Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Kinesiology Specialist Intern

🎯 Role Definition

The Kinesiology Specialist Intern supports clinicians and researchers by conducting standardized movement and fitness assessments, assisting with rehabilitation and performance programs, operating laboratory equipment (motion capture, EMG, metabolic carts), collecting and managing high-quality biomechanical and physiological data, and communicating findings to multidisciplinary teams. This role balances patient-facing responsibilities (screening, vitals, exercise supervision, patient education) with rigorous research and documentation tasks (protocol adherence, data entry, statistical prep), providing a comprehensive internship experience in clinical and research kinesiology.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Undergraduate student in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Sport Science, or related pre-professional program
Recent graduate seeking clinical or research lab experience
Certified personal trainer or strength & conditioning assistant transitioning into clinical biomechanics

Advancement To:

Kinesiology Research Assistant / Clinical Specialist
Exercise Physiologist or Biomechanist (entry-level)
Graduate study in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Biomechanics, or Exercise Science

Lateral Moves:

Strength & Conditioning Intern or Assistant Coach
Clinical Rehabilitation Technician
Research Coordinator for clinical trials in movement science

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct standardized functional movement screenings and musculoskeletal assessments for diverse populations, documenting range of motion, strength, posture, proprioception, balance, and pain reports in compliance with clinical protocols and HIPAA standards.
Administer cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), submaximal fitness assessments, VO2 and metabolic cart testing under supervision, ensuring participant safety, calibration of equipment, and high-fidelity physiological data capture.
Set up and operate motion capture systems, force plates, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and electromyography (EMG) equipment to collect synchronized biomechanical and neuromuscular data; perform daily system checks and follow calibration procedures.
Assist in gait analysis, treadmill testing, and overground locomotion assessments, capturing kinematic and kinetic data and preparing raw and processed datasets for clinician review and research analysis.
Develop individualized exercise prescriptions and progressive rehabilitation or conditioning programs based on assessment findings, participant goals and clinician direction, with clear documentation of intensity, duration, progression criteria, and safety considerations.
Support supervised therapeutic interventions and exercise supervision during clinical sessions, monitoring vitals, exertion, and symptom response, and modifying activities per established clinical plans and supervisor guidance.
Collect, enter, clean, and maintain high-quality research and clinical data in electronic medical records (EMR) and laboratory databases; follow data management SOPs to ensure reproducibility and audit readiness.
Perform standardized outcome measure testing (e.g., timed up-and-go, 6-minute walk test, sit-to-stand, dynamometry, PROMIS scales), score and interpret results, and communicate outcomes to the supervising clinician or PI.
Assist with participant recruitment, screening, informed consent processes, and scheduling for clinical assessments and research visits while maintaining ethical and regulatory compliance.
Prepare detailed participant progress notes, lab logs, and technical reports summarizing assessment methods, findings, and recommended next steps for interdisciplinary teams and research manuscripts.
Support implementation and refinement of clinical and research protocols, providing operational feedback to optimize workflow, participant experience, and data quality.
Conduct baseline and follow-up testing for strength, power, endurance, flexibility, and neuromuscular control, and present comparative analyses to supervising clinicians for treatment planning.
Perform manual muscle testing, goniometry measurements, and palpation as trained, documenting findings comprehensively and escalating abnormal results to clinical supervisors.
Assist senior staff with rehabilitation progressions, modality setup (e.g., resistance machines, free weights, bands), and safe instruction for participants with acute or chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
Operate and maintain laboratory and clinical equipment including treadmills, cycle ergometers, dynamometers, ultrasound imaging devices (where applicable), and ensure equipment safety checks, cleaning, and inventory control.
Participate actively in interdisciplinary clinical team meetings, research group discussions, and case conferences, presenting collected data, preliminary analyses, and participant status updates.
Support grant-funded projects by preparing materials for IRB submissions, tracking study enrollment, maintaining study binders, and contributing to participant retention strategies.
Assist with basic statistical analysis, data visualization and report generation using software such as Excel, SPSS, R, or Python, preparing tables and figures for team review and conference abstracts.
Conduct literature searches, summarize current evidence, and assist in writing sections of research manuscripts, protocol documents, and patient education materials under mentor supervision.
Provide participant education on exercise technique, injury prevention strategies, activity modification, and home program adherence with an emphasis on accessibility and behavior change strategies.
Ensure adherence to lab safety, infection control, and clinical confidentiality standards (HIPAA), and participate in routine training including CPR, first aid, and emergency response drills.
Train and mentor newer interns or undergraduate volunteers in basic assessment procedures, equipment operation, and data collection SOPs, ensuring consistency and quality across the team.
Coordinate logistics for testing sessions including preparation of testing rooms, equipment setup, participant check-in/out, and timely transfer of data to supervisors for review.
