Thesis Track Faculty Mentors

Randall W Bryner, EdD

Position: Associate Professor, Chairperson, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology
Phone: 304-293-0772

Dr. Bryner has strong interests in examining the effects of various perturbations (i.e., exercise, stress, smoking, metabolic syndrome) on glucose homeostasis and pancreatic function.

Paul D Chantler, PhD

Positions: Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology; Professor, Department of Neuroscience; Professor, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (SOM)
Phone: 304-293-0646

Dr. Chantler has research interests focusing on how the interaction with aging, lifestyle, and various disease states, in particular the Metabolic Syndrone (MetS) and Stroke, impacts cardiac, arterial, and cerebrovascular biology and function.

John M Hollander, PhD

Positions: Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology; Senior Advisor, Research Development, Research & Graduate Education
Phone: 304-293-3683

Dr. Hollander is funded by the NIH to explore the cardiac molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with diabetes.

Jean L. McCrory, PhD

Position: Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology
Phone: 304-293-0442

Dr. McCroy has research interests in the area of gait and balance biomechanics in various clinical populations, including individuals with peripheral neuropathy, pelvic floor dysfunction, stress fractures and lower leg amputation.

I. Mark Olfert, PhD, RRT, FAHA

Positions: Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology; Member, WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs; Associate Professor, Physiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology
Phone: 304-293-0816

Dr. Olfert conducts reserach in cardio pulmonary and skeletal muscle physiology as it pertains to health and disease with a specific focus, at the time, on E-cig exposure on cardiovascular health.

Emidio Pistilli, PhD

Positions: Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology; Adjunct Associate Professor, Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology; Director of Admissions, Office of Research and Graduate Education, Research & Graduate Education; Director, Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Program, Cancer Cell Biology Graduate Education; Member, WVU Cancer Institute Research Programs
Phone: 304-293-0291

Dr. Pistilli's research laboratory is focused on breast cancer-induced cachexia, with a specific emphasis on the therapeutic implications for the cytokine interleukin-15.

Sergiy Yakovenko, PhD

Positions: Associate Professor, Human Performance - Exercise Physiology; Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience; Associate Professor, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (SOM)
Phone: 304-293-7316

The focus of Dr. Yakovenko's interdisciplinary research is to study the coordinated action of neural, muscular, and skeletal systems controlling goal-directed and stereotypic movements.