Rhonda Boros, Ph.D., CSCS

Curriculum & Research Interests

My academic and research background is in the field of Biomechanics. I am currently responsible for teaching A&P I (ZOOL 2403) for students requiring 2-semester A&P course credit. In my teaching, I pull from my experience in kinesiology and biomechanics research, enabling me to put practical application and example to some of the more challenging concepts in gross and microscopic human anatomy & physiology. As director of the Anatomy Lab, I oversee all activities in the lab, as well as supervise graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants. I have developed and continue to enhance a hands-on undergraduate teaching experience in human anatomy through my topics course BIOL 4301-062, where exemplar students are selected to assist with the delivery and review of both lab and lecture materials to improve student performance in A&P. We have also developed and published a laboratory manual for human anatomy, utilizing images of our anatomical models and animal specimens, also to enhance the student experience in A&P.

My areas of biomechanics research focus primarily on the mechanics of human impact and injury. Specifically, my work relates to the topics of head impact and injury, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in females, and fall prediction and prevention in the elderly. Related to these topics are applications to biomechanics and characteristics associated with injury (e.g. predisposing anatomic or biomechanical factors) as well as interventions related to injury prevention and/or rehabilitation (e.g. strength training & conditioning and/or physical therapy). I have also recently engaged in more student learning outcome-focused research related to human anatomy curriculum and instruction.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Boros, R.L. (2017) Meeting objectives for the Natural Science Core Curriculum. Poster presentation at the 31^st Annual Conference of the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society, May 24-28, Salt Lake City, UT.

Gross, B.A. & Boros, R.L. (2015, 2016, 2017). Manual for Anatomy in Laboratory (Custom Edition for Texas Tech University). Fountainhead Press, Southlake, TX.

Jayadas, A. and Boros, R.L. (2013) Biomechanics of slips and falls or recovery in the elderly and young using lower and upper body center of mass dynamics. Proceedings of the 37^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, September 4-7, Omaha, NE.

Anderson, A. Boros, R.L., Stodden, D. Yang, H.S. (2012) The influence of prophylactic ankle braces on lower limb mechanics during single leg hopping tasks. Proceedings of the 36^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, August 15-18, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Yang, H.S., Boros, R.L., Davies, B., and Shields, J. (2012) The influence of prophylactic ankle braces on lower limb mechanics during a 90° side-step cutting task. Proceedings of the 36^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics, August 15-18, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Martin, W., Boros, R., Sawyer, R., Gonzales, J. (2012) Effects of Betaine supplementation on strength and power adaptations following an 8-week resistance training program. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 44:5 Supplement.

Urbin, M., Stodden, D.F. Boros, R.L. and Shannon, D.M. (2012) Examining impulse variability in overarm throwing. Motor Control, 16(1), 19-30.

Domire, Z., Boros, R.L. and Hashemi, J. (2011). An examination possible quadriceps force at the time of anterior cruciate ligament injury during landing: A simulation study. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(8): 1630-1632.

Ozsoy, B., Yang, J., Howard, B., Hashemi, J., and Boros, R. (2011). Direct optimization-based planar human vertical jumping simulation. International Journal of Human Factors Modeling and Simulation, 2(1/2): 47-66.