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Melissa Gross, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Research;
Associate Professor, Movement Science;
Associate Professor, School of Art & Design;
Assistant Research Scientist, Institute of Gerontology

• Areas of Interest
• Educational Background
• Research
• Teaching in Kinesiology
• Multidisciplinary Teaching
• Honors and Awards
• Professional Affiliations and Service
• Selected Publications
• Selected Funding
• Links

3158 Observatory Lodge
1402 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2013
Phone: (734) 764-9663
Fax: (734) 647-2808

mgross@umich.edu

Office Hours (Spring Summer 2008):
Please contact for an appointment

Full vita>>

Laboratory:

• Movement Dynamics Laboratory
• Dr. Gross' Research Website (leaving Kinesiology site)

Areas of Interest

Short Description: Biomechanics of expressive movement ; functional ability and aging; musculoskeletal biomechanics.

Dr. Melissa Gross is a biomechanist interested in musculoskeletal structure and emergent movement behavior. She directs the Movement Dynamics Lab where she currently investigates the effect of emotion on body movements. Dr. Gross uses an interdisciplinary approach in her studies, combining biomechanical methods for recording and assessing body movements with psychological methods for eliciting and validating emotions. By studying the biomechanics of expressive movement, Dr. Gross’ research extends the basis for the understanding how emotion is manifest in body systems.

Dr. Gross’ interdisciplinary research interests are broad. She has collaborated with scientists in geriatrics and epidemiology to investigate the effects of exercise programs on functional ability in the elderly and the onset of functional decline in mid-aged women. She has also conducted studies ranging from the role of the spinal cord in controlling rhythmic limb movements in the cat to the effect of pelvic morphology on locomotor behavior in Neandertals.

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Educational Background

The University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Ph.D., Kinesiology, 1984
M.S., Kinesiology, 1979

The University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
B.A., Dance, 1976




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Research

• Kinematics of emotional expression
• Concurrent expression in the face and body
• Recognition of emotion in body movements
• Body representation and perception of affect
• Functional ability in women during midlife (past project)

More information on Dr. Gross's work can be found on her laboratory page and her research page.



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Teaching in Kinesiology

MOVESCI 230. Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy

MOVESCI 330. Biomechanics of Human Movement. Course web site.
Dr. Gross’ innovations in this course were recognized by the Smithsonian Computerworld Award Program and in a journal publication.

MOVESCI 433 / KINESLGY 433.* Human Movement & Aging: Functional Ability

MOVESCI 439 / KINESLGY 439.* Lab Rotation in Biomechanics

KINESLGY 530. Graduate Seminar in Biomechanics

* Movement Science courses are for undergraduate credit; Kinesiology courses are for graduate credit.



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Multidisciplinary Teaching

MOVESCI 313 / ARTDES 300. The Body in Motion: Applications of Motion Capture for the Arts and Sciences. Detailed course description. This course was developed with Prof. Andy Kirshner (Art & Design; Music) with support from the U-M Whitaker Fund for Improvement of Teaching, the Division of Kinesiology, and the School of Art & Design. The course was presented at the International Digital Arts and Media Conference in April 2006.

MOVESCI 313 / UC 263. Stradivarius as Biologist: Cultivating Bel Canto Through Sound and Vision. This course was developed with Prof. Greg Wakefield (EECS; Music) and Dr. Norm Hogikyan (Otorhinolaryngology; Music) with support from the U-M Life Sciences Initiative for Undergraduate Education.

Honors and Awards

Professional Affiliations and Service

Selected Publications

Borer, K.T., Fogleman, K., Gross, M.M., LaNew, J.M., and Dengel, D. Walking intensity for postmenopausal bone mineral preservation and accrual. Bone 41: 713-721, 2007.

Sowers, M.F., Jannausch, M.L., Gross, M.M., Karvonen, C.A., Palmieri, R.M., Crutchfield, M. and Richards-McCullough, K. Performance-based physical functioning in African-American and Caucasian women at mid-life: Considering body composition, quadriceps strength, and knee osteoarthritis. American Journal of Epidemiology 163(10): 950-958, 2006.

Sowers, M.F., Crutchfield, M., Richards, K., Wilkin, M., Furniss, A., Jannausch, M. Zhang, D. and Gross, M.M. Sarcopenia is related to physical functioning and leg strength in mid-aged women. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 60A(4): 486-490.

Garcia, A.W., Langenthal, C.R., Angulo-Kinzler, R.M. and Gross, M.M. A comparison of accelerometers in school-age children for predicting energy expenditure and vertical ground reaction force. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 8(3): 119-144, 2004.

Alexander, N.B., Gross, M.M., Medell, J.M., and Hofmeyer, M.R. Effects of functional ability and training on chair-rise biomechanics in older adults. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 56A:M538-M547, 2001.

Gross, M.M., Stevenson, P.J., Charette, S.L., Pyka, G. and Marcus, R. Effect of muscle strength and movement speed on chair-rise biomechanics in young and healthy elderly women. Gait & Posture, 8:175-185, 1998.

Miller, J.A. and Gross, M.M. Locomotor advantages of Neandertal skeletal morphology at the knee and ankle. Journal of Biomechanics, 31:355-361, 1998.

Gross, M.M. Analysis of human movement using digital video. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 7:375-395, 1998.

Gross, M.M., Trotman, C-A., and Moffatt, K.S. A comparison of three-dimensional and two-dimensional analyses of facial motion. Angle Orthodontics, 66:189-194, 1996.

Hoy, M.G. (now Gross, M.M.), Zajac, F.E. and Gordon, M.E. A musculoskeletal model of the human lower extremity: the effect of muscle, tendon, and moment arm on the moment-angle relationship of musculotendon actuators at the hip, knee, and ankle. Journal of Biomechanics, 23:157-169, 1990.

Hoy, M.G. (now Gross, M.M.) and Zernicke, R.F. The role of intersegmental dynamics during rapid limb oscillations. Journal of Biomechanics, 19:867-877, 1986.

Selected Funding

2008-09 NSF Grant 0444301. Perceived Facial Expressions of Emotion as Motivational Incentives. M.M. Gross (PI), Direct costs $55,761; Indirect costs $28,995.

2002-04. Embodying Emotion: Translating the Languages of Meaning and Movement., Rackham Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Grant, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, $58,000.

2000-04. NIH Grant: Functional Status and the Menopausal Transition. M.F. Sowers (PI) and M.M. Gross (Co-PI), Total direct costs $603,864; Indirect costs $157,005.

1992-95. Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Merit Review Grant (#E642-R): Effects of Muscle Strength on Balance During Movement in the Elderly. M.M. Gross and C.A. Winograd/N.B. Alexander (Co-Principal Investigators), $462,600.

Links

• American Society of Biomechanics
• International Society for Research on Emotion
• International Society of Biomechanics
• International Society for Posture and Gait Research
• University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology