KIP Newsblog

KIP Students Attend the 2026 American Physiological Society (APS) Summit

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Doctoral candidate Gregory Miodonski, master’s student Derrick Simet, both from the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP), and undergraduate student Daniel Heaman (Human Biology), attended the American Physiological Society (APS) Summit held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 23-26, 2026. The summit brought together researchers, faculty, and students from across the globe to share advancements in physiology and related biomedical sciences.

A highlight of the conference was the opportunity for all three students to present their research during the poster sessions. Gregory Miodonski presented his project titled “Sex Differences in the PVN Orexin Mediated Sympathoexcitatory & Pressor Responses,” focusing on how orexin signaling in the paraventricular nucleus contributes to cardiovascular regulation.

Daniel Heaman presented “Central Amygdala Ethanol and Acetate Microinjection Affect Sympathetic Nerve Activity in a Sex-Dependent Manner,” which investigates how ethanol and its metabolite acetate influence neural regulation of sympathetic activity differently between sexes.

Derrick Simet presented “Orexin Dependent Increase of Aquaporin-4 Expression in the PVN and Potential Contributions Toward OX1R-Induced Elevated Blood Pressure in Sprague Dawley Rats,” exploring molecular mechanisms of astrocytes underlying blood pressure regulation.

In addition to presenting, the students attended a variety of scientific sessions throughout the summit. One particularly engaging session, “Neural, Endocrine, and Renal Influences on Cardiovascular Pathophysiology,” highlighted the complex interactions between physiological systems in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Reflecting on the experience, they noted that presenting at APS provided valuable opportunities to engage with fellow physiologists and former Michigan Tech colleagues, receive constructive feedback, and gain new perspectives for future research. Discussions with other attendees helped refine ideas and offered insight into future directions for their work.

Outside of the conference, the group also explored Minneapolis and enjoyed experiencing local restaurants.

Attendance at the APS Summit was made possible through funding support from Michigan Technological University’s Health Research Institute. The experience provided an important opportunity for KIP students to share their research, build professional connections, and engage with current developments in the field of physiology.

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Houghton Elementary Wellness Night

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Students in Breanne Carlson’s KIP 1500 Foundations of Kinesiology and KIP 4350 Motor Development courses recently participated in Houghton Elementary’s Wellness Night, engaging local youth and families in interactive movement-based activities, promoting the use of both fine and gross motor skills. The event provided an opportunity to apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting while promoting health, fitness, and wellness education within the community.

“I loved seeing how excited the kids were to move and try new skills. It was a powerful reminder that what we learn in class directly translates into meaningful community impact. I found it especially interesting to observe how children of different ages and ability levels approached various fine and gross motor tasks and to connect those observations back to our classroom content. I also really enjoyed integrating the educational component at the end, which allowed us to connect theory to practice in real time!” – Jadyn Calhoun (KIP 4350 Motor Development Student)

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Student Daniel Heaman Recevies Award for Research Presentation

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Daniel Heaman, a biological sciences undergraduate student, recently presented his research from Dr. Qing-Hui Chen’s Laboratory at Michigan Technological University’s 2025 Fall Health Research Institute (HRI) Student Forum. Here, undergraduate and graduate students from laboratories across campus come together to share their research. For his poster presentation on the sex-dependent metabolism of alcohol in the brain, Daniel received highest marks & received first prize. The alcohol metabolism project Daniel works on is a collaborative effort with Dr. Andrew Chapp (MTU 2017), an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Chen (left) with Daniel Heaman (right) at Poster Presentation

Abstract

Central Amygdala Ethanol Microinjection Affects Activation of Splanchnic Sympathetic Nerves in Sprague-Dawley Rats in a Sex Dependent Manner

