James Finley is an assistant professor at the University of Southern California (USC), in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Neuroscience Graduate Program.
Finley received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Florida A&M University through the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in 2004 and his doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2010. Following his doctoral training, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.
Finley and his research team at USC use behavioral studies and biomechanical models to understand how the neuromuscular system and environment interact to influence mobility in healthy individuals and individuals with neurological impairments. This work relies on principles of engineering, neuroscience, biomechanics and exercise physiology with the ultimate goal of designing more effective interventions for rehabilitation.
Finley has more than 20 publications in engineering, neuroscience and physical therapy journals, and his research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.
He was recognized as a Rising Star Alumnus by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering in April 2018.