Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

By Molly Campbell ’24

Austin Schlater was training for the military when a nasty back injury introduced him to physical therapy. Now he’s learning how to help others recover from their injuries as a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Physical Therapy at UD.

Schlater works as a graduate assistant, which covers the cost of his tuition while providing an opportunity for research. The position was funded by donors to the School of Education and Health Sciences Dean’s Fund for Excellence during One Day, One Dayton in 2024. He is mentored by biomechanics associate professor Matthew Beerse and kinesiology associate professor Lauren Miutz. 

Schlater has been busy as a graduate assistant — writing annotated bibliographies for multiple professors, being a teaching assistant for undergraduate classes and even analyzing motion lab data. The position grants him opportunities to get involved in several projects in the multidisciplinary department. 

“I’ll pretty much do what people need me to do, and a lot of it is interesting. I also have a lot to do with PT school, so it’s sometimes hard to fit it all in, but we make it work.”

Miutz appreciates the chance for Schlater to get hands-on experience in his intended career field. Looking back at her own experiences, she credits a similar opportunity for her own success. 

“There’s no way I’d be where I am today without that, and so if I can replicate that in just one or two individuals, I think that carries a lot of weight,” said Miutz. “I love teaching, but bringing it to life in a different manner is, I think, incredible.”

While Schlater is involved in many different projects in the department, he dedicates most of his time working with data collected in the Motion Analysis Lab housed in the Department of Physical Therapy with Beerse, analyzing lower extremity joint function during specific movements. The joints are then categorized into one of four groups — struts, springs, motors or dampers — based on how they perform during movement. 

“Whenever we get data from our athletes, we can see if they’re predisposed to injury or if they favor one kind of way of using the joint than another,” said Schlater. 

After this assistantship is finished, Schlater will have not only relevant field experience, but a lasting testament to his work in the lab. He hopes to have a manuscript publication for the Motion Analysis Lab findings, listing him as a co-author with Beerse.

Beerse understands the value of providing students the opportunity to participate in research before launching into the workforce. 

“For the most part, every single one of our students will go on to working hands-on with individuals,” said Beerse. “Having the opportunity to kind of get their hands dirty and really stress-test the material that they’re learning in class, and their own understanding of the material and how to apply it, is extremely important.”

Schlater is expected to graduate in May 2026, well-prepared for what the future holds for him. 

“I want to work in a university setting, so this position gives me experience working with professors and doing the research and doing the teaching, which are all things that I want to do after PT school,” said Schlater. “It gives me a head start.” 

For now, he is dedicating his time to kinesiology research and making strides to understand predispositions and preventions of athletic injury — like the one that sidelined his initial plans, but opened his eyes to helping others through physical therapy and UD.