Assist with quality improvement initiatives by collecting process metrics, participant feedback, and proposing actionable changes to increase efficiency and participant satisfaction.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and conduct exploratory data analysis to help research teams generate hypotheses and prepare pilot study materials.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by recommending measurement workflows, data labeling standards, and metadata practices for movement science datasets.
Collaborate with clinicians, researchers, and other departments to translate clinical needs into actionable data collection plans and engineering requirements for lab upgrades or software tools.
Participate in sprint planning-style team meetings, agile project tracking, and other cross-functional ceremonies to help prioritize testing operations, instrumentation upgrades, and manuscript timelines.
Assist with community outreach, health and wellness events, and student presentations to build visibility for lab services and recruit diverse participants for research studies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong foundational knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, and biomechanics with the ability to apply concepts to assessment and intervention.
Proficiency in administering and scoring clinical outcome measures (e.g., TUG, 6MWT, dynamometry, goniometry, balance tests) and interpreting results for clinical or research use.
Hands-on experience or training with motion capture systems, 3D kinematic analysis, force plate data acquisition, or IMU-based systems for movement analysis.
Familiarity with electromyography (surface EMG) set-up, electrode placement, signal acquisition, and basic EMG data quality checks.
Experience with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), metabolic carts, heart rate monitoring, and interpretation of submaximal and maximal exercise test data (under supervision).
Data management skills: accurate data entry, database maintenance, adherence to SOPs, and experience with electronic medical records (EMR) or REDCap.
Basic statistical and data analysis skills using Excel, SPSS, R, or Python for cleaning datasets, running descriptive statistics, t-tests, and basic regressions; ability to create clear charts and graphs.
Competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with reference management tools (Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley).
Knowledge of research design, IRB processes, informed consent procedures, and good clinical practice (GCP) principles.
Ability to operate clinical and lab equipment safely, perform routine calibration, and follow maintenance logs and infection-control protocols.
Experience preparing technical documentation, participant instructions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for reproducible data collection.
Basic programming or scripting experience (e.g., MATLAB, Python) for data preprocessing, signal filtering, or batch processing of biomechanical datasets is a plus.
Familiarity with patient safety procedures, CPR/AED certification or willingness to obtain certification, and ability to respond to basic clinical emergencies.
Understanding of HIPAA, data privacy, and secure handling of personally identifiable information in clinical and research contexts.
Experience with participant recruitment strategies, screening tools, and maintaining recruitment logs in compliance with study protocols.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills tailored to clinical, research, and lay audiences; ability to document clearly and present findings succinctly.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity, reproducibility, and protocol adherence.
Collaborative team player comfortable working in interdisciplinary environments with clinicians, researchers, engineers, and students.
Time management and organizational skills enabling the simultaneous coordination of multiple participant visits, data tasks, and documentation deadlines.
Adaptability and problem-solving mindset when handling unexpected equipment issues, participant variability, or protocol deviations.
Empathy, professionalism, and patient-centered demeanor during assessments and rehabilitation sessions.
Critical thinking and curiosity to translate raw data into meaningful clinical or research insights and to suggest process improvements.
Initiative to learn new measurement techniques, analytic tools, and clinical practices, and to seek feedback from supervisors.
Cultural competence and sensitivity when working with diverse participant populations, ensuring inclusivity and respectful communication.
Ability to synthesize scientific literature and apply evidence-based practices to clinical recommendations and research design.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor's program in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Human Movement Science, Sport Science, Athletic Training, Pre-Physical Therapy, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Pursuing or completed a Master's degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Physical Therapy (DPT prep), or related graduate-level training.
Coursework in biomechanics, motor control, exercise testing, research methods, and statistics.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Kinesiology / Human Movement Science
Exercise Science / Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics / Motor Control
Pre-Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation Science
Athletic Training / Strength & Conditioning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–2 years for undergraduate interns; 1–3 years for graduate-level interns or research assistants. Prior lab or clinical practicum experience is highly valued.

Preferred:

Prior experience in a biomechanics, movement analysis, exercise physiology, or clinical rehabilitation setting (labs, clinics, sports performance centers).
Experience with motion capture, EMG, metabolic testing, or force plate data collection preferred.
Previous involvement in research projects, poster or oral presentations, and basic familiarity with data analysis pipelines and academic writing.