Ershela L. Sims, Ph.D. Education Professional Experience ... - K-Lab

Ershela L. Sims, Ph.D.
The K-lab Duke University
103 Finch Yeager Bldg; DUMC 3435
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 681-4172
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Doctorate of Philosophy/ Biomedical Engineering, 2000
Dissertation: Development of a Methodology to Predict Metabolic Energy Expenditure from
Mechanical Energy Expenditure in Walking.
Duke University, Durham, NC
Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Biomedical Engineering, 1993
Professional Experience
Senior Research Associate (Post-doctoral fellow)
Duke University Medical Center, Department of Surgery
2005 – present
Assistant Director and Research Associate 2002 – 2004
Duke University Medical Center, Brain Imaging and Analysis Center & Department of Radiology
Sr. Member of Scientific Staff 2001 – 2002
Nortel Networks, Audio Server Development
Architectural Prime (Cynex Technical Architect) 2000 – 2001
Nortel Networks, DMS-10 North American Development
Software Design Engineer 1997 – 2000
Nortel Networks, DMS-10 North American Development/DMS-10 Japan Development
Research Assistant 1995 – 1996
UNC-Chapel Hill Division of Physical Therapy
Awards and Honors
National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Renewal Recipient 2006 – 2008
National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Recipient 2004 – 2006
Minority Merit Research Assistantship, UNC-Chapel Hill 1993 – 1995
Service
Program Chair and Meeting Chair, South East Biomechanics Conference 2007 2006 – 2007
Member, American Society of Biomechanics
2005 – present
Reviewer, Journal of Biomechanics
2005 – present
Member, Organization for Human Brain Mapping 2003 – 2004
Program Co-chair of Student Affairs, Women in Technology International 2003 – 2004

Sims CV 2
Member, Duke Univ. Brain Imaging & Analysis Center Scientific Review Committee 2002 – 2004
Corresponding Member, Biomedical Engineering Society 2002 – 2003
Steering Committee Co-chair, Healthcare Entrepreneur’s Technology Roundtable 2001 – 2003
Teaching Experience
Lab Instructor, Human Gross Anatomy, Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke
University Medical Center. Fall 2005.
Undergraduate Research:
Sarah Miller, BME 191 “Negative Emotional Processing and Major Depression: A Functional FMRI study”,
Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Spring 2004
Mary Ann Nyc, BAA 192-22 “Gait as a pattern of sagittal plane knee flexion angle changes: analysis of the
effects of osteoarthritis”, Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical
Center. Summer II 2006
Mary Ann Nyc, BAA 193-22 “Gait as a pattern of sagittal plane knee flexion angle changes: analysis of the
effects of osteoarthritis”, Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical
Center. Fall 2006
Julie Carland, BAA 192-22 “Gender differences associated with osteoarthritis of the knee”, Department of
Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical Center. Fall 2006
Julie Carland, BAA 193-22 “Gender differences associated with osteoarthritis of the knee”, Department of
Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical Center. Spring 2007
Jackenna Gilbert, BAA 193-22 “Mechanical work associated with knee osteoarthritis”, Department of
Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University Medical Center. Fall 2007
Publications
Abstracts and Presentations:
M Malinzak, R F Kay, E L Sims, and R Queen Characterization of primate head accelerations during
locomotion: a novel application of 3D motion analysis with comparative implications. Submitted to the
Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Columbus, OH April, 2008.
E L Sims, F Keefe, V Kraus, F Guilak, and D Schmitt Racial Differences in Pain, Physical Function, and
Gait Mechanics Associated with Knee Osteoarthritis. To be presented as a podium presentation at the
Osteoarthritis Research Society International 2007 World Congress. Ft. Lauderdale, FL December 2007.
M B Nebel, E L Sims, V Kraus, J Pells, J Tischner, F. Guilak, F Keefe, and D. Schmitt. Influence of
Psychosocial Parameters on Altered Gait Mechanics Associated with Osteoarthritis and Obesity. Podium
presentation at the South East Biomechanics Conference. Durham, NC April, 2007
E L Sims, M B Nebel, V Kraus, F Keefe, J Pells, F Guilak, J Tischner, and D Schmitt. Gait Mechanics of
Knee Osteoarthritis. Poster presentation at the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting. Chicago,
IL October, 2006
R M Queen, E L Sims, BB Haynes, W E Garrett. Differences in Forefoot Loading During Three Soccer
Specific Tasks on FieldTurf. Poster presentation at the American Society of Biomechanics Annual Meeting.
Blacksburg, VA September, 2006

Sims CV 3
E L Sims, M B Nebel, F Keefe, J Pells, J Tischner, V Kraus, F Guilak, and D Schmitt. Severity of Knee
Osteoarthritis and Its Effect on Gait Mechanics in Walking. Podium Presentation at the American Society of
Biomechanics Annual Meeting. Blacksburg, VA September, 2006
J Pells, K Dixon, J Blumenthal, J Tucker, D Caldwell, V Kraus, D Schmitt, E Sims, and F Keefe. Selfefficacy
for pain and weight management among overweight patients with osteoarthritis: Relationship to
pain, physical disability, and psychological distress. Poster presentation at the American Pain Society
Annual Scientific Meeting. San Antonio, TX. Summer 2006.
E L Sims, D O Schmitt, J Pells, V Kraus, F Guilak, F J. Keefe Gait Mechanics during Overground walking
Associated with Osteoarthritis. Podium presentation at the South East Biomechanics Conference. Atlanta
GA, March 2006.
Manuscripts:
Queen, R. M., Charnock, B. L., Hardaker, W. M., Sims, E. L. and C. T. Moorman. Cleat Type Comparison
of Two Soccer Specific Tasks. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2007 (In Press)
Sims, E L, Hardaker, W M and R M Queen Gender Differences in Plantar Pressure Loading During Three
Athletic Tasks. British Journal of Sports Medicine (In Press)
Manuscripts In Review:
Sims, Ershela L and Daniel Schmitt .The Influence of Knee Immobilization and Gender on Mechanical
Work and Energy Expenditure in Walking. Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology. (In Review)
Nebel, M. B, Sims, E. L., Keefe, F. J., Kraus, V. B., Pells, J., Caldwell, D S, Queen, R. M., and D Schmitt
Influence of Psychosocial Parameters on Altered Gait Mechanics Associated with Osteoarthritis and
Obesity. Arthritis Care and Research (In Review)
Sims, E L., Keefe, F J, Kraus, V B, Guilak, F, Queen, R M, and D Schmitt. Racial Differences in Gait
Mechanics, Pain, and Physical Function Associated with Knee Osteoarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism (In
Review)
Meetings and Symposia (invited)
Osteoarthritis Seminar Series (Duke University) May 2006
“Physical and Psychosocial Influences on Gait in OA Sufferers”
Mentoring
Mary Beth Nebel UNC-CH/NCSU Associate in Research The K-lab Duke University
“Pain, disability and altered gait mechanics associated with knee OA”, Fall 2005 – Present
Anne Roseberry University of Florida Co-op student Nortel Networks
“CALEA: Communications Assistance Law Enforcement Act” Summer I/II 1999
Research Support
Biomechanics and Inflammation in Osteoarthritis—Supplement
5/2005 – 8/2008
PI: Farshid Guilak, PhD
100% Effort

Sims CV 4
The Effects of Gender and Forefoot Loading on 2 nd and 3 rd Metatarsal Stress Fractures
4/2006 – 3/2007
PI: Robin Queen PhD and James Nunley, MD
0% Effort