Please download CV here.
Assistant Professor Department of Biology
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, USA
Email:
May 2014 – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
May 2011 – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
May 2007 – University of Maryland, Baltimore County
July 2019 – Present | Northeastern University, Boston MA USA, Dept of Biology
Aug 2014 – June 2019 | University of Texas at Austin, Center for Perceptual Systems
NIH 1-K99/R00-EY028229-01A1 – Gaze and the visual control of foot placement
when walking over rough terrain, Principle Investigator (Sponsor – Mary Hayhoe;
Co-Sponsor – Richard Neptune), Submitted: July 2017, Funding period: 2018-2023.
Total Cost: $981,520.00
Rensselaer Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Fellowship – The visual control
of foot placement, Fellow (Advisor – Brett Fajen), Submitted March 2010, Funding
period: 2010-2012 (Two years of full support)
NSF 1724416 S&AS: INT – Planning for Dynamics Locomotion, Key Personnel (Principle
Investigator, Jonathan Hurst), Submitted: Dec 2016
NIH 1-K99-EY028229-01 – Gaze and the visual control of foot placement when walking
over rough terrain, Principle Investigator (Sponsor – Mary Hayhoe; Co-Sponsor –
Richard Neptune) – Submitted: Oct 2016
NIH 1-F32-EY026495-01 – Gaze, gait, and attention when walking over real-world rough
terrain, Principle Investigator (Sponsor – Mary Hayhoe) – Submitted: Apr 2015
NIH 1-F32-EY026495-01 – Gaze, gait, and attention when walking over real-world rough
terrain, Principle Investigator (Sponsor – Mary Hayhoe) – Submitted: Apr 2015
NIH F32AG047000-01A1 – The dynamics of visually guided walking, Principle Investigator
(Sponsor – Dagmar Sternad), Submitted: Dec 2013
NIH F32AG047000-01 – The dynamics of visually guided walking, Principle Investigator
(Sponsor – Dagmar Sternad), Submitted: Apr 2013
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program – The visual control of foot placement,
Fellow (Advisor – Brett Fajen), Submitted: Nov 2009
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program – The visual control of foot placement, Fellow
(Advisor – Brett Fajen), Submitted: Nov 2008
Bonnen, K.L., Matthis, J.S., Gibaldi, A., Banks, M., Levi, D., Hayhoe, M.M.
(In Review PNAS). Binocular Vision and the control of foot placement during
walkng in natural terrain.
Matthis, J.S., Muller, KS, Bonnen, KL, Hayhoe, M.M. (In Review, PLoS Comp Bio).
Retinal optic flow during natural locomotion.
Matthis, J.S., Yates, J.L., Hayhoe, M.M. (2018). Gaze and the visual control of
foot placement when walking over real-world rough terrain. Current Biology. 28.
1224-1233. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.008
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.L, Fajen, B.R. (2017). The critical control phase for
the visual control of walking over complex terrain. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences., 114(30) doi: 10.1073/pnas.1611699114
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.L, Fajen, B.R. (2015). The biomechanics of walking shape
the use of visual information during locomotion over complex terrain. Journal of
Vision. 15(3). 1-13. doi: 10.1167/15.3.10
Matthis, J. S. & Fajen, B. R. (2014). Visual control of foot placement when walking
over complex terrain. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and
Performance. 40(1). 106-15. doi: 10.1037/a0033101
Matthis, J. S. & Fajen, B. R. (2013). Humans exploit the biomechanics of bipedal
gait during visually guided walking over complex terrain. Proceedings of the Royal
Society B: Biological Sciences, 280(1762). 1-9. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0700
Barton, S. L., Matthis, J. S., & Fajen, B. R. (2019). Control strategies for rapid,
visually guided adjustments of the foot during continuous walking. Experimental
Brain Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-019-05538-7
Hayhoe, M.M., Matthis, J.S., (2018) Control of gaze in natural environments:
effects of rewards costs uncertainty and memory in target selection. Royal Society
Interface Focus. (8), doi: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0009
Barton, S. L., Matthis, J. S., & Fajen, B. R. (2017). Visual regulation of gait:
Zeroing in on a solution to the complex terrain problem. Journal of Experimental
Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 43(10). 1773-1790. doi: 10.1037/xhp0000435
Fajen, B. R., Parade, M. S., & Matthis, J. S. (2013). Humans perceive object motion
in world coordinates during obstacle avoidance. Journal of Vision, 13(8), 1-13.
doi: 10.1167/13.8.25.doi
Fajen, B. R., & Matthis, J. S. (2013). Visual and non-visual contributions to the
perception of object motion during self-motion. PLoS ONE 8(2), 1-12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055446
Fajen, B. R., & Matthis, J. S. (2011). Direct perception of action-scaled affordances:
The shrinking gap problem. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 37(5),
1442-1457. doi: 10.1037/a0023510
Matthis, J.S., (2020). “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion”
Talk presented to the New England School of Optometry
Matthis, J.S., (2019). “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion”
Talk presented to the Perception and Action Seminar at Brown University
Matthis, J.S., (2019). “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion”
Talk presented to the Department of Biology at Northeastern University.
