Research Faculty
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Dr. Joy Barros graduated from the University of Alabama Birmingham with a PhD in Health Education/Health Promotion. She received her Master’s degree from Texas A&M University and Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, both in Biomedical Sciences. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor in the Health & Human Performance Department at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. |
Dr. Barros’ research interests include women’s health, sexual health, substance use, and college health. Her previous work includes: HPV vaccination among college students, non-medical use of prescription drugs among college students, and drinking and driving behaviors among college students. Currently, her research focuses on the impact of stress, sexual health decisions, and substance use among college students on their academic success. With this research, she hopes to create prevention programs to teach students healthy stress coping skills to increase their academic success and overall health.
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Dr. Juan Gonzalez received his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University in Exercise/Respiratory Physiology in College Station, Texas. Dr. G as he is known to most is an Applied Exercise Physiologist and has dedicated much of his career to training the female athlete from pediatric to college age athletes. He pioneered Exercise Physiology in the Rio Grande Valley through his company Medflex The Exercise Science Institute. He is currently Associate Professor within the Department of Health and Human Performance at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg campus. |
Current Research Investigation(s)
- Currently conducting a research investigation on “Profile of the Pre-Physical Therapy Student at A Predominately Hispanic Institution in South Texas. This research investigation seeks to quantify who the Pre PT student is in terms of grade point averages, demographics, course and research experience.
- Finalizing a research investigation on Quantifying the Environmental Thermal Conditions that exist during Track Meets during the summer Months in South Texas. This type of research investigation has never been conducted in south Texas and it seeks to quantify for athletes, parents, coaches and track & field organizations the dangers of putting on summer track meets in a pediatric athletic population.
Planned Research Investigation(s)
- DPT Student’s Perceptions of Their Undergraduate Preparation for Physical Therapy School, Fall 2018-Spring 2019.
Manuscripts Under Preparation
Gonzalez, J., Gomez S., Luevano J., Lawrence L., Valdez, A., Rayner J., Ortiz A. (2017). Blood Biomarkers and The Prevalence of Diabetes at a Predominately Hispanic Institution in South Texas in College Age Students 18-30 years Old. Targeted peer-reviewed journal is Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Publication
Gonzalez, J., Davenport M., Renolla E., Cartagenas A., Escamilla D., Chandler K., Jorgensen L., Gray R., and Yoo S. (2015). Metabolic Syndrome at a Predominantly Hispanic institution in South Texas among Kinesiology Majors 18-30 Years Old, Texas Association of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance Journal (TAHPERD). Fall 2015.
Dr. Murat Karabulut
Murat Karabulut, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. Dr. Karabulut obtained his Ph.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Oklahoma at Norman. He has two of the most recognized certifications in the field (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (CEP) from American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)). He is also a member of several organizations and serves as a reviewer for several journals.
Research Interests:
One of the main goals of his research has been to develop/improve non-pharmacological interventions to prevent health problems and improve the health status of those who have metabolic problems, cardiovascular problems, and age-related health problems.
- He is interested in assessing the changes in neural and muscular systems that are responsible for training-induced adaptations utilizing several different techniques such as twitch interpolation, electromyography (EMG), and mechanomyography (MMG).
- He would like conduct more studies to determine the best combinations of main parameters of different exercise training techniques to develop a more effective training protocol.
- He would like to continue investigating the safety of various training techniques, and compare acute and chronic effects of different training protocols on body composition and bone remodeling by using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
- He is also interested in conducting more blood flow restriction (BFR) and other modes of exercise training studies to prevent and/or improve metabolic function and arterial stiffness of those who have diabetes and who are older/elderly.
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Ulku S. Karabulut, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. She was a recipient Turkish Government Fellowship. Dr. Karabulut received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was a CoHA Research Fellow in 2017 -2018 and received Student Mentoring Award in 2018. |
Her research focuses on the relationship among physical activity, body composition, and arterial elasticity in Hispanic population, metabolic syndrome risk factors among, school physical activity policy, and sleep and childhood obesity. She is a member of American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE). She regularly presents at ACSM, Texas ACSM conferences, and SOM Research Symposium.
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Dr. Russell received a PhD from Louisiana State University in 2011 with published doctoral work in areas of metabolic flexibility, diabetes metabolism, and resistance training. His three subsequent postdoctoral fellowships (T32 at University of Maryland, School of Medicine; UCLA, and Menzies Institute for Medical Research) added additional training in cellular/molecular aspects of cardiometabolic pathophysiology, continuous 24-hour glucose monitoring, and assessment of microvascular blood flow using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEU). |
Now as a faculty in Health and Human Performance at UTRGV, he is using his training in measurements of cardiometabolic pathophysiology to identify early aspects of chronic disease that may help explain the health disparities noted in Hispanics and in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). He directs research in the CardioMetabolic eXercise lab (CMX-Lab), which is fully-equipped with clinical outpatient testing equipment, and a fully-functional resistance training lab for interventions.
Dr Russell has expressed his pleasure with getting back to teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in exercise physiology, pediatric exercise physiology, biomechanics, and advanced cardiometabolic physiology. As a researcher and teacher of physiology, Dr Russell is able to bring findings from his research into the classroom to supplement course materials. He is a passionate teacher, and tries to re-create that passion for his students.
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Dr. Yu Lun Tai is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. He received his master’s degree from Texas Tech University and Ph.D. from Kent State University in Exercise Physiology with the emphasis in cardiovascular function and autonomic modulation. He is Certified Exercise Physiologist from American College of Sports Medicine and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from National Strength and Conditioning Association. |
Research interest:
His research interests cover several areas of exercise physiology, with a primary interest in cardiovascular function and autonomic modulation, specifically using methods to assess forearm blood flow, aortic wave reflection, arterial stiffness, and how they are mediated by blood flow restriction exercise.
Previous researches investigated cardiovascular function and autonomic modulation between sexes in response to free-weight and machine-weight resistance exercise, and practical and traditional blood flow restriction exercise. Currently working on how different exercise types and orders will affect cardiovascular function and autonomic modulation.
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Dr. Lin Wang graduated from the University of Virginia with a Ph. D. in Physical Education with the emphasis in Motor Learning that explores constructing effective environment for teaching/ coaching/ rehabilitation. Her two Masters degrees are from the University of Northern Iowa and Guangzhou Institute of Physical Education. |
Focus of Dr. Wang's research projects, presentations, and publications has been on different factors contributing to building an effective learning/training/rehab environment. She firmly believes that instructors/teachers hold the tremendous power to build an effective learning environment in and out of a classroom/gym; for the same reason, parents/guardians at home. Moreover, culturally appropriate teaching/training/rehab materials enhance the efficacy of a behavioral change intervention, if not any.
Children in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas has a special place in Dr. Wang's heart. Children in the Rio Grande Valley are at a disadvantage due to the lack of opportunities because of the geological location. There is only way out is through education, in academia and in health.
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Dr. Soojin Yoo, associate professor of health and human performance at University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, obtained her PhD in sport pedagogy emphasized on physical activity and health promotion at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her master in exercise science emphasized on exercise physiology at the Ewha Womans University. |
Her research focuses on promotion of physical activity, physical fitness and health in the various populations including clinical settings (diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc.), worksites, schools and community. Also, her work on physical activity intervention has emphasized; 1) the utility of technology; consumer based wearable monitors and applications for behavior and health outcome change programming; and 2) development of healthy and active environments (schools, worksites, parks and community settings).