Research Trainee Spotlight: Mustafa Ghazi, PhD
A baby riding a robotic skateboard might sound like science fiction. But it’s an everyday part of the research work of Mustafa Ghazi, PhD.
Dr. Ghazi is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Infant Neuromotor Control Lab, which is led by Beth Smith, PhD, DPT. In the lab, he is investigating how to predict which infants at risk for cerebral palsy will benefit from robotic rehabilitation to help them learn how to crawl and walk.
“Robotic technology amplifies and supports a baby’s movements, similar to how the Iron Man suit amplifies Tony Stark’s strength,” he explains. “For example, a robotic skateboard senses a baby’s intent and physically moves the baby in the direction he or she is trying to crawl.”
In his study, Dr. Ghazi uses sensors to monitor the ankle movements of babies at risk for cerebral palsy for the first four months of life. Babies then complete 14 months of robotic rehabilitation in crawling and walking. “We are trying to see if that early monitoring helps us predict which infants will respond to robotic therapy,” he says.
Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Dr. Ghazi enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants and pursuing his newest passion: building interactive art pieces. His creations include a flower that glows when you shake it and a harp that uses beams of light as strings to play music.