Matthis, J.S., (2019). “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion”
Talk presented to the Boston Dynamics Robotics Lab.
Matthis, J.S., (2019). “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion”
Talk presented to the Sensorimotor Systems lab at the NIH Bethesda campus.
Matthis, J.S., (2018). “The visual control of foot placement in natural terrain.”
Talk presented to the Department of Biology at Northeastern University.
Matthis, J.S., (2017). “Optic flow and the visual control of foot placement in natural
terrain.” Talk presented to the Center for Vision Research at Rochester University.
Matthis, J.S., (2017). “Optic flow and the visual control of foot placement in natural
terrain.” Talk presented to the Center for Imaging Research at Rochester Institute of
Technology.
Matthis, J.S., (2017). “Optic flow and the visual control of foot placement in natural
terrain.” Talk presented to the Action Club at Pennsylvania State University.
Matthis, J.S. (2017). “Gaze and the visual control of foot placement when walking over
real-world rough terrain.” Talk in the Lynn W. McCraw lecture series in the Department
of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin.
Matthis, J.S. (2017). “Gaze and the visual control of foot placement when walking over
real-world rough terrain.” Talk in the Department of Bioengineering at the University
of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus
Matthis, J.S., (2016). “The coupling of gaze and gait when walking over real-world rough
terrain.” Talk presented to the Robotics Institute at Oregon State University.
Matthis, J.S., (2015). “The critical phase for visual control of walking over complex
terrain.” Talk presented to the humanoid robotic locomotion research group at the Boston
Dynamics Robotics Lab.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2014). “The visual control of walking over complex terrain.”
Talk presented at the CLPS Perception and Action Seminar Series at Brown University.
Matthis, J.S. (2013). “Visual control of precise foot placement when walking over
complex terrain.” Talk presented at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2013). “Visually guided locomotion in complex and dynamic
environments.” Talk presented at the Action Club at Northeastern University.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “Retinal optic flow and the visual control of locomotion.”
Talk presented at 2019 Natural Environments Tasks and Intelligence (NETI) workshop.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “The dynamic of optic flow during real-world locomotion.”
Talk presented at 2018 meeting on Dynamic Walking.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “The visual control of foot placement in natural terrain.”
Talk presented at 2017 Ohio State Mathematical and Biosciences Institute workshop on
Sensori-motor control of animals and robots. Columbus, OH, USA.
Matthis, J.S., Muller, K.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “Optic flow and self-motion information during
real-world locomotion." Talk presented at 2017 meeting of the Vision Sciences Society (VSS).
St Pete’s, FL, USA.
Matthis, J. S., Hayhoe, M.H., “Gaze and the visual control of foot placement when walking
over real-world rough terrain.” Talk presented at the 2017 meeting of the European
Conference on Eye Movements (ECEM)
Matthis, J.S., Zhao, Y., Barton, S.L., Hayhoe, M.H., Sentis, L., “Towards understanding
visually guided locomotion over complex and rough terrain: A phase-space planning method.”
Talk presented at the 2017 meeting of the IEEE Workshop on Advanced Robotics and its Social
Impacts (ARSO).
Matthis, J.S., Muller, K.M., Bonnen, K., Hayhoe, M.M., “Optic Flow and self-motion
information during real-world locomotion.” Talk presented at the 2017 meeting of the Vision
Sciences Society (VSS).
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “The coupling of gaze and gait when walking over real world
rough terrain.” Talk presented at the 2016 meeting on Dynamic Walking.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “Gaze and foot placement when walking over real world rough
terrain.” Talk presented at the 2015 meeting on Dynamic Walking.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M., “The coupling of gaze and gait when walking over real world
rough terrain.” Talk presented at the 2016 meeting of the Vision Sciences Society (VSS).
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.B., Fajen, B.R. (2014). “The critical period for the visual control
of foot placement occurs during the preceding step.” Talk presented at 2014 meeting of the
Vision Science Society (VSS).
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.B., Fajen, B.R. (2013). “Visual control of precise foot placement
when walking over complex terrain.” Talk presented at 2013 meeting of the Vision Science
Society (VSS).
