Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Department of Exercise Science at Grove City College offers students the opportunity to conduct meaningful, relevant research alongside experienced and accomplished faculty. All exercise science students are required to design, plan, and execute a research project.

In addition to Research Methods and Research Practicum requirements, students have the opportunity to work with professional researchers and as subjects through independent studies and through professorial research.

Notable Research Projects & Presentations 

• “High Rates of Fat Oxidation Induced by a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet, Does Not Impair 5-km Running Performance in Competitive Recreational Athletes” published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine
• “Effects of an Exogenous Ketone Supplement on Five-Kilometer Running Performance” published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• “Pre-season Changes in Performance in Collegiate Women Tennis Players” published in the Journal of Sport and Human Performance
• “Energy Drinks Improve Five-Kilometer Running Performance in Recreational Endurance Runners” published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• “Observer estimation of OMNI scale RPE during a fire fighter skills test using video-graphic analysis” published in the Journal of Sport and Human Performance
• “Reliability and accuracy of a standardized shallow water running test to determine cardiorespiratory fitness” published in Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
• “Effects of Energy Drink Functional Ingredients on Running Performance”
• “The Effect of Differing Fluid Replacement Strategies on Running Performance” published in the International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings
• “The Acute Effect of Different Self-Myofascial Release Modalities on Anaerobic Sports Performance and Functional Movement” published in the International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings
• “The Effect of Caffeine Alone or as Part of a Multi-ingredient Pre-workout Supplement on Muscular Endurance in Recreationally Active College Males” published in the Journal of Exercise and Nutrition

View a comprehensive overview of current and past research conducted by the Grove City College Department of Exercise Science.

Watch Research Studies in Action

• Maximal Exercise Test #1 (VO2max Astrand Protocol)
• Maximal Exercise Test #2 (VO2max Astrand Protocol)
• 5-km Running Time Trial Protocol 

Research with Tim Noakes, M.D., Ph.D.

Grove City College's Department of Exercise Science is honored to be collaborating with world-renowned exercise scientist and researcher Tim Noakes, M.D., Ph.D. Professor Noakes is a South African scientist and an emeritus professor in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town. He has published more than 750 scientific books and articles on exercise and diet. He has been cited more than 16,000 times in scientific literature, has an H-index of 71, and has been rated an A1 scientist by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.

Dr. Philip Prins of Grove City College is currently working with Professor Noakes on a project entitled “The Effects of a Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet versus a High Carbohydrate Diet on Physical Performance, Exercise Metabolism, and Cardiometabolic Health in Male Recreational Endurance Runners." 

Watch an interview with Dr. Tim Noakes.