Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Kinesiology Technician Intern

🎯 Role Definition

The Kinesiology Technician Intern supports clinical and research teams by performing biomechanical data collection, equipment setup and calibration, participant preparation and safety monitoring, preliminary data processing, and documentation. This role is designed for undergraduate or graduate students in kinesiology, exercise science, biomedical engineering or related fields seeking hands-on experience in gait analysis, motion capture, EMG, force plate testing, and clinical-research workflows. The intern works under the supervision of licensed kinesiologists, clinical researchers, or lab managers to ensure high-quality data and participant care.

Keywords: Kinesiology Technician Intern, biomechanics intern, gait analysis intern, motion capture technician, EMG technician, clinical research intern, exercise science internship.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Undergraduate student in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related programs.
Volunteer or research assistant supporting biomechanics or rehabilitation labs.
Clinical externship or allied health technician role (e.g., physical therapy aide).

Advancement To:

Kinesiology Technician (full-time / certified)
Biomechanics Research Assistant / Lab Coordinator
Clinical Exercise Physiologist / Rehabilitation Technician
Clinical Research Coordinator (with administrative training)

Lateral Moves:

Rehabilitation Aide / Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) pathway
Motion Capture Technician in sports performance labs
Medical Device Technician supporting wearable sensors

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct standardized biomechanical assessments including gait analysis, balance tests, functional movement screens, and instrumented walking/running trials while ensuring participant safety and protocol adherence.
Set up, calibrate, and operate motion capture systems (e.g., Vicon, Qualisys, OptiTrack) and synchronize them with force plates, EMG systems, and high-speed video for multi-modal data collection.
Prepare participants by applying reflective markers, mounting inertial sensors and wireless EMG electrodes, and verifying correct sensor placement for reliable biomechanical recordings.
Operate and maintain force plates, instrumented treadmills, pressure mats, and dynamometers to capture kinetic and center-of-pressure data according to laboratory SOPs.
Run surface EMG instrumentation (e.g., Delsys) including skin preparation, electrode placement, impedance checks, system calibration, and accurate signal capture during dynamic tasks.
Implement participant screening, informed consent, and basic health and safety checks (vital signs, medical history) under supervision and in compliance with IRB and HIPAA regulations.
Execute standardized exercise testing protocols (submaximal/maximal treadmill tests, cycle ergometer tests, strength testing) and record physiological responses and subjective exertion ratings.
Troubleshoot common hardware and software issues during data collection sessions, coordinate repairs or vendor support, and document equipment status for preventive maintenance.
Accurately record session metadata, trial conditions, calibration files, and experimental notes to ensure reproducible biomechanical datasets.
Transfer, organize, and backup raw data securely to lab servers, cloud storage, or REDCap while ensuring confidentiality and proper file naming conventions.
Perform preliminary data processing and quality checks using MATLAB, Python, Visual3D, Nexus, or Lab-specific pipelines to prepare datasets for analysis.
Annotate video and motion capture trials, identify bad trials, and flag spurious signals so senior staff can complete advanced analyses.
Assist with data reduction tasks including filtering, gap-filling marker trajectories, EMG rectification/normalization, and calculation of basic kinematic and kinetic variables.
Enter and validate participant demographic, anthropometric and outcome measures into study databases (REDCap, Excel, or institutional CRFs) and resolve data discrepancies.
Support participant recruitment, scheduling, and communication, including screening calls, reminder messages, and coordination of transportation or accommodations as needed.
Maintain inventory of consumables (electrodes, markers, tapes, batteries) and place orders to ensure uninterrupted lab operations.
Ensure infection control and equipment sanitation between participants; follow PPE requirements and clean high-touch surfaces and biomedical sensors per protocol.
Assist in the preparation of study materials including protocols, IRB amendments, consent forms, and standard operating procedures under senior supervision.
Contribute to routine quality assurance activities including calibration logs, sensor validation tests, and cross-checks of measurement systems.
Support clinical teams in rehabilitative and performance interventions by setting up exercise modalities, supervising safe execution, and documenting progress during supervised sessions.
Provide technical support during outreach, education, or clinical demonstrations and help create instructional materials for students or clinicians on equipment use.
Participate in weekly lab meetings, present short updates on assigned tasks, and synthesize findings to support grant reporting and manuscript preparation.

