David Castro presented his research at CUHR 2025 alongside mentor Daniel Sheffield
“As an educator, it’s one of the most fulfilling experiences – to witness the full circle of learning, growth, and leadership. Watching [alumni] give back and support the next generation speaks to the lasting impact of education and mentorship. It’s a powerful reminder that the relationships we build in the classroom can echo far beyond graduation.” - Dr. Robert Gumieniak, Associate Head of Kinesiology
David Castro will graduate from the University of Guelph-Humber’s (U of GH) Kinesiology program with more than a degree, a diploma, and lifelong memories. He’ll also leave the University with trusted mentors, valuable experience presenting his own research at a conference, and an award for that work as well.
During his Thesis 1 and Thesis 2 courses taken from September 2024 to April 2025, David conducted research at York University’s Drake Lab, which Dr. Janessa Drake oversees, to see if active hip abduction test performance could predict someone’s pelvic drop (when the pelvis tilts downward) during jumping and landing. This resulted in the creation of his paper, The Relationship Between the Active Hip Abduction Test, Lumbopelvic Control, and Landing Biomechanics, which he presented at the Conference for Undergraduate Health Research (CUHR) 2025 at York University. He hopes this research will spark further analysis into creating useful clinical tools to predict and prevent injury.
This work led to David receiving the Muscle Health Research Centre's Award for Excellence in Physiology at the conference for his research as a presenter “whose research pushes the boundaries of basic physiological science or advances the translation of physiological research findings into practice,” according to CUHR. He described this moment as his “proudest academic achievement,” adding that he was “probably the happiest person on stage that day.”
Kinesiology Associate Head Dr. Robert Gumieniak said, “At U of GH, Kinesiology students gain unique, hands-on research experience through close mentorship and applied opportunities that are typically reserved for graduate-level study elsewhere.” He continued, “When one of our students is recognized for their research, it highlights not only their hard work and curiosity, but also the strength of the academic environment we foster at Guelph-Humber.”
David was inspired to submit his paper to the conference after Dr. Gumieniak told the Thesis students about CUHR. All four Guelph-Humber students who applied to get into the conference were accepted: David, Ashnaa Narumathan, Anthony Moncada, and Gabriel Romano.
But David also made a special connection while working in the lab over the course of the academic year. He met his mentor, Daniel Sheffield, a PhD student at York University specializing in biomechanics and a Guelph-Humber Kinesiology alum, who guided him on this research.
Serving as David’s mentor throughout the project was a “really good” experience for Daniel. He ensured that he provided David the space to share ideas and to learn. Daniel added that as a mentor, he aimed to strike a delicate balance between providing timely guidance to steer David in the right direction and giving him the autonomy to lead the research independently.
“As an educator, it’s one of the most fulfilling experiences – to witness the full circle of learning, growth, and leadership,” Dr. Gumieniak said. “Watching [alumni] give back and support the next generation speaks to the lasting impact of education and mentorship. It’s a powerful reminder that the relationships we build in the classroom can echo far beyond graduation.”
As for David, he appreciated having a mentor who shared a similar pathway to him with his undergraduate education – and like Daniel, he also intends to pursue graduate school (for physiotherapy). And while his mentor provided David with guidance, advice, and answered questions about the lab equipment, Daniel credits his mentee for his hard work researching and writing the paper.
“Above anything, I felt proud of David,” Daniel said.
Moreover, Daniel said when his PhD supervisor, Dr. Drake, suggested mentoring an undergraduate student, he was excited; but when he found out that mentee was from Guelph-Humber, he said “it brought a smile to [his] face, having that connection to the [U of GH] community.” And though Daniel is enjoying his grad school experience at York, he said he misses the close community at Guelph-Humber.
“By the time you spend four years at Guelph-Humber, it almost it feels like you're going to see your friends every day. You know all your classmates and the whole program on a first name basis. All your profs know you on a first name basis,” Daniel reminisced.
After all, Guelph-Humber is a place where students can realize their full potential and forge enduring connections that shape their future.
Congratulations to David for his achievement!
To learn more about Guelph-Humber’s Kinesiology program, click here.
