Taylor Dick

Taylor J. M. Dick is a Canadian-born Associate Professor and the Director of Higher Degree Research at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. ^[1][2] She is internationally recognised for her research in neuromuscular biomechanics, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms of movement and their implications for health, disease, and evolution.^[2] Her work integrates biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology, and bio-inspired assistive technologies, using experimental and computational modelling approaches to develop strategies for improving mobility and preventing injury. ^[1][2]

Dick completed her PhD in 2016 at Simon Fraser University in Canada, in collaboration with Harvard University’s Concord Field Station.^[2] Following her doctorate, she undertook postdoctoral training in biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina, where she investigated how bio-robotic devices affect locomotor energetics and neuromechanical stability during perturbations.^[2] In 2017, she joined UQ as a research and teaching academic, establishing an interdisciplinary research program that bridges basic science and clinical applications.^[1][2] Her overarching aim is to enhance mobility for individuals with movement deficits, combining fundamental research with translational outcomes.^[1][2]

Career and achievements

After joining the University of Queensland in 2017, Dick established the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory and later became Director of Higher Degree Research at the School of Biomedical Sciences.^[1][2] In this role, she has developed collaborative projects that integrate experimental and computational methods to address questions in locomotion, neuromuscular control, and bio-inspired assistive technologies.^[1][2]

Dick’s research and leadership have been recognised through numerous awards. These include the Queensland Tall Poppy Award,^[3] the International Union of Physiologists Junior Faculty Award,^[4] and the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology Kevin P. Granata Award.^[5] She also received the International Society of Biomechanics Jaquelin Perry Emerging Scientist Award and has been twice nominated for the Faculty of Medicine Rising Star of the Year Award.^[6][2]

She has held prominent positions in the biomechanics community, serving as an elected member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Biomechanics and as Chair of the Comparative Neuromuscular Biomechanics Technical Group.^[2] Beyond academia, Dick is an advocate for STEM diversity. She co-developed and led BRInC, a government-funded initiative to promote girls’ participation in science and engineering across Australia.^[2]

Personal life

Dick grew up in a small town in Canada, where she developed a strong interest in sports and outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, and exploring nature. She is married to a comparative biomechanist who studies animal movement.^[7]