Research Laboratories
Faculty in the Department of Kinesiology have several labs to conduct research with the assistance of undergraduate and graduate students. Learn more about each lab, and how to get involved, below.
Applied Biomechanics Research Laboratory
Dr. Saki Oyama & Dr. Kelly Cheever, Co-Directors
MS 2.02.36
The Applied Biomechanics Research Laboratory aims to prevent injuries and improve the performance and well-being of individuals who are susceptible to injuries. The lab is Co-Directed by Dr. Oyama and Dr. Cheever. Dr. Oyama’s primary research interest is in the identification and modification of movement patterns and physical characteristics that are associated with injuries. Dr. Cheever’s primary interest is the long-term cumulative health effects of a collision and/or contact sport career.
Learn more about the Applied Biomechanics Research Lab
Athletic Performance, Strength and Aging Laboratory (APSA)
Dr. Sandor Dorgo, Director
MS 3.02.42
The broad purpose of the Athletic Performance, Strength, & Aging (APSA) lab is to study various topics in the field of Strength and Conditioning, Human Performance, and Sport Science as they relate to adaptations to training or associations between performance variables in various athletic and non-athletic populations.
Cardiovascular Research Laboratory
Dr. John Zhang, Director
Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building 3.408
Ph: 210.458.6229
My primary research interest has been focused on myocardial remodeling following infarction. After myocardium infarction (MI), the heart undergoes extensive myocardial remodeling by accumulating fibrous tissue in both infarcted and noninfarcted myocardium, which distorts tissue structure, increases tissue stiffness, and accounts for ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
My second area of research is to study the effect of exercise on lipid metabolism. It has been hypothesized that postprandial lipoprotein metabolism may play an essential role in cardiovascular disease. We have established fat loading and exercise model to study the effect of exercise on postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and blood lipoprotein metabolism. The pathway of exercise-induced lipoprotein lipase activity still remains unknown. Due to the complexity of in vivo study of lipoprotein lipase, we intend to develop a new model to study lipoprotein lipase by using cultured cells.
Developmental Motor Cognition Laboratory
Dr. Alberto Cordova, Director
Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory
Dr. Masataka Umeda, Director
IAB2.01.09C
The primary aim of the Exercise and Health Psychology Lab is to advance our knowledge regarding physical activity and health. In particular, Dr. Umeda has been conducting research examining the influence of physical activity on pain and pain processing in a variety of populations (e.g., chronic pain patients, healthy adults, physically active individuals). Dr. Umeda’s research is typically conducted using psychophysiological approaches, where pain and pain processing is examined in conjunction with physiological (e.g., resting blood pressure, blood pressure reactivity, resting heart rate variability) and psychological variables.
Learn more about the Exercise and Health Psychology Lab
Human Performance Laboratory
Dr. William Land, Director
SRL 1.104
Ph: 210.458.7855
The aim of the Human Performance Laboratory is to investigate the interaction between cognition and human action. Research from this lab is geared towards facilitating sports performance, enhancing motor skill acquisition, illuminating the psychological antecedents of action, and motor rehabilitation.
Learn more about the Human Performance Lab
Molecular Exercise Physiology Laboratory
PI: Eunhee Chung, Ph.D.
Learn more about the Molecular Exercise Physiology Lab
Motor Learning/Control Study Laboratory
Dr. Wan X. Yao, Director
Main Building 0.412
Ph: 210.458.6230
The broad purpose of the Motor Control and Learning Research Lab is to better understand principles of motor control and motor learning and how the brain contributes to effective movement, with a long-range goal to impact remediation, rehabilitation, and therapeutic practices:
- Research Interests
- The effect of feedback and practice schedules on the acquisition of motor skills
- Neutomechanisms underlying muscle contractions and force/motor skill transfer