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2012). “Humans exploit the biomechanics of bipedal gait during
visually guided walking over complex terrain.” Talk presented at the 2012 meeting on
Dynamic Walking.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2012). “Humans exploit the biomechanics of bipedal gait during
visually guided walking over complex terrain.” Talk presented at the 2012 meeting of the
Vision Science Society (VSS).
Kothari, R., Binaee, K., Matthis, J.S., Bailey, R., Diaz G. Novel apparatus for the investigation
of eye-movements when walking in the presence of 3D projected obstacles. Proceedings of the 2016
meeting of the Eye Tracking Research & Applications (ETRA) Symposium.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M. (2017). Optic flow and self-motion information during real-world
locomotion. Journal of Vision.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M. (2016). The functional coupling of gaze and gait when walking over
real world rough terrain. Journal of Vision.
Matthis, J.S., Hayhoe, M.M. (2015). Eye, head, and foot tracking during locomotion over real-
world complex terrain. Journal of Vision. 15(12).
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.B., Fajen, B.R. (2014). The critical period for the visual control of
foot placement occurs during the preceding step. Journal of Vision. 14(10).3.
Matthis, J.S., Barton, S.B., Fajen, B.R. (2013). Visual control of precise foot placement when
walking over complex terrain. Journal of Vision. 13(9). 121.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2012). Humans exploit the biomechanics of bipedal gait during visually
guided walking over complex terrain. Journal of Vision. 12(9). 1118.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2011). Visual control of foot placement when walking over rough terrain.
Journal of Vision. 11(11). 915.
Parade, M.S., Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R., (2011). Non-visual self-motion information influences
perception of object motion while walking. Journal of Vision. 11(11). 898.
Possidente, P., Phillips, F., Matthis, J.S., Diaz, G. (2011). Anticipation of sabre fencing attacks.
Journal of Vision. 11(11). 957.
Matthis, J.S., Fajen, B.R. (2010). Visual information about locomotor capabilities and the perception
of possibilities for action. Journal of Vision. 10(7). 1019.
Fajen, B.R., Matthis, J.S., Cramer, C. (2009). Do actors pick up information on the fly to perceive
possibilities for action? Journal of Vision. 9(8). 1142.
• Fall 2020 – Biol2299 – Inquiries in Biological Sciences: Locomotion
• Spring 2020 – Biol2299 – Inquiries in Biological Sciences: Locomotion
• Fall 2017 – PSY 394U – Intro to Sensory-Motor Systems Invited Guest Lecturer
(Instructor Mary Hayhoe)
• Spring 2017 – PSY 394U – Eye Movements and Language Invited Guest Lecturer
(Instructor Zenzi Griffin)
• Spring 2014 – COGS/PHIL/PSYC 2120 – Introduction to Cognitive Science Co-Instructor
(w/ Bram Van Heuveln)
• Spring 20017 – IS 304 – Ethical Issues in Information Technology Teaching Assistant, Discussion Leader (Instructor Richard Wilson)
• Travel Grant to attend 2012 meeting of Dynamic Walking group (May 2012)
• Travel Grant to attend 2011 meeting of Dynamic Walking group (August 2011)
• Travel Grant to attend Centre for Vision Research Conference (June 2009)
• Glenn M. Trawinski Student Leadership Award (UMBC, Spring 2007)
• Best in Conference Award (SIUE Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, November 2006)
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude (UMBC, May 2007)
• Graduated with Departmental Honors (UMBC, May 2007)
• School of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences, Dean search committee (Summer 2011)
• Healthy Aging Research
• IEEE Conference on Robotics & Automation
• International Journal of Humanoid Robotics
• Journal of Experimental Biology
• Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance
• Journal of Gait & Posture
• Journal of Vision
• Perception
• Public Library of Science: One
In my spare time I create short animations that highlight basic biomechanical principles that underlie the actions of highly skilled athletes. In their various forms, these animations have gathered over 10 million estimated views, and been incorporated into the curricula and training plans of multiple high school teachers, college professors, and NCAA coaches. They were also be featured in the 2017 National Biomechanics Day presentation, which is an outreach program aimed at high school students and teachers. In addition, my research has been featured in two science-themed online magazines.
Barclay, Eliza. (August 2016). Handstands, Explained. Published in Vox:Science.
Retrieved from: http://www.vox.com/2016/8/11/12132588/balancing-hands-handstand-secret
Schramski, Sam. (July 2016). Running is always blind. Published in Nautilus. Retrieved
from: http://nautilus-web-602376506.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/issue/38/noise/running-is-always-blind