Hi, my name is Thomas Walden. I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University Health Network, Toronto. My position is within the KITE Research Institute at the Lyndhurst Centre, focusing on movement rehabilitation for individuals with a spinal cord injury.

Having received my Ph.D. in Kinesiology, my focus has now turned to pursuing an academic career in rehabilitation science, which will prioritize research, teaching, and mentoring. Building upon the skills acquired during my Ph.D., my Postdoctoral position has allowed me to work alongside clinicians at the largest spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility in Canada. This experience has exposed me to complex populations, including multiple levels of neurological dysfunction and its associated comorbidities and older adults at risk of a falls event. Currently, I am involved in a first-in-human study looking at the feasibility of implementing exoskeletons into spinal cord rehabilitation programs. I am also leading the development of a new wearable technology that can identify compromising movement patterns that can instigate a life-altering fall event for an older adult, bringing together academics, clinicians and an industry partner. I am also leading a collaboration with PRAXIS, the largest database that tracks the daily experiences of individuals living with a spinal cord injury. These projects will further my academic journey in biomechanics and cardio-metabolic rehabilitation. I firmly believe combining these specialized fields holds immense potential to advance our understanding of how human movement can affect cardio-metabolic health and vice versa in neurological disorders and aging. As the rehabilitation discipline evolves, research must also adapt, tackling new questions to find innovative ways to offer therapies that improve health, and I am committed to evolving the discipline.

Education

Research Employment and Positions

  • Chair, NET Teem Trainee Committee - 2024 to Present.
  • Affiliate Scientist - Activity-Based Theory Network, PRAXIS - 2023 to Present.
  • Affiliate Scientist - KITE Research Institute, UHN - 2023 to Present.
  • Data Management Specialist - June 2022 to December 2022- Environmental and Life Sciences – Murdoch University.
  • Research Assistant - 2019 to 2022 - Centre for Health Aging - Murdoch University.

Awards and Honors

  • International
    • CSCIRA 10th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference - 2nd Place, Postdoctoral Abstract Award (2023) - Invited to give Podium Presentation
    • CSCIRA 10th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference - Postdoctoral Poster Award (2023) - Invited to give Podium Presentation
    • European Journal of Sport Science “Future of Sport Science” Writing Competition Finalist (2020) - €50 Prize
  • National
    • ESSA Research to Practice - Poster Presentation Award Finalist - Effects of hypoxia during resistance exercise on post-exercise neuromuscular performance (2021) - Invited to give Podium Presentation (Speaker: Andrew Jonson)
  • Local
    • Australian Government Research Training Program Scheme (2019 - 2022)
      • $30,000/yr for 3.5 years plus $5,000 research budget
    • Murdoch Applied Sport Science Best Conference Presentation Award (2019) - $200 prize
  • Mentee Awards
    • CSCIRA 10th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference - 3rd Place, Student Abstract Award (2023) - Invited to give Podium Presentation (Speaker: Shajaky Parameswaran)

Research Support Funding

  • Peer-Reviewed Funding
    • Ontario Centre of Innovation, Concept to Commercialization Grant (2023-2025)
      • $80,000 across 2 years
    • Office of Research and Trainees, University Health Network – Travel Grant (2024)
      • $500

First Author Peer-Reviewed Publications

Peer-Reviewed Co-Author Publications and Collaborations

Published Conference Abstracts

Conference Presentations

  • Thomas P. Walden (Presenter), Shajaky Parameswaran, Louis Brisbois, and B. Catharine Craven. How Does the Nature of the Bowel Impairment Influence Longitudinal Sphincter Control After Discharge from Inpatient Rehabilitation? (CSCIRA 10th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference - 2023) - 2nd Place - Postdoctoral Award Catagory

  • Shajaky Parameswaran (Presenter), Thomas P. Walden, Louis Brisbois, and B. Catharine Craven. How Does Sphincter Control Post-Rehabilitation Discharge Influence an Individual’s Independence and Quality of Life when Living with a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury? (CSCIRA 10th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference - 2023) - 3rd Place - Student Award Catagory

  • Thomas P. Walden (Presenter), Shajaky Parameswaran, Louis Brisbois, and B. Catharine Craven. How Does the Nature of the Bowel Impairment Influence Longitudinal Sphincter Control After Discharge from Inpatient Rehabilitation? (Tator-Turnbull Symposium – 2023)

  • Philemon Tsang, Wagner H. Souza, Thomas P. Walden, Masae Miyatani, B. Cathy Craven. Methods for Exploring the Effects of Exoskeleton Training on Arterial Stiffness (University Health Network Postdoctoral Symposium - 2023)

  • Brendan R. Scott (Presenter), Kieran J. Marston, Shaun Teo, Mitchell Forrest, Thomas P. Walden, Andrew M. Jonson, Sean Mansfield and Jeremiah J. Peiffer. The intensity of exercise. Is the Work-rate a Useful Metric? (ESSA Research to Practice - 2021)

  • Thomas P. Walden (Presenter), Olivier Girard, Andrew M. Jonson, Alasdair Dempsey, Kieran J. Marston, and Brendan R. Scott. Resistance Training in Hypoxia: A Comparison of Acute Physiological Responses When Exercising to Failure or Not. (ASCA Conference - 2019)

  • Thomas P. Walden (Presenter), Olivier Girard, Andrew M. Jonson, Alasdair Dempsey, Kieran J. Marston, and Brendan R. Scott. Hypoxic resistance training and the acute physiological effects. (Enviromental Physiology Special Interest Group (EPSIG – 2019)

Conference Posters

Teaching Philosophy

The majority of my teaching experience has been within a classroom setting across numerous undergraduate courses, including Biomechanics, Human Physiology, Exercise Rehabilitation, Strength and Conditioning, Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Research Methodologies. I strongly believe in creating a safe and comfortable environment that allows students the opportunity to discuss the topics at hand. Interacting with their peers, explaining and listening to course content from many points of view facilitates a unique learning experience that fosters the beginning of a solid foundation of understanding. The idea stems from the convention of classroom autonomy, giving students a choice in discussion topics and direction, leading to substantially higher classroom participation. I also find that this technique quickly highlights areas that require additional focus, generating class content and discussion points for the following weeks, which directly focus on the needs of the specific class.

As a part of my role as a Ph.D. Candidate and Postdoctoral Fellow, I have had the opportunity to mentor undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. level students. In these 1:1 situations, I take on the mentality of the age-old saying, ‘Give a person a fish they eat for a day – teach them to fish, and they eat for life.’ Providing sufficient resources, directed guidance, and clear expectations helps develop vital critical thinking skills, allowing these students to navigate specific issues that may arise during their research journey. I also believe this teaching process entices students to become lifelong learners in their chosen field. My priority is to help these junior researchers find their individual and unique voices for how they will pass on their skills and research findings in the future.

Industry Memberships

  • Canadian Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Association – Affiliate Member
  • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Student Member

Professional Values

  • Thorough Investigation
  • High Quality Research
  • Honesty and Integrity
  • Committed to Always Learning
  • Committed to Sharing Knowledge to Help Others Learn