Sayed Naseel Mohamed Thangal, PhD
Tagline:Scientist and Engineer
Vancouver, BC, Canada
About Me
I am a researcher and engineer with expertise in gait biomechanics, computational modeling and rehabilitation engineering. I am presently working on a postdoctoral research project at MAKE+, BCIT, evaluating the feasibility of 3D printing (plastic, metal, carbon fiber) for customized assistive technology. For my doctoral research in the Locomotion Lab at Simon Fraser University, I used computational modeling to understand how size affects the neural control of movement in animals. At the Gait Lab of Moss Rehab Hospital, I used computational modeling to estimate stability of walking and fall risk in patients with locomotor deficits. At Moss Rehab, I also worked with stroke patients, gaining experience in analyzing gait data, testing medical devices and managing research studies. I enjoy teaching and mentoring, and have instructed undergraduate courses in physics, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and human performance measurement.
Research Projects
Fabrication techniques facilitated by 3D printing for low volume assistive technology manufacturing and customization
date: 2023Organization:MAKE+, BCIT
Description:• Mitacs fellowship in partnership with PDG Mobility, Vancouver, BC.
• Researched 3D printing (plastic, metal, and carbon fiber) applications for both directly manufacturing wheelchair parts, and indirectly for developing tools and molds for wheelchair components.
• Designed and participated in aspects of the new product development cycle, from product specification through to production support.
• Collaborated with PDG and MAKE+ R&D teams to improve PDG’s designs, prototyping and fabrication capabilities.Scaling of control with sensorimotor delays in terrestrial mammals
date: 2018Organization:Simon Fraser University
Description:• Developed feedforward and feedback control models to represent perturbation responses.
• Scaled models to span size range from shrews to elephants by parametrizing based on literature.
• Determined fastest response times by optimization of numerical simulations.
• Compared two limiting factors: muscle force capacity (actuator saturation), and sensorimotor delays in the nervous system (transmission and processing time delays).Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals
date: 2016Organization:Simon Fraser University
Description:• Developed biomechanical models to evaluate inertial delay (movement time required to reposition body segments).
• Analytically derived equations for inertial delay and compared results based on geometric vs. dynamic similarity.
• Numerically simulated models in MATLAB, used Monte Carlo simulations to determine confidence intervals.
• Compared inertial delays to sensorimotor delays and characteristic movement times of animals.Continuous-time modeling of ground contact can approximate inelastic collision events in simulated bipedal walking
date: 2014Organization:Simon Fraser University
Description:• Developed passive dynamic walking simulations in Simulink Multibody (Mathworks Inc.).
• Compared gait behaviour of continuous time (spring-damper) ground contact vs. hybrid ground contact models.
• Evaluated effect of changing floor compliance on gait.
• Modified model to represent split-belt treadmill walking.Comparison of functional walking outcomes of two settings of the Ultraflex Systems Inc. ankle foot orthosis in adult stroke patients
date: 2011Organization:Moss Rehab Hospital
Description:• Measured mechanical support provided by Ultraflex Systems’ Adjustable Dynamic Response ankle foot braces using Biodex 3 dynamometer.
• Compared support provided by brace in the hard stop vs. soft stop conditions.
• Managed research study to evaluate brace function in stroke patients.
• Reviewed medical records, recruited volunteers, obtained consent, coordinated brace casting, collected and analyzed gait data.
• Project sponsored by Ultraflex Systems Inc., Pottstown, PA, USA.Accuracy testing of Bertec NIH force-line vector visualization software
date: 2011Organization:Moss Rehab Hospital
Description:• Designed testing protocol to measure error in vector generated by Bertec NIH force-line visualization software.
• Prepared reports for Bertec corporation to check accuracy of algorithms used to generate force line.
• Conducted literature review of prosthetic alignment vs. amputee function.Assessment of Gait Sensitivity Norm as a predictor of risk of falling during walking in a neuromusculoskeletal model
date: 2009Organization:Moss Rehab Hospital
Description:• Refined gait behaviour of central pattern generator controlled neuromusculoskeletal walking model to match human gait data.
• Implemented simulated annealing to optimize model parameters.
• Evaluated the ability of a novel stability measure, the Gait Sensitivity Norm, to predict risk of falling in clinical populations using model.
