Faculty and Staff Profiles

Dr. Ross Smith earned his Bachleors and Masters Degrees in Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Memphis. He completed his Masters degree under the mentorship of Dr. Max Paquette, focusing on biomechanics research. Dr. Smith continued his training in biomechanics research, completing his PhD at the University of Queensland under the mentorship of Drs. Luke Kelly and Glen Lichtwark. Dr. Smith completed his post doctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Franz. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Unversity of Memphis at Lambuth in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, where he teaches foundational science courses and directs his independent research line.

Dr. Smith's research primarily focuses on musculotendinous behavior and energetic functions of the foot and ankle during locomotion. His work integrates 3D motion capture, force measures, surface and fine-wire electromyography, dynamic ultrasound, assistive devices, and custom computational scripting to reveal fundemental musculotendinous and physiological mechanisms governing task performance. Dr. Smith's research interests span sport performance optimization to the restoration of pathological gait patterns. 

• Post Doctoral Fellowship Biomedical Engineering - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - 2022-2025
• Doctor of Philosophy Human Movement Science - The University of Queensland - 2018-2022
• Master of Science Exercise and Sport Science - The University of Memphis - 2015-2017
• Bachelor of Science Exercise and Sport Science - The University of Memphis - 2011-2015

• Editor-in-Chief's Choice (Publication Award) - Journal of Health and Sport Sciences - 2022
• Best Basic Research - Footwear Biomechanics Group - 2021
• Muscle Mechanics and Physiology Achievement Award - Musculoskeletal Analysis Laboratory, University of Memphis - 2017
• Honors with Thesis - University of Memphis - 2015
• Dean's List - University of Memphis - 2011-2015
• Provost Scholarship - University of Memphis - 2011-2015

• BIOL 1630 - Biomechanics - University of Queensland
• ESMS 3603 - Exercise Physiology: Musculoskeletal/Metabolic - University of Memphis
• ESMS 4000 - Exercise Testing Interpretation Laboratory - University of Memphis
• ESMS 6000 - Exercise Testing Interpretation Laboratory - University of Memphis
• EXSS 2020 - Aerobic Training Application - University of Memphis
• EXSS 2010 - Resistance Training Application - University of Memphis

• Biomechanics Demonstration - Brisbane Grammar School - 2021 - The University of Queensland
• National Biomechanics Day - K-12 - 2018-Present - Volunteer

• The University of Memphis - Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Admissions Committee - 2025-Present

• Spencer MN, Smith RE, Patel S, Kashefsky H, Takahashi KZ, Franz JR. The Effects of Walking Speed on 3D Foot Rigidity and Multi-Segment Coordination. ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering (In press).

• Smith RE, Gomez-Palacios SA, Gray AJ, Kashefsky HJ, Takahashi KZ, Franz JR. Form and Function: Stronger Toes and Shorter Heels Associate with Better Gait Performance. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 2025 (In Press)

• Katugam-Dechene K, Cook A, Nguyen, AD, Smith RE, Shelton AD, & Franz JR (2025). Do shoe structural features matter for agility and stability during walking? PeerJ. 2025 13:e19930 doi:10.7717/peerj.19930.

• Smith RE, Shelton AD, Sawicki GS, Franz JR. (2025) The effects of series elastic stiffness and cutaneous sensitivity on leg muscle reflex responses to unanticipated slips during walking. Experimental Brain Research. 2025 May 20;243(6):150. doi: 10.1007/s00221-025-07095-8.

• Smith RE, Shelton AD, Sawicki GS, & Franz JR (2024). The effects of plantarflexor weakness and reduced tendon stiffness with aging on gait stability. PLoS ONE. 19(4): e0302021. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302021

• Paquette MR Melaro JA, Smith RE, & Moore, I. S. (2024). Time to stability of treadmill running kinematics in novel footwear with different midsole thickness. Journal of Biomechanics. 2024 Feb 4:164:111984. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.111984.

• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, Farris DJ, & Kelly LA. (2022). Editor-in-Chief’s Choice, Examining the intrinsic foot muscles' capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing and ankle joint contributions to propulsion in vertical jumping. Journal of Sport and Health Sciences. 2023 Sep;12(5):639-647. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2022.07.002.

• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, & Kelly LA. (2022). Flexor digitorum brevis utilises elastic strain energy to contribute to both work generation and energy absorption at the foot. Journal of Experimental Biology. Apr 15;225(8): jeb243792. doi: 10.1242/jeb.243792.

