What is your educational background?
- Ph.D. Exercise Physiology, University of Pittsburgh, 2015
- M.S. Exercise Science, Georgia Southern University, 2011
- B.S. Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, 2009
What are the main focuses of your research?
- Multisystem response to exercise with and without ergogenic aids across parameters of health and human performance
- Practical impact of lifestyle on metabolism and how metabolism impacts health, disease and performance outcomes
- Implementation of nutritional ketosis and metabolic health modulators across populations.
Courses Taught: Physiology of Exercise, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Research Methods, Research Practicum, Independent Research, Exercise Testing, Professional Certification, Independent Study, Dietary Supplements, Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases, Nutrition and Health
Areas of Expertise: Nutritional ketosis, Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Hemodynamic Responses to Exercise, Environmental Physiology, Body Composition, Clinical Populations, Research, Human Performance, Sports Nutrition, Applied Exercise and Sport Physiology, Dietary Supplements/Ergogenic Aids, Perceived Exertion and Applied Physiology of Tennis Performance.
What is the most important piece of advice you give students to help them succeed?
Do not be afraid to challenge traditionally held beliefs or dogmas in your field. Science is ever changing. Fifty percent of what you know is probably wrong. Our job as scientists and researchers is to try to figure out which 50% is which. Until it is disproven, accept that for which the evidence appears solid and logical and is free of covert or conflicts of interest. Do not ever dismiss lightly that for which there is credible evidence. Question everything else. Eventually the truth will always prevail. So always aim to be on the side of truth.
Selected Publications
- Dose response of a novel exogenous ketone supplement on physiological, perceptual and performance parameters. Nutrition & metabolism, 2020.
- The Effects of a Novel Quadrupedal Movement Training Program on Functional Movement, Range of Motion, Muscular Strength, and Endurance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2020.
- High Rates of Fat Oxidation Induced by a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet, Does Not Impair 5-km Running Performance in Competitive Recreational Athletes. Journal of Sport Science and Medicine, 2019.
- Effects of an Exogenous Ketone Supplement on Five-Kilometer Running Performance. Journal of Human Kinetics, 2019.
- The Effect of Caffeine Alone or as Part of a Multi-ingredient Pre-workout Supplement on Muscular Endurance in Recreationally Active College Males. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 2018.
- "Effects of Energy Drink Functional Ingredients on Running Performance." Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 2018.
- "Observer Estimation of OMNI Scale RPE during Fire Suppression Using Video-Graphic Analysis." Journal of Sport and Human Performance, 2017.
- "Reliability and Validity of a Shallow Water Running Test Using Healthy Adult Women." Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2016.
- "Energy Drinks Improve 5-km Running Performance in Recreational Endurance Runners." Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2016.
- "Pre-season Changes in Performance in Collegiate Women Tennis Players." Journal of Sport and Human Performance, 2015.
National Presentations (refereed)
- The Effects of Ketone Supplementation on Recovery in Collegiate Male Soccer Players: Pilot Trial. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2020).
- Dose Response of a Novel Exogenous Ketone Supplement on Physiological, Perceptual and
- Performance Parameters. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2020).
- The Effect of Exercise and Different Exercise Intensities on Executive Function in College-Aged Individuals. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2020).
- Effects of a Low Carbohydrate Diet Versus a High Carbohydrate Diet on 5-km Running Performance. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2019).
- Effects of a 6-week Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet on Lipid Profiles in Competitive Recreational Distance Runners. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2019).
- Effect of Different Exercise Modalities on Executive Function in College-Aged Individuals. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2019).
- Effects of a Novel Ground-Based Movement Training Program on Functional Movement, Flexibility, Strength and Endurance. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2019).
- Effects of an Exogenous Ketone Supplement on Running Performance. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2018).
- The Effect of a Three-Week 16/8 Time-Restricted Feeding Protocol on Executive Functioning, Body Composition, and Cardiometabolic Health in Apparently Healthy Normal Weight Female College-Aged Students. American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2018).
- "The Effect of Differing Fluid Replacement Strategies on Running Performance." American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2017).
- "The Acute Effect of Different Self-Myofascial Release Modalities on Anaerobic Sports Performance and Functional Movement." American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2017).
- "Effects of Different Exercise Modalities on Executive Cognitive Function." American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2017).
- "Effects of Energy Drink Functional Ingredients on Running Performance." American College of Sports Medicine Regional Meeting, Harrisburg, PA (2016).
- "Rest Interval Length Does Not Affect Total Exercise Volume during Lower Body Resistance Training." Poster presented at American College of Sports Medicine Mid Atlantic Regional Conference, Harrisburg, PA (2015).
- "Reliability and Validity of a Shallow Water Running Test Using Healthy Adult Women." American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (2015).
- "Indicators of Fatigue in Collegiate Women Tennis Players." National Strength and Conditioning Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV (2011).
Featured In
- “Why Caffeine Is the Best Thing That's Ever Happened to Your Workout.” Shape Magazine, 2016
- "How to Use Caffeine on Race Day." Outside, 2018.
Is there any additional personal experience you would like to share?
I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa. I was a former NCAA Division I collegiate tennis player at Georgia Southern University and top ten junior tennis player in South Africa. My hobbies and interests include running, playing tennis, reading, spending time with my family, and attending church.