Madonna official to lead UNL athletics lab

A Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital administrator has been hired to lead the Nebraska Athletic Performance Lab.

Judith Burnfield will continue to work as director of the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at Madonna as well.

The new University of Nebraska-Lincoln lab will be housed in the East Stadium after completion of stadium expansion this summer.

The 20,000-square-foot lab will provide space where Nebraska Athletics will work with private-sector and campus partners on health and performance research.

Burnfield holds a doctorate in biokinesiology from the University of Southern California and will begin her new position in July. Her dual leadership role should benefit both organizations, she said.

The capacity to draw together the multidisciplinary strengths of both organizations to address human performance and safety issues of athletes at UNL and individuals with physical disabilities at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is exceptional, Burnfield said in a news release. I am truly looking forward to bridging both environments to advance clinical, research and industry driven initiatives rapidly.

Before joining Madonna in 2004, Burnfield was a research physical therapist at the Pathokinesiology Laboratory in Downey, Calif. She is an adjunct professor at several universities, including UNL, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University.

She is a registered physical therapist and a certified kinesiologic electromyographer.

The Athletic Performance Lab will be in the north half of the East Stadium addition; the UNL Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior willbe in the south half. The two will work together to study such issues as sports-related injuries and concussions.

The research facilities are the result of the combined vision of Nebraska Athletics Director Emeritus Tom Osborne, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman and UNL Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development Prem Paul.

Nebraska Athletics! Director Shawn Eichorst has asked Osborne to continue to provide leadership for the lab.