Exercise Physiology
Learn Exercise Physiology Theory and Conduct Research
- Think critically about the fields of cardiovascular, neuromuscular and exercise physiology and metabolism in healthy populations, and in populations with chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular, metabolic and neuromuscular diseases)
- Develop a line of research inquiry
- Apply various research designs and advanced statistics to become physiology researchers and educators in higher education
Career Opportunities
The program is designed for students to enter a career as a professor or postdoctoral research fellow in one of over 700 exercise physiology/kinesiology programs across the U.S.
The Georgia State Difference
Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology is a full-time on-campus program that can be completed in four to five (4-5) years. Coursework focuses on research design, methodology, statistics, and cell, cardiopulmonary, exercise physiology and metabolism theory and application. Students work closely with nationally recognized faculty to develop research studies each year within the program, including the successful completion of comprehensive exams and a dissertation. Students can present their research at regional, national and international conferences and publish in top journals.
Features of the Program
Internationally recognized faculty with a wide range of interests.
Our graduate faculty members are leaders in the areas of (1) cardiovascular, (2) neuromuscular, (3) muscle myopathies and (4) exercise physiology and metabolism. They have published more than 160 articles, books and book chapters, and presented research nationally and internationally. All of the faculty have received external funding to support their research programs, including from the National Institutes of Health. The program is designed to foster close mentoring relationships between faculty and students, aiming to develop students as independent scholars prepared for success in research, teaching and service activities.
Prime research location.
Georgia State University (GSU) is located in downtown Atlanta and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution and a Carnegie Foundation’s elite category of Research Universities/Very High Research Activity. GSU ranks #118 out of 909 universities for research expenditures according to the National Science Foundation Higher Education Research Development Survey (2021). Atlanta is home to several additional research-intensive universities (e.g., Emory, Georgia Institute of Technology) and medical complexes (e.g., Emory, Morehouse, Grady) which allow interdisciplinary research collaborations.
Focus on training to be a scholar and an educator.
Students in the program will receive training and mentorship in research, teaching, and service. Students will take rigorous research methodology courses and have the opportunity to work with our esteemed faculty as graduate research assistants (GRAs) but also work to establish their line of research where they learn to lead projects from study conception to publication. Students also receive mentorship in pedagogy through one-on-one work with faculty within a professional learning community. Students will have the opportunity to be instructor-of-record for undergraduate courses in human/exercise physiology and work with faculty to design their own course content, assignments, and assessments.
J. Andrew Doyle
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Zoology, Clemson University
Master of Science, Exercise Science, Georgia State University
Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise Physiology, The Ohio State University
He is the director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory and his research interests include sports nutrition, carbohydrate metabolism and exercise, and the role of physical activity, exercise and fitness in health. He has conducted, published and presented numerous research studies with cyclists, runners and triathletes, and has extensive experience testing elite athletes from cycling, running, gymnastics, rowing, canoeing, kayaking and basketball.
Christopher P. Ingalls
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Health and Sport Science, Wake Forest University,1988
Master of Science, Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, 1990
Doctor of Philosophy, Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, 1994
Postdoctoral/Research Scientist Training:
Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 1999
Texas A&M University, Muscle Biology Laboratory, 1994-1999
Research emphasis is in neuromuscular physiology and biochemistry. He specifically seeks to understand the following: 1) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of strength loss and recovery associated with exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury, 2) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle tissue adaptation to exercise and injury, 3) Impact of exercise-induced skeletal muscle weakness on developing secondary musculoskeletal injuries, and 4) Impact of holistic health (i.e., physical and mental resilience, sleep, nutrition and gut microbiota) on development of musculoskeletal injuries.
Jeff Otis
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1992-1996
Master of Science, Skeletal Muscle Physiology and Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,1998-2000
Doctor of Philosophy, Skeletal Muscle Physiology and Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2000-2003
Postgraduate Training:
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology,Advisor: Dr. Grace K. Pavlath, 2003-2005
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Advisor: Dr. David M. Guidot, 2005-2008
Research interests are in the molecular mechanisms that drive the development of skeletal muscle myopathies that occur secondary to chronic diseases such as HIV-1 and chronic alcoholism. Using both human and animal models, he attempts to abrogate these myopathies with nutritional interventions, endurance exercise or strength training.
Brett Wong
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Exercise Physiology, The University of California at Davis, 1999
Master of Science, Exercise Science, University of Oregon, 2003
Doctor of Philosophy, Human Physiology, University of Oregon, 2005
Postdoctoral Scholar, Integrative Physiology, The University of Iowa, 2005-2007
Research in Dr. Wong’s lab is focused on mechanisms of microvascular function in humans. The lab uses intradermal microdialysis, local heating, and laser-Doppler flowmetry to study mechanisms of cutaneous microvascular function. Current research projects include: 1) mechanisms of microvascular function in non-Hispanic Black and White young adults, 2) the effect of biological sex, menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive pill use on mechanisms of microvascular function, 3) the effect of e-cigarette use on estrogen levels and microvascular function, and 4) the effect of hydrostatic pressure, myogenic reactions and venoarteriolar reflexes (VAR) in the control of the microvasculature. The lab has active collaborations with several investigators at Georgia State, including Dr. Rafaela Feresin the Department of Nutrition and Drs. Hayat and Nielsen in the School of Public Health. Additionally, there are ongoing collaborations with the Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute. Research in the lab was recently funded by an R01 grant from the NHLBI (NIH).
Ryan Middleton Jonathan Howard Mekensie Jackson Ashley Alexander
Joshua Villalobos Jason Thomas Austin Parks
Kyle Brandenberger, Ph.D. Kinesiology, GSU (2017)
Katherine H. Ingram, Ph.D. Kinesiology, GSU (2009)
Christopher Rawdon, PhD. Kinesiology, GSU (2022)
Russel Rogers, Ph.D. Kinesiology, GSU (2016)
Casey Turner, M.S. Exercise Science, GSU (2017), Ph.D. Kinesiology, GSU (2022)
Cory Baumann, M.S. Exercise Science (2011) and Kinesiology, GSU (2015)
Michael Green, Ph.D. Kinesiology, GSU (2008)
If you have a passion for human/exercise physiology research and a desire to pursue a career in academia, the Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Physiology program may be right for you.
If you meet the following requirements, consider applying*:
Graduate GPA ≥ 3.30
GRE scores: Verbal ≥ 155 and Quantitative ≥ 151; TOEFL for international applicants
Strong desire to contribute to solving problems facing exercise physiology related areas.
Strong background in physiology or related field at the master’s level
*Meet with a potential research faculty advisor before applying.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Graduate Assistantships in Teaching or Research
Tuition waivers and competitive stipends are available to students who teach in the department’s thriving undergraduate program. Additionally, graduate research assistantships (which include waivers and stipends) are open to students with research interests and experience in the following:
- Cardiovascular physiology (blood flow regulation)
- Neuromuscular physiology (exercise-induced musculoskeletal injuries)
- Muscle myopathies
- Exercise physiology, performance, and metabolism
CEHD Dean’s Research Doctoral Fellowship
Financial Aid
Visit Student Financial Services at sfs.gsu.edu, and the college’s Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships page for more information on financing your education.
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Contact Us
J. ANDREW DOYLE, Ph.D.
CHRISTOPHER INGALLS, Ph.D.
JEFF OTIS, Ph.D.
Exercise Physiology
Georgia State University Sports Arena
125 Decatur St. SE, Suite 137
Atlanta, GA 30303
