University of North Texas 
KHPR Research
Faculty in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation (KHPR) address a wide range of issues that impact human development, movement, wellness and mental health. Their research has shaped public policy, advanced the understanding of physical activity's impact on mental health, provided invaluable insights into metabolic health and disease prevention, and as a result, improved lives.
Doctoral Research Areas
Applied Physiology
Applied Physiology is the study of how physiological principles are used to improve
human function, performance and health.
In KHPR, faculty research exercise physiology, cardiovascular physiology, physical
activity, nutrition, metabolism and other health-related factors to better understand
and prevent obesity, disease and systemic barriers to well-being.
Human Performance Psychology
Human Performance Psychology explores psychological principles that help athletes
achieve optimal human performance.
Faculty in KHPR explore how participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity affect psychosocial development,
health, and mental and physical well-being to help individuals achieve optimal health
and improve performance.
Applied Physiology Faculty
Sarah Deemer, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Obesity and cardiometabolic disease; adipose tissue metabolism; nutrition
and exercise interventions; health disparities.
Eduardo Freitas, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Obesity, skeletal muscle, protein metabolism.
Joshua Keller, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Resistance training, peripheral vascular function, sex differences.
Brian McFarlin, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Exercise physiology, nutrition and immunology.
Justin Sprick, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Vascular function, neuro-circulatory control, cerebral blood flow
regulation.
Jakob Vingren, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Physiology of resistance exercise related to hormones, nutrition,
health, and performance.
Human Performance Psychology Faculty
Andrew Colombo-Dougovito, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Autism spectrum disorder/developmental disabilities; physical activity
behavior, lifetime motor development; motor skill assessment.
Jerraco Johnson, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Physical activity and health, family health behavior development,
obesity and health disparities, diversity in kinesiology.
Myungjin Jung, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Exercise psychology, neurophysiology and fNIRS, executive function
and memory, depression, and physical activity epidemiology.
Lab Coming Soon!
Jean Keller, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Physical activity and wellness over the lifespan.
View Bio
Minhong Kim, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Human and financial resource management of nonprofit and international
sport organizations; Consumer behaviors in national and international sport events;
Advanced statistical methods.
Scott Martin, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Health-related physical fitness and psychological well-being; sport
and exercise psychology; sport sociology.
Samantha Moss, Ph.D.
Physical activity promotion; socio-ecological disparities; motor competency.
Lab coming soon!
Ryan Olson, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Exercise psychology; neurophysiology and cognition; autonomic function
and stress reactivity.
Joseph Walker, Ph.D.
Megan Ware, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Affective states, exercise behavior, qualitative and mixed methodologies,
and clinical populations.
Tao Zhang, Ph.D.
Research Areas: Psychosocial determinants of physical activity and health; youth
physical activity and health disparity; achievement motivation, motor development.
Master's Research Areas
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiology is the study of how the body responds to physical activity, exercise
and movement.
KHPR faculty use their research to to better understand and prevent obesity, disease and systemic barriers to well-being.
Sport & Exercise Psychology
Sport & exercise psychology explores how psychological factors influence athletic
performance and well-being.
Faculty in KHPR study ways to help athletes and others improve performance by focusing
on mental skills such as goal setting, concentration, visualization and stress management.
Sport Pedagogy
KHPR faculty examine the theory and practice of teaching and learning in sport, physical
education and physical activity.
Sport pedagogy focuses on the learner, the content being taught, and the methods used
by teachers and coaches to effectively guide individuals of all ages through diverse
sport and activity experiences. By integrating principles from education and sport science, sport pedagogy aims to
enhance the quality and impact of learning in physical activity settings.
Exercise Physiology
Sarah Deemer, Ph.D.
Obesity and cardiometabolic disease; adipose tissue metabolism; nutrition and exercise
interventions; health disparities.
Eduardo Freitas, Ph.D.
Obesity, skeletal muscle, protein metabolism.
Joshua Keller, Ph.D.
Resistance training, peripheral vascular function, sex differences.
Brian McFarlin, Ph.D.
Exercise physiology, nutrition, and immunology.
Justin Sprick, Ph.D.
Vascular function, neuro-circulatory control, cerebral blood flow regulation.
Jakob Vingren, Ph.D.
Physiology of resistance exercise related to hormones, nutrition, health, and performance.
Sport & Exercise Psychology
Myungjin Jung, Ph.D.
Exercise psychology, neurophysiology and fNIRS, executive function and memory, depression,
and physical activity epidemiology.
Lab Coming Soon!
Scott Martin, Ph.D.
Health-related physical fitness and psychological well-being; sport and exercise
psychology; sport sociology.
Ryan Olson, Ph.D.
Exercise psychology; neurophysiology and cognition; autonomic function and stress
reactivity.
Megan Ware, Ph.D.
Affective states, exercise behavior, qualitative and mixed methodologies, and clinical
populations.
Sport Pedagogy
Andrew Colombo-Dougovito, Ph.D.
Autism spectrum disorder/developmental disabilities; physical activity behavior,
lifetime motor development; motor skill assessment.
Jerraco Johnson, Ph.D.
Physical activity and health, family health behavior development, obesity and health
disparities, diversity in kinesiology.
Samantha Moss, Ph.D.
Physical activity promotion; socio-ecological disparities; motor competency.
Lab Coming Soon!
Tao Zhang, Ph.D.
Psychosocial determinants of physical activity and health; youth physical activity
and health disparity; achievement motivation, motor development.