• Analyzed sensitivity of Gait Sensitivity Norm to input parameters.Contribution of prosthetic foot alignment to forward progression during walking
date: 2008Organization:Moss Rehab Hospital
Description:• Reviewed acceleration analysis data from gait of a unilateral transtibial amputee.
• Tested three alignments of prosthetic foot: 50° ankle dorsiflexion, neutral and 50° plantarflexion.
• Analyzed contributions of joint moments to forward acceleration of body from gait data.
Conference Presentations (Selected)
Scaling of response times under feedfoward and feedback control with sensorimotor delays in terrestrial mammals
Date: Apr 2023
Event name: Neural Control of Movement 2023 .Location: Victoria, BC, Canada .
Description:S.N.M. Thangal, H. More, C.D. Remy and M. Donelan, Scaling of response times under feedfoward and feedback control with sensorimotor delays in terrestrial mammals. Neural Control of Movement Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada, April 2023. [Podium and poster presentation]
Effect of delays on the feedback control of movement in animals of different sizes
Date: Jun 2019
Event name: Conference on Dynamic Walking 2019 .Location: Canmore, AB, Canada .
Description:S.N.M. Thangal and M. Donelan, Effect of delays on the feedback control of movement in animals of different sizes. Conference on Dynamic Walking, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, June 2019. [Podium presentation]
Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals
Date: Sep 2018
Event name: Nike Global Research Symposium 2018 .Location: Beaverton, OR, USA .
Description:S.N.M. Thangal and M. Donelan, Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals. Nike Global Research Symposium, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, September 2018. [Poster presentation]
Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals
Date: Jun 2017
Event name: Conference on Dynamic Walking 2017 .Location: Mariehamn, Aland, Finland .
Description:S.N.M. Thangal and M. Donelan, Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals. Conference on Dynamic Walking, Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, June 2017. [Podium presentation]
Continuous-time modeling of ground contact can approximate inelastic collision events in simulated bipedal walking
Date: Jul 2016
Event name: Canadian Society of Biomechanics Conference 2016 .Location: Hamilton, ON, Canada .
Description:S.N.M. Thangal, J. Wong and M. Donelan, Continuous-time modeling of ground contact can approximate inelastic collision events in simulated bipedal walking. Canadian Society of Biomechanics Conference, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, July 2016. [Poster presentation]
Publications
Scaling of inertial delays in terrestrial mammals
Journal ArticlePublisher:PLOS ONEDate:2020Authors:Sayed Naseel Mohamed ThangalJ. Maxwell DonelanAssessment of gait sensitivity norm as a predictor of risk of falling during walking in a neuromusculoskeletal model
Journal ArticlePublisher:Medical Engineering & PhysicsDate:2013Authors:Sayed Naseel Mohamed ThangalMukul TalatySriram Balasubramanian
Education
Doctor of Philosopy
from: 2014, until: 2022Field of study:Biomedical Physiology and KinesiologySchool:Simon Fraser UniversityLocation:Vancouver, BC
Master of Science
from: 2008, until: 2011Field of study:Biomedical EngineeringSchool:Drexel UniversityLocation:Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Technology
from: 2003, until: 2007Field of study:Mechanical EngineeringSchool:SASTRA UniversityLocation:Tanjore, TN, India
Teaching History
BPK 105C–Fundamentals of Human Structure and Function
From: 2018, Until: 2021
Organization:Simon Fraser UniversityField:Kinesiology
Description:Tutor Marker, BPK 105C–Fundamentals of Human Structure and Function. Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
• Online course with 50 students designed for students minoring in kinesiology.
• Tutored students, graded coursework and invigilated exams.
Terms: Spring 2021, Summer 2020, Spring 2020, Summer 2019, Summer 2018BPK 142-Introduction to Kinesiology
From: 2015, Until: 2022
Organization:Simon Fraser UniversityField:Kinesiology
Description:Teaching Assistant, BPK 142–Introduction to Kinesiology. Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Terms: Fall 2022, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Spring 2015
• Supervised three to four sections of labs with 20 students each.
• Instructed lab experiments in human anatomy and performance measurement.
• Tutored students, graded coursework and invigilated exams.