Secondary Functions

Conduct literature reviews and summarize recent findings in biomechanics or rehabilitative technology to support project planning and grant development.
Assist with basic statistical analyses and visualization (Excel, R, or Python) to create summary tables and figures for internal reports.
Help draft methods sections, figure captions, and technical appendices for research abstracts, posters, and manuscripts.
Cross-train with allied lab staff (physical therapists, engineers, data scientists) to broaden interdisciplinary competencies.
Support outreach and participant engagement activities including community screening events and university recruitment fairs.
Maintain a clean, organized lab environment and help implement continuous improvement proposals for workflow efficiency.
Participate in professional development activities such as safety training, CPR/First Aid certification, and vendor-led equipment workshops.
Adhere to institutional research integrity policies and actively report any adverse events or protocol deviations immediately.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Motion capture system operation (Vicon, Qualisys, OptiTrack) — marker placement, calibration, and data export.
Surface EMG setup and troubleshooting (Delsys or equivalent).
Force plate and instrumented treadmill operation, calibration and kinetic data collection.
Basic biomechanics and gait analysis knowledge — kinematics, kinetics, center of pressure interpretation.
Data acquisition and synchronization across modalities (motion capture, EMG, force plates, video).
Familiarity with data processing tools: MATLAB, Python (NumPy, pandas), Visual3D, Vicon Nexus.
Experience with data entry and management platforms (REDCap, Excel, institutional databases).
Basic statistical skills for preliminary analysis (t-tests, ANOVA, correlation) using Excel, R or Python.
Knowledge of biosignal preprocessing: filtering, rectification, normalization of EMG.
Competency in anthropometric and physiological measurement techniques (height, mass, limb lengths, HR, BP).
Equipment maintenance and calibration record keeping; familiarity with lab SOPs and QA/QC procedures.
Basic understanding of HIPAA, IRB processes, and participant privacy/confidentiality best practices.
Experience with video annotation tools and synchronization of multi-camera recordings.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to data collection and documentation.
Excellent communication skills for interacting with participants, clinicians, and interdisciplinary research teams.
Ability to follow written protocols precisely and adapt to evolving research procedures.
Time management and organizational skills to coordinate multiple participant sessions and data workflows.
Problem-solving mindset for rapid troubleshooting during live data collection.
Professionalism, confidentiality, empathy, and patient-centered care in clinical and research settings.
Team-oriented attitude with willingness to learn new technologies and cross-train.
Clear written skills for accurate lab notes, data logs, and brief progress summaries.
Dependability and punctuality — critical for scheduled participant testing and multi-step protocols.
Initiative to identify process improvements and suggest protocol optimizations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Current enrollment in or recent graduate of a Bachelor’s program in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Biomedical Engineering, Physical Therapy Assistant program, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Pursuing or completed coursework or minor in biomechanics, motor control, human movement science, biomedical instrumentation, or clinical research methodology.
Graduate students (MS/MPH) in exercise physiology, biomechanics, or biomedical engineering are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Kinesiology / Exercise Science
Biomechanics / Human Movement Science
Biomedical Engineering
Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation Sciences
Public Health / Clinical Research

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–2 years of laboratory or clinical volunteer/assistant experience; internship-level candidates expected to have foundational coursework and hands-on exposure.

Preferred:

1+ semester of experience in biomechanics or a related research lab, or prior clinical technician experience (e.g., PT aide, exercise testing technician).
Demonstrated experience with motion capture, EMG, force plates, or similar biosensing equipment.
Experience with data processing tools (MATLAB, Python, Visual3D, Nexus) and data entry platforms (REDCap, Excel).

If you are recruiting for a Kinesiology Technician Intern, this description can be adapted for postings on university job boards, clinical research sites, or internship program listings to attract candidates with the right technical exposure, soft skills, and growth potential.