Publications and Funding

A complete and current list is on Google Scholar (1,267 citations, h-index 13), ORCID, and ResearchGate.

Peer-reviewed publications

Student mentees are marked with a dagger symbol.

2026

Agbeyaka S†, Harper SA, Simonsmeier V, Kleinstäuber M. Navigating interprofessional education: a qualitative process evaluation examining leadership perspectives on online IPE curriculum design and implementation. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. 2026. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000678

Bolton DAE, Harper SA, Beethe AZ, Whelan R, Ruddy KL. Post-error slowing of balance recovery steps when inhibition is required. Gait & Posture. 2026;127:110151. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110151

Bolton DAE, Beethe AZ, Harper SA, McNickle E, Whelan R, Ruddy KL. Establishing a neural marker for inhibitory control during balance recovery. Psychophysiology. 2026;63(1):e70208. doi: 10.1111/psyp.70208

2025

Hicks HN†, Chen H, Harper SA. Sensor fusion for enhancing motion capture: integrating optical and inertial motion capture systems. Sensors. 2025;25(15):4680. doi: 10.3390/s25154680

Bolton DAE, Beethe AZ, Harper SA, Whelan R, Ruddy KL. Learning to suppress a balance recovery step: implications for improving behavioral flexibility in a balance recovery stepping task. Gait & Posture. 2025;119:215-221. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.03.019

Wagner DR, Cafferty EA†, Harper SA, Vakula MN. Validity of A-mode ultrasound for estimating body fat percentage of young adult athletes: a multicomponent model study. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2025;57(6):1239-1245. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003651

Harper SA, Brown CB†, Poulsen SL†, Barrett TS, Dakin CJ. Interstep variations of stairways and associations of high-contrast striping and fall-related events: observational study. Interactive Journal of Medical Research. 2025;14:e60622. doi: 10.2196/60622

Wagner DR, Heath EM, Harper SA, Cafferty EA†, Teramoto M, Evans A†, Burch T†, McBride J†, Spencer S†, Vakula MN. Multicomponent body composition of university club sport athletes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2025;22(1):2446575. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2024.2446575

Dunn F†, Evans L†, Milligan H†, Stoker W†, Harper SA. Acute effects of blood flow restriction on blood lactate concentration during an exercise bout. Research Directs in Strength and Performance. 2025;5(1). doi: 10.53520/rdsp2025.105159

2024

Harper SA, Brown CB†, Dakin CJ. Real-world stairways: need for visual contrast enhancements to mitigate the hazards of variable step geometry. Ergonomics in Design. 2024;33(3):120-125. doi: 10.1177/10648046241275056

Long C†, Dakin CJ, Harper SA, Park J, Folau A, Crandall M, Christensen N, Louder T. Lower limb muscle activation in young adults walking in water and on land. Applied Sciences. 2024;14(12):5044. doi: 10.3390/app14125044

Abugu E†, Harper SA, Kim Y†, Bolton DAE. Prefrontal activation when suppressing an automatic balance recovery step. Gait & Posture. 2024;107:281-286. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.10.016

Harper SA. Health science approaches for fall and injury prevention (editorial). Research Directs in Health Sciences. 2024;4(1). doi: 10.53520/rdhs2024.104105

2023

Bolton DAE, Baggett CC†, Mitton CA†, Harper SA, Richardson JK. Suppressing a blocked balance recovery step: a novel method to assess an inhibitory postural response. Brain Sciences. 2023;13(10):1488. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13101488

Brown CB†, Barrett TS, Long C†, Corbridge S†, Braeger A†, Zollinger BJ†, Harrison K†, Poulsen SL†, Boman T†, Dakin CJ, Harper SA. Step edge highlighters and illuminance changes influence stair descent in a real-world setting. Ergonomics. 2023;66(9):1219-1228. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2141347

2022

Harper SA, Corbridge S†, Long C†, Barrett TS, Braeger A†, Zollinger BJ†, Hale AE†, Brown CB†, Harrison K†, Poulsen SL†, Boman T†, Dakin CJ. Safe stairway negotiation: role of distractions and handrail use. Journal of Safety Research. 2022;82:314-322. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.06.007

Harper SA, Thompson BJ. Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase. Frontiers in Aging. 2022;3:1005080. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2022.1005080

