Our Team
Chris Napier, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director, SFU Run Lab
Chris is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology at 91泡芙 and Director of the SFU Run Lab. His research explores the biomechanical and training load factors that influence both running performance and injury risk鈥攗sing laboratory- and field-based approaches鈥攚ith a particular focus on women. He also investigates the effects of footwear and sports apparel on performance and injury risk.
Alongside his academic role, Chris is a practicing sport physiotherapist at Restore Physiotherapy in Vancouver, specializing in running injuries. He has worked with athletes across all levels, from recreational to professional, and currently serves as a physiotherapist for Athletics Canada. He has been a member of the Canadian medical team at multiple World Championships, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, and both the Winter and Summer Olympics.
Chris completed his Master of Physiotherapy in 2003, his Diploma in Sport Physiotherapy in 2007, and earned his PhD in Running Biomechanics and Injury Prevention at the University of British Columbia in 2018. He is also the author of the bestselling book Science of Running.
Phone: (778) 782-8582
Email: cnapier at sfu.ca
Room: L8002
Ine Mylle
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ine is a postdoctoral fellow at the SFU Run Lab where she investigates breast biomechanics in physically active women with the use of wearable technology. Prior to SFU, Ine completed her BSc in Sports Science from Northern Michigan University and her MSc in Movement Science from KU Leuven in Belgium. Thereafter, she obtained her PhD in "Understanding the role of the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit during rehabilitation from Achilles tendinopathy" at KU Leuven in 2024. Outside the (Run) lab, Ine is a real foodie and (more than anything) coffee lover. When not indulging her taste buds, you鈥檒l most likely find her working out on the track or in the gym.
Meihui Li
PhD Student
I am passionate about promoting safe sport practices and translating biomechanical insights into real-world athletic performance. My PhD research focuses on ankle injury prevention in youth female volleyball players, asking whether muscle forces can serve as a natural protection against acute ankle sprains. Under the title 鈥淛ump, Protect, Land: Why Female Volleyball Players Are More Prone to Ankle Sprains than Males and Whether Muscles Can Be Trained to Protect Our Ankles,鈥� my work integrates neuromuscular function and biomechanical mechanisms to explore how muscle forces can be optimized during unanticipated landings. The goal of my research is to provide evidence-based strategies with meaningful impact for both athletes and the sport industry.
Sean Gaiesky
PhD Student
Originally from northern BC, I completed my BSc in Kinesiology at the University of Lethbridge and went on to earn an MSc in Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences at Brunel University London. My research explores real-world running dynamics using wearable technologies in the context of the development of running-related overuse injuries. Leveraging big data frameworks and high performance computing, I hope to help uncover how wearable sensors can help runners and athlete achieve their goals.
Minju Kim
PhD Student
Minju Kim is a sports physiotherapist with experience working with musculoskeletal patients as well as national and international-level athletes in short-track speed skating, track and field, and football. Her research focuses on developing female-specific running footwear for runners with chronic ankle instability, aiming to reduce the risk of future lateral ankle sprains. Through her work, Minju seeks to advance footwear designs that better reflect female biomechanics and foot anatomy. She earned a master鈥檚 degree in sports biomechanics at Loughborough University and a master鈥檚 degree in physical therapy at Sahmyook University. In addition to her academic pursuits, Minju works as a freelance educator, bridging the gap between research, clinicians, and the running community in South Korea.
Kaylee White
PhD Student
I obtained my Honours BSc in Kinesiology from McMaster University in 2023. I completed my MSc in Kinesiology in June of 2025. My thesis project focused on whether modifying the level of sports bra support, and the running shoe stack height can individually or synergistically affect breast biomechanics and breast comfort for female runners. As a varsity cross country and track runner during my time at McMaster, I developed a personal interest in female running and breast biomechanics. My focus during my PhD in the Run Lab will be quantifying breast biomechanics during multi-directional, sport-specific movements, and developing novel methods using markerless motion capture and inertial measurement units. I am also interested in how the breast movement may vary across different contextual factors in sport, and how they may impact athletic performance. The goal of this work is to utilize these findings and apply it to athletic apparel development to make running more comfortable and accessible for females.
Ephrem Mekonnen
MSc Student
Born and raised in Burnaby, I completed my BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience (minor in Counselling & Human Development) at 91泡芙. I鈥檓 now an MSc candidate in the SFU Run Lab supervised by Dr. Chris Napier. My thesis examines how menstrual cycle phase influences lower-extremity biomechanics and running economy in female distance runners, with the goal of informing injury prevention and optimizing training methods. I鈥檓 also a devoted runner, which keeps my work at the intersection of biomechanics and exercise physiology both engaging and applied.
Jack Williams
MSc Student
Jack Williams completed his Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia, where he also competed as a varsity athlete in track and field and cross country. His current research focuses on the effects of extended use of advanced footwear technology on running economy and biomechanics in female distance runners.
Jessica Yeoman
MSc Student
Jessica is an MSc student in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at 91泡芙. Her research investigates breast biomechanics during multiplanar movements and its relationship to perceived comfort. This work aims to translate biomechanical insights into evidence-based guidance for sports bra design, improving comfort and breast support for female athletes. She brings six years of applied industry experience at lululemon Athletica, where she works as a Research Scientist. Her role focuses on developing protocols, validating sports bra support levels, and leading end-to-end product testing. Prior to joining lululemon, Jessica completed her Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, majoring in Sport and Exercise Science at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. When she is not in the lab, Jessica can be found cycling 鈥� either road racing, gravel riding, or bikepacking around British Columbia.
Sophia Wisotzki
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Sophia is completing her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at 91泡芙 and is an undergraduate research assistant at the SFU Run Lab. Her current work focuses on breast biomechanics, where she uses 3D scanning and wearable technology to investigate breast volume, surface area, and measurement reliability. Alongside her academic pursuits, Sophia was a member of the SFU Women鈥檚 Basketball team, serving as team captain. Outside the lab, she enjoys running and working out, continually integrating her passion for sport with her academic interests in health and biomechanics.
Tarini Rajasekar
Co-op Student
Tarini is a 4th year biomedical engineering undergraduate student at UBC. She is currently a co-op student with the SFU Run Lab, where she works as a Research Assistant. Her work focuses on optimizing MATLAB scripts to process biomechanical data (motion capture, IMUs, EMG, force plates) and designing analysis pipelines for running, jumping, and walking performance metrics. She is interested in computational biomechanics and applying engineering principles to the musculoskeletal system. Outside of the lab, she loves trying new foods and exploring Vancouver!