We are very pleased to share that the Keynote Speaker for OBC 2026 will be Dr. Julie Côté from the University of Ottawa. Dr. Côté is a Professor in the School of Human Kinetics. She received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Université de Montréal / Polytechnique Montréal, and her M.Sc. in Biomechanics from University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, Dr. Côté held a long and distinguished career at McGill University, where she held several faculty and leadership roles, including Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Dr. Côté is an internationally recognized leader in biomechanics and ergonomics. Her research program focuses on understanding how repetitive movements and sustained loading contribute to fatigue, altered neuromuscular control, and the development of musculoskeletal injury. Her work integrates experimental biomechanics, electromyography, and real-world occupational and sport applications, with particular emphasis on how individual factors such as sex and task demands influence injury risk.
Dr. Côté’s Keynote Lecture will be entitled "Personalized muscle fatigue research in work and sport: A moving target." The talk will highlight her program of research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying fatigue and injury development, and how these insights can be translated into improved injury prevention strategies across both occupational and athletic settings. Her talk will also include some takeaways from her various career experiences.
The Keynote Lecture will be held on the evening of Wednesday, May 20, 2026.