• Smith, RE, Lichtwark, GA, Farris, DJ, & Kelly, LA. (2021). Examining the intrinsic foot muscles’ capacity to modulate plantar flexor gearing. Footwear Science, 13(sup1), S87–S89. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2021.1917696

• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, & Kelly LA. (2021). The energetic function of the human foot and its muscles during accelerations and decelerations. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224(13), jeb242263. doi: 10.1242/jeb.242263.

• Smith RE, Paquette MR, Harry JR, Powell DW, & Weiss LW. (2020). Footwear and sex differences in performance and joint kinetics during maximal vertical jumping. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(6), 1634-1642. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002740.

• Paquette MR, Peel SA, Smith RE, Temme M, & Dwyer JN. (2018). The impact of different cross-training modalities on performance and injury-related variables in high school cross country runners. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(6), 1745-1753. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002042.

• Smith RE, Picado J, Kashefsky H, Takahashi KZ, Franz JR. Greater toe flexor strength associates with lesser soleus activation during walking. American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting. Pittsburg, PA. August 2025.
• Weaver M, Smith RE, Patel S, Takahashi KZ, Franz JR. The effects of walking speed on multi-segment foot rigidity and coordination. American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting. August 2025. Pittsburg, PA.
• Smith RE, Picado J, Kashefsky H, Takahashi KZ, Franz JR. Is Toe Flexor Strength a Determinant of Walking Propulsion During Submaximal Walking? International Society of Biomechanics Congress. July 2025. Stockholm, Sweden.

• Smith RE, Gomez-Palacios, SA, Gray, AJ, Kashefsky, HJ, Takahashi, K, & Franz, JR.Determining the Influence of Toe Flexor Strength on Walking Propulsion in Younger Adults. Poster presentation at Health and Human Movement Science Day Meeting 2025, Chapel Hill, NC.

• Smith RE, Gray, AJ, Gomez-Palacios, SA, Kashefsky, HJ, Takahashi, K, & Franz, JR. Foot-specific determinants of habitual walking speed and endurance in young adults. Poster presentation at the American Society of Biomechanics meeting 2024, Madison, WI.
• Smith RE, Shelton, AD, Sawicki, GS, & Franz, JR. The role of series elastic stiffness and cutaneous sensitivity in governing leg muscle reflex responses to unanticipated slips during walking. Podium presentation at the American Society of Biomechanics meeting 2024, Madison, WI.
• Katugam-Dechene K, Cook A, Nguyen AD, Smith RE, Shelton AD, & Franz JR. Do shoe structural features matter for agility and stability during walking? Poster presentation at the Society of Biomechanics 2024, Madison, WI.
• Smith RE, Gray, AJ, Gomez-Palacios, SA, Kashefsky, HJ, Takahashi, K, & Franz, JR. Foot-specific determinants of habitual walking speed and endurance in young adults. Podium presentation at Rocky Mountain American Society of Biomechanics meeting, Estes Park, CO 2024.
• Smith RE, Shelton, AD, Sawicki, GS, & Franz, JR. Plantarflexor weakness and lesser achilles tendon stiffness associate with greater vulnerability to walking balance perturbations. Podium presentation at the American Society of Biomechanics 2023, Knoxville, TN, USA.
• Smith  RE, Lichtwark GA, Farris DJ, & Kelly LA. Examining the plantar intrinsic foot muscles’ ability to modulate plantar flexor gearing. Best Basic Research Award, Podium presentation at Footwear Biomechanics Group 2021, Stockholm, SWE.     
• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, & Kelly LA. Energetic contributions of the foot and its muscles to deceleration. Podium presentation at Queensland Regional Australia-New Zealand Society of Biomechanics Conference, Brisbane, Queensland, AUS.
• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, & Kelly LA. Contributions of the human foot to energy generation and dissipation during decelerations and accelerations. Poster presentation at Mid-South Movement Science Conference 2020, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
• Smith RE, Lichtwark GA, & Kelly LA. Determining the role of the foot in non-steady state locomotion. Podium presentation at University of Queensland Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences Postgraduate Conference 2019, Brisbane, Queensland, AUS.
• Smith RE, & Paquette MR. Do frontal plane mechanics explain sex differences in vertical jump performance? Podium presentation at Mid-South Movement Science Conference 2018, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
• Smith RE, Paquette MR, Powell D, & Weiss LW. Footwear Differences in Lower Limb Joint Power Generation During Maximal Vertical Jumping. Poster presentation for American Society of Biomechanics 2017, Boulder, Colorado, USA.