Josh Liddy is a research assistant professor of kinesiology, support scientist in the Center for Human Health and Performance, and a member of the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring.
IALS: Hi Josh, thank you for speaking with us today. We have a few questions for you so everyone on campus can get to know you better. How long have you been at UMass Amherst?
JL: On and off for more than a decade. I was a Kinesiology undergrad from 2008-2012. I returned in 2022 as a post-doc, and stepped into a research faculty role last year. I’ve only worn the “faculty” hat for a year, but I’ve watched the campus grow for over 15 years.
IALS: Where did you grow up?
JL: Gardner, about 50 minutes away. If you’ve driven Route 2 to Boston, you’ve passed it—probably without noticing.
IALS: Does the love of science run in your family?
JL: Not really. There is a stronger track record of teaching in my family. My analytical leanings likely come from my dad, a software engineer.
IALS: How long have you been teaching?
JL: Teaching is not part of my role as research faculty, but I enjoy mentoring. Over the summer I worked closely with an intern in the IALS Core Summer Internship Program. The program lasts about 12 weeks, so I've enjoyed the challenge of balancing fast, practical training with finding opportunities for her to make real contributions to a funded project.
IALS: What is more stressful, grant proposals, research, or teaching?
JL: Probably writing grants and papers. My desire to keep polishing even when there are diminishing returns is a real self-induced stressor. I'm trying to be more equanimous and less fearful about putting my work out there.
IALS: Assuming your research is widely successful, how will it impact society?
JL: My DoD-funded is focused on helmet-mounted displays and the tradeoffs induced by those technologies due to things like added mass or visual restrictions. Improving early-stage design decisions could streamline R&D, and ultimately help us to make better choices on behalf of soldiers.
IALS: Who do you admire and why?
JL: People who don't take themselves or their work too seriously. And people who are genuinely curious. Watch the Feynman Lectures recorded at Cornell in 1964: He is delighted to talk about gravitation, and would be no matter the audience size.
IALS: What are your interests when you are not a scientist?
JL: Reading (I just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and moved on to a collection of Borges’ short stories). I also enjoy biking, soccer, and cooking. I'm in a "serious" coffee era right now, tinkering with every brewing method I can get my hands on.
IALS: Thank you so much Josh, and congratulations!
Learn more about Prof. Liddy's research.