Exercise physiology student interns with the US Department of the Navy, conducts research

Olivia Whittington, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Exercise Physiology program at the WVU School of Medicine, spent her summer conducting cutting-edge research at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Connecticut. She was one of only four college students chosen for her specific lab within the competitive Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program.

“This internship has opened up so many doors for me in such a short period of time, and I am truly grateful I took the leap,” Whittington said. “This experience aligned perfectly with my interests. I’m so thankful for the mentors who helped me take a deep dive into the foundations of the research process and for everything I’ve learned.”

Whittington, who is pursuing the tactical performance physiology area of emphasis within the Exercise Physiology master’s program, worked directly with military personnel in the Undersea Physiology and Performance Enhancement Research Division in the Warfighter Performance Department.

The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program enables students to customize their experience by selecting their own research topic. Whittington chose to study factors that impact an individual’s grip strength using hand dynamometers.

“While I have had experience working with and training tactical personnel through my internships at WVU, I really enjoyed having the opportunity to work with tactical personnel within a military research environment,” Whittington said.

“Grip strength is crucial for tactical personnel, affecting their ability to handle equipment and perform tasks requiring fine motor skills. This experience has been invaluable in understanding the practical applications of research and highlighted the importance of considering anthropometric factors when designing training programs.”

While at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Whittington reviewed research papers concerning grip strength and learned about various technological systems used for her project. She performed human subject research, looking at different anthropometric variables –such as height, forearm length, and forearm circumference– to determine how an individual’s grip strength was impacted. She then related these results back to practical use within the military, analyzed the data she collected and presented her findings.

“During my internship, my mentor, Dr. Luke Belval, played a crucial role in introducing me to diver physiology,” Whittington said. “One of the most memorable concepts was learning about the effects of various diving-related disorders such as oxygen toxicity, nitrogen narcosis, and decompression syndrome. Dr. Belval was able to take complex topics and break them down into digestible pieces to relate them back to my project’s importance.”

This experience has inspired Whittington to pursue a career in either research or health and wellness within the military. Most of all, she hopes to continue enhancing people’s lives to give them the best care possible – which is what drew her to the exercise physiology program at WVU.

“Initially, I chose exercise physiology because I had grown up playing sports my entire life and had dealt with quite a few injuries,” said Whittington, who also earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the School of Medicine. “This led me to want to become a medical professional so I could help individuals in similar situations. As these four years progressed, I found that the connections made with my patients pushed me to grow both as an exercise physiologist and as an individual.”

Whittington gained her initial experience with tactical populations during her time as an undergraduate at WVU working with Assistant Professor Brian Leary, Ph.D., on a tactical training internship. She worked with the Morgantown Fire Department and Army ROTC cadets to improve their physical and mental readiness and provide education on topics such as injury prevention and nutritional habits. This experience led Whittington to pursue her master’s degree with an emphasis in tactical performance physiology.

“Olivia was able to receive mentorship from top scientists while gaining valuable experience in understanding the physiological demands and health needs of tactical personnel,” Leary said. “This experience directly supports our program’s mission to equip exercise physiologists to enhance the readiness, resilience and overall fitness of military service members and other tactical populations.“

To learn more about Exercise Physiology at WVU, visit medicine.wvu.edu/ep.