Roger Enoka

Our faculty are a source of great pride and bring a world of expertise, experimentation and excellence to our students and our community. Meet Roger Enoka, professor and chair of the Department of Integrative Physiology.

Roger completed his undergraduate training in physical education at the University of Otago in New Zealand prior to obtaining an M.S. degree in biomechanics and a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Washington in Seattle. He has held faculty positions in the Department of Exercise Science and the Department of Physiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

What drew you to your work, and keeps you passionate about it?
I am fascinated by human movement, both its description in terms of physics (Newton's laws of motion) and its control by the nervous system. Compared with many other areas of biology, relatively little is known about the function of the nervous system, especially its role in the control of movement. There is much to be learned in this field and we are recognized as significant contributors to its development. Our current studies focus on muscle fatigue and the changes that occur in the fine control of movement with aging, both of which we study by recording the activity of cells in the spinal cord of humans.

What do you most enjoy and what is the most challenging aspect of your profession?
The most enjoyable aspect of my work is the development of a new concept or a novel experimental finding that challenges and extends our knowledge on a topic. These accomplishments are enriched by the interaction of our laboratory group with international collaborators, visitors to the lab and undergraduate students. Because our work encompasses the interaction of physics and neurophysiology, we are often challenged by the requisite breadth of expertise and the rate of change associated with the development of new technology.  

What are you favorite interests and activities apart from your work?
Keeping physically active by biking to the university, practicing yoga, walking our dogs and gardening.

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