Master of Science in Exercise Science

Research Focus: My research focus is on the investigation of mechanisms of impaired peripheral and cerebral vascular function in selected at-risk/diseased populations. In addition, I examine the impact of various acute interventional approaches on these mechanisms. This research bears implications for various physiologic conditions including thermoregulatory capacity, orthostatic tolerance, and risk for cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic diseases.

Research Focus: My research focus is on assessment, mechanisms, and interventions for motor development in typical and atypical populations, with a particular interest in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and associated conditions (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders).

Research Focus: My research focus is on the investigation of neural control of circulation at rest and during exercise in human health and disease with a specific emphasis on the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system.

Research Focus: My research focus is on physical activity and motor behavior in minority and underserved children and emerging adults, with the aim to understand physical activity and health disparities through behavioral and neuropsychological levels of assessment. My research laboratory is conducting empirical research projects to investigate the effects of emerging technology-based (i.e., virtual reality) physical activity interventions on individual’s brain health (i.e., depression, cognition, health-related quality of life) and movement behaviors (i.e., sedentary behavior, sleep, and physical activity) in the home, school, and community settings.

Research Focus: My research focus is on cardiovascular physiology. Projects include: dynamic blood pressure control in African Americans, exercise-thermoregulation following prolonged exposure to simulated Lunar gravity and baroreflex function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Additional Lab: Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory

Research Focus: My research focus is on the affective and physiological outcomes of a variety of physical education and youth development programs. My work has advanced service-learning models and active-learning strategies that cultivate adolescents’ ability to think critically, solve-problems and grow self-awareness/self-control.

Research Focus: My research focus is on three common themes: (1) cardiac mechanics and ventricular function; (2) the cardio-metabolic syndrome; and (3) vascular regulation and neurovascular coupling.

Research Focus: My research focus is on microvascular physiology and pathophysiology and its impact on bone biology. My lab examines the integrative nature of the vascular and skeletal systems in health and disease (e.g., advancing age, intermittent parathyroid hormone administration, surgical and drug intervention, etc.).

Research Focus: My research focus is on improving human health by investigating the effects of joint movements and forces acting on the human body and how joint moments and forces can be modified to minimize the likelihood of injury or induce positive health outcomes.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the integrative physiology of vascular function in health and disease and how the immune system, adipose tissue and blood vessels interact to mediate vascular dysfunction with hypertension, aging and metabolic abnormalities. Also, in how physical activity influences these systems to promote vascular health.

Research Focus: The research in this laboratory focuses on the physiological responses of wheelchair athletes to exercise both maximal and submaximal intensities. Other research interests include the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a tool to improve clinical outcomes from strokes and other chronic conditions.

Research Focus: My research focus is on aging; bone-muscle crosstalk; sarcopenia and osteoporosis; biomarkers of musculoskeletal diseases; and muscle physiology.

Research Focus: My research focus is on calcium signaling in esophageal cancer and esophageal diseases, nutrient calcium and zinc in prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle and cardiovascular diseases

Research Focus: My research focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuromuscular dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression and to develop potential therapeutic means to treat ALS.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the role of therapeutic interventions including but not limited to exercise, manual therapy, superficial and deep heating/cooling, electrical nerve stimulation, laser, and dry needling on the biopsychosocial improvement of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. I am also interested in sport concussion education and knowledge transfer among stakeholders.

Research Focus: My research focus is on racial/ethnic disparities in maternal health (e.g., maternal mortality and morbidity) and birth outcomes (e.g., infant mortality, prematurity). I am interested in examining the social and systems-level factors that influence the health status (e.g., cardiovascular health, reproductive health, mental health) of women of color across the life course. I am also interested in women’s/maternal health care quality and safety.

Research Focus: My research focuses on social determinants of health to explain social disparity in health. Specific areas of her research include neighborhood impacts on (1) obesity and obesity-related behaviors and (2) cardiovascular disease. I have published my work in public health and medical journals, including Preventive Medicine, Journal of Urban Health, Obesity Reviews, and Social Science & Medicine.

Research Focus: My research focus is on evaluating factors within and expanding Anderson’s model of health services utilization to include the patient experience (specifically patient-provider communication and patient/family centered care). My current studies focus on unmasking disparities in health services among underrepresented minority groups (e.g. Arab Americans) and evaluating what qualities and modes of patient-provider communication are associated with health outcomes across the lifespan using national health surveys (e.g. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey).

Research Focus: My studies are on how social determinants, especially demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and contextual environments, shape population health disparities. Her research addresses under-explored problems about contemporary and critical public health concerns such as the opioid crisis, chronic pain and disability, the COVID-19 epidemic, and cardiovascular health, using data at both the individual and ecological levels.

Research Focus: My research focus is on smoking cessation and the epidemiology of tobacco use with a focus on investigating the health effects associated with exposure to emerging tobacco products, such as hookah and electronic cigarettes. My research involves the use of clinical laboratory models, epidemiological surveys, behavioral science and social media to guide the development of tobacco control policies.

Research Focus: My current research focuses on the development of personalized, adaptable, and timely interventions using real-time data from wearable biosensors to promote physical activity in overweight and obese individuals to reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers (e.g., breast cancer, colorectal cancer), as well as in sedentary cancer patients to improve their quality of life after cancer and cancer outcomes.

Research Focus: My research focus is on the development of novel in situ methods of 3D printing to rebuild and reconstruct missing defects in bone and muscle. Our goal is to induce rapid bone healing such that these procedures can thought of as the same severity as dental fillings and make this current in-patient and long hospital stay procedure into an out-patient and heal at home procedure.

Research Focus: : My research focus is on cardiovascular response to exercise, diet, and alcohol use in humans. I am currently studying the effect of binge drinking on cardiovascular health and its interaction with exercise and aging. My ultimate research goal is to identify/develop preventative and therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular disease related to unhealthy lifestyle.