta Kappa
  • Society for Neuroscience
  • Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

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Graduate Academic Program Development

  • Concentration in biomechanics for masters and doctoral students in kinesiology
  • Concentration in biomechanics for masters and doctoral students in biomedical engineering
  • Cross-disciplinary graduate program in neuroscience
  • Concentration in motor behavior for masters and doctoral students in kinesiology

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Evidence of Teaching Excellence

  • 2006 recipient of the University-wide Innovative Instructional Technology Awards Program Gold Award for Teaching with Technology
  • Doctoral student (Deydre Teyhen) received the Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2005
  • Nominated by students for Friar Society Teaching Excellence Award, 1988, 1997
  • Nominated by the College of Education for charter membership in the Academy of Distinguished Teachers, 1995, 1996
  • 1993-94 recipient of the William David Blunk Memorial Professorship, awarded annually for outstanding teaching and dedication to undergraduate students
  • Doctoral student (Roger Gonzalez) received honorable mention for a research paper presented at the 10th Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference, October 1991
  • Selected by the Center for Teaching Effectiveness for participation in two studies on classroom interaction and professor-student communication
  • Three masters students have been selected competitively for research internships in biomechanics at the U.S. Olympic Training Center
  • Former graduate students hold or have held the following positions:
    • Research Assistant: Human Biomechanics Laboratory, Georgia Tech
    • Research Scientist: Prosthetics Research Laboratory (Roxbury VA Center), Mechanical Engineering (Stanford University), Rehabilitation (Northwestern University), Occupational Therapy (SUNY Buffalo), Health & Performance Sciences (Georgia Tech)
    • Director, Motor Behavior Laboratory: Krug LSI at Johnson Space Center, NASA
    • Director of Research and Education: U.S. Diving
    • Tenured or tenure-track faculty: Physical Education (New York University), Physical Therapy (Northeastern University), Kinesiology (Sonoma State University), Physical Therapy (Fort Sam Houston, U.S. Army/Baylor Univ., University of Kansas), Mechanical Engineering (LeTourneau University), Rehabilitation (Kaye College, Israel), Biomedical Engineering (Tulane University), Physical Education, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterio, Brazil
    • Professor and Chair: Health and Human Performance (University of Houston); Kinesiology (Rice University)

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Special Honors and Awards

  • 2008 - present: Charles H. Spence Centennial Endowed Faculty Fellowship
  • 2007-08: Catherine Mae Parker Centennial Professorship
  • 2006: Innovative Instructional Technology Awards Program Gold Award for Teaching with Technology
  • 2001: Inducted into Kappa Delta Pi Education Honorary
  • 2001-07: Elizabeth Glenadine Gibb Fellowship in Education
  • 1996; 2008: Dean’s Fellow, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin
  • 1995: Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Otago, New Zealand
  • 1995: Guest Speaker, National Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, Republic of China
  • 1994: Selected as the TAHPERD Scholar by the College Division of the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
  • 1994: Selected as a recipient (with Dorothy D. Lambdin, EdD) of the Oak Tree Award by the Austin Chapter of the Texas Congress of Parents & Teachers (ACCPTA
  • 1993-94: William David Blunk Memorial Professorship, The University of Texas (Awarded annually for outstanding teaching and dedication to undergraduate students.)
  • 1987-88: Visiting Adjunct Associate Professor of Exercise Science, U. of Massachusetts
  • 1980-81: Research Associate, Laboratory of Neural Control, National Institutes of Health
  • 1978: Elected to Fellow Status in the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD)

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