Rowley MA†, Warner J†, Harper SA, Beethe AZ, Whelan R, Ruddy KL, Bolton DAE. A method to assess response inhibition during a balance recovery step. Gait & Posture. 2022;95:56-62. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.04.009

Lavin KM, Coen PM, Baptista LC, Bell MB, Drummer D, Harper SA, Lixandrão ME, McAdam JS, O'Bryan SM, Ramos S, Roberts LM, Vega RB, Goodpaster BH, Bamman MM, Buford TW. State of knowledge on molecular adaptations to exercise in humans: historical perspectives and future directions. Comprehensive Physiology. 2022;12(2):3193-3279. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c200033

Harper SA, Long C†, Corbridge S†, Barrett TS, Braeger A†, Zollinger BJ†, Hale AE†, Brown CB†, Harrison K†, Poulsen SL†, Boman T†, Dakin CJ. Stairway visual contrast enhancement to reduce fall-related events. Journal of Ergonomics. 2022;12(303).

2021

Harper SA, Thompson BJ. Potential benefits of a minimal dose eccentric resistance training paradigm to combat sarcopenia and age-related muscle and physical function deficits in older adults. Frontiers in Physiology. 2021;12:790034. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.790034

Harper SA, Beethe AZ, Dakin CJ, Bolton DAE. Promoting generalized learning in balance recovery interventions. Brain Sciences. 2021;11(3):402. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11030402

Harper SA, Peters FJ, Pollock BS, Burns KJ, McDaniel J, Ridgel AL. Design of an eccentric recumbent ergometer to elicit delayed onset muscle soreness. Research Directs in Health Sciences. 2021;1(1):3.

Harper SA, Kleinoeder J, Ingalls V. Student response system liking and performance in kinesiology active learning classroom environments. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Society and Information Technologies. 2021.

Preprints

Brown CB†, Poulsen SL†, Barrett TS, Dakin CJ, Harper SA. Interstep variations of stairways and associations of high-contrast striping and fall-related event observations. medRxiv. 2023. doi: 10.1101/2023.01.28.23285143

Harper SA, Long C†, Corbridge S†, Barrett TS, Braeger A†, Zollinger BJ†, Hale AE†, Brown CB†, Harrison K†, Poulsen SL†, Boman T†, Dakin CJ. Stairway visual contrast enhancement to reduce fall-related events. medRxiv. 2022. doi: 10.1101/2022.03.25.22271716

Funding

External awards

2025 to 2027. National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging. Extramural Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program, L30AG096719. Evaluating stairway designs for individuals with vision impairment. Role: Principal Investigator.

2024 to 2025. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society seed grant. Improving stairway designs for individuals with vision impairment. Role: Principal Investigator. $5,000.

2024. Naval Air Systems Command SBIR Phase II subcontract, CFD Research Corporation. Minimalization of chronic neck pain in military aircrew and vehicle occupants. Role: Co-Investigator. $60,000.

2024. Defense Health Agency STTR Phase I, DHA-23C-003. GRIPMASTER: grip reinforcement integrated power with magnetic actuation for seamless tactical exoskeleton response. Role: Co-Investigator. $100,000.

2024 to present. Equipment donation, Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association.

2020 to 2021. American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship, 20POST34990005. Resveratrol and exercise combined to enhance mitochondrial function among older adults. Role: Principal Investigator. $131,356.

2018 to 2019. National Institutes of Health T32HD071866, Interdisciplinary Training in Pathobiology and Rehabilitation Medicine. Role: Trainee. $87,879.

Internal awards, University of Alabama in Huntsville

2026. Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates. Stairway biomechanics. Student awardee: Karah Lawrence. Role: Mentor.

2025. Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates. Stairway negotiation of older adults. Student awardee: Emma Barnes. Role: Mentor.

2024 to 2025. New Faculty Research Program. Evaluating foot placement on instrumented stairway steps. Role: Principal Investigator. $10,000.

2024. Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates. Toward improving stairway safety: using depth cameras for foot clearance measurement. Student awardee: Jamie Robinson. Role: Co-mentor.

2023 to 2025. Internal research support. Evaluating stair contrast markings through augmented reality. Role: Principal Investigator. $5,000.