About GT Lab.
The Georgia Tech Performance Lab is an applied sports science facility that supports athlete health, performance, and development through biomechanics, performance testing, data analytics, and research.
By bringing together coaches, athletic trainers, sports medicine staff, performance specialists, and researchers, the lab generates objective insights that help practitioners make informed decisions about training, injury risk reduction, rehabilitation, and return-to-sport readiness.
Through collaborations between Georgia Tech Athletics, Emory SPARC, and affiliated researchers, the lab also advances applied research and develops innovative reporting, visualization, and software tools that translate complex data into actionable information to support athlete care and performance.
What happens here.
Key facts.
Approximately 130 Georgia Tech student-athletes have completed biomechanical and jump protocol testing through the lab
Two Georgia Tech teams (Football and Softball) are currently participating in testing and monitoring initiatives
Two custom software applications have been developed and deployed to support athlete performance analytics, reporting, and data engagement
Ongoing return-to-sport testing is conducted with athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction, providing objective biomechanical and neuromuscular assessments throughout rehabilitation
Milestones.
Launched in Summer 2026, the Georgia Tech Performance Lab has implemented force plate jump testing with Georgia Tech Football and Softball and developed custom data applications to support athlete performance monitoring and engagement. The lab has also initiated ongoing return-to-sport (RTS) assessments for athletes recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), supporting rehabilitation progress monitoring and practitioner-led return-to-sport decisions.
Current & past projects.
Past and ongoing projects include developing force plate jump testing protocols for Georgia Tech student-athletes, conducting return-to-sport assessments for athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction, and creating custom data visualization, reporting, and software applications to support athlete performance monitoring and engagement. Future projects include incorporating instrumented leg press assessments, treadmill and gait analysis protocols, and additional athlete monitoring technologies.
Impact.
Since its launch, the lab has delivered operational athlete monitoring and performance analytics applications to multiple Georgia Tech teams, improving access to and engagement with performance data for athletes, coaches, and practitioners. The lab also supports rehabilitation and return-to-sport assessments by providing objective biomechanical data to inform clinical and performance-related decision making.
Capabilities & technology.
The Georgia Tech Performance Lab is equipped with a Qualisys 3D motion capture system, three force plate testing stations, an instrumented treadmill with integrated force plate technology, and an instrumented leg press with integrated force plate technology. These tools support biomechanical movement analysis, gait assessment, neuromuscular performance testing, rehabilitation assessment, and athlete monitoring.
Future plans include expanding routine athlete testing across Georgia Tech Athletics, broadening existing jump assessment and return-to-sport protocols, and developing additional sport-specific testing for sports such as baseball and softball. The lab also aims to expand its software and analytics offerings, enhance athlete engagement with performance data, and conduct research focused on injury risk, prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete development.
People at GT Lab
April (McPherson) NewmyerAssociate Bioinformatics ScientistSPARCGT LabU.S. SoccerCOBRAWu Tsai→
Andrew SchilleResearch Technical SpecialistSPARCHawksBiomotion LabGT LabU.S. SoccerWu Tsai→
Angela SkarpelisSenior Research SpecialistSPARCHawksGT Lab→Recent publications
Working together.
Getting here.
Georgia Tech Performance Lab Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW Atlanta, GA 30332
Primary Contacts: Angela Skarpelis (angela.cristina.skarpelis@emory.edu) Sam Larson (sam.m.larson@emory.edu)