The central amygdala (CeA) plays a critical role in integrating emotional and autonomic responses, including sympathetic outflow. Ethanol is known to influence amygdalar activity and autonomic regulation, but potential sex differences in its central effects remain unclear. This study examined the influence of ethanol microinjection into the CeA on splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) in male and female rats. Adult male and female Sprague–Dawley rats (n=3 for each group) were anesthetized using urethane and α-chloralose. Using a recording electrode placed on the splanchnic sympathetic nerve, SSNA was continuously recorded. Following baseline recording, 1.7 µmol of ethanol was bilaterally microinjected directly into the CeA. Nerve activity was monitored for approximately 2 hours post-injection. SSNA responses were quantified as the percent change from baseline. Ethanol administration in the CeA produced an excitatory effect on SSNA in both sexes, but the magnitude of response was significantly greater in females. Females displayed a significantly greater SSNA response to ethanol (133.6 ± 30.24 %) compared to males (74.96 ± 11.63 %) relative to baseline. This data indicates that ethanol acts within the CeA to elevate sympathetic drive, with a more pronounced
effect in females. Microinjection of ethanol into the CeA elicits a robust increase in splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity, demonstrating the CeA’s pivotal role in central autonomic regulation. The exaggerated response in females suggests sex-dependent differences in CeA sensitivity to ethanol, potentially reflecting hormonal modulation of CeA circuitry or neurotransmitter systems influencing sympathetic output. These findings provide new insight into the neural mechanisms by which ethanol modulates autonomic activity and highlight the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in studies of central ethanol effects.

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KIP Doctoral Student Elected as GSG Vice President

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Oluwatosin Oyeniran, a doctoral student in Integrative Physiology, has been elected to
serve as Vice President of the Michigan Technological University Graduate Student
Government (GSG) for the 2025–2026 academic year.


In this capacity, he supports the President in fulfilling the organization’s mission and
assumes key leadership responsibilities as necessary. He also spearheads targeted
initiatives designed to enhance graduate student experience while ensuring continuity
and effective governance within the GSG.

Oluwatosin Oyeniran


Oyeniran’s engagement with graduate student governance began in February 2024,
when he was elected as the departmental representative for Kinesiology and Integrative
Physiology. In April 2024, he was further elected to the GSG Executive Board as
Research Chair, a role in which he served before being re-elected by the graduate
student body to his current position as Vice President in April 2025.


His one-year term as Vice President extends from May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026.

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Exercise Science Professors Practice What They Preach

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Dr. William Cooke (KIP professor) and Dr. Isaac Wedig (former KIP graduate student and assistant professor NMU) competed in the OCB Natural Michigan bodybuilding championships. The Organization of Competitive Bodies (OCB) is dedicated to the development and presentation of the natural physique. Performance enhancing drugs are not allowed in OCB competitions.

Dr. Cooke place 2nd in the 50+ division, 3rd in the 40+ division, and 5th in the open division.

Dr. Wedig placed 1st in the open division and won his OCB pro card.

Dr. Wedig center, Dr. Cooke far right
Dr. Wedig left, Dr. Cooke right
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KIP Graduate Student Attends 72nd Annual American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Atlanta, Georgia

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Third year KIP doctoral student, Kyle Wehmanen, recently returned from attending the 72nd Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This year’s conference was held in Atlanta Georgia, home of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a keystone of the Civil Rights Movement, and birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.

A big highlight of the trip was when Kyle presented his research, titled “Twenty Year Performance Trends in the Arrowhead 135 Winter Ultra-Endurance Race.” This data explores a portion of Kyle’s dissertation work which seeks to determine if a particular mode of travel (e.g., bicycles, XC-skis) offers a performance advantage when humans travel long distances on packed snow. Describing his presentation experience, Kyle said, “Sharing portions of my dissertation research, for which I’ve worked so hard, with a new, interested, and inquisitive audience was fun and invigorating. I met some wonderful people and possibly made contacts that will lead to future collaborations.”

Kyle Wehmanen presenting his research

The conference was also a fantastic opportunity for Kyle to catch up with several of his committee members in person and listen to them present on their cutting edge work. This included listening to Dr. Shalaya Kipp speak on her respiratory research which she conducts at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

In the time away from the conference, Kyle took opportunity to explore Atlanta and was even able to attend a Braves’ baseball game at Truist Park in the vibrant Battery Atlanta complex. Although the Braves lost, it was amazing to visit one of the newest ballparks in America.

View of the field from inside Truist Park, Atlanta Georgia

In the end, spending four days in Atlanta at the ACSM annual meeting was a great opportunity for this KIP graduate student to share their research and learn from the best in the field. The speakers, panel discussions, and poster presented by others at the conference covered a wide range of topics and offered ample opportunity to learn about new and exciting topics across realms of physiology. Overall, the trip to Atlanta was an illuminating experience and it reinforced the importance of contributing to the field while providing new tools and connections to do so.

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KIP Student Attends the American Physiological Society (APS) 2025 Summit

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KIP doctoral student Oluwatosin Oyeniran attended the American Physiological Society (APS) 2025 Summit held at the Baltimore Convention Centre, Baltimore, Maryland. The event featured participation from several academic, professionals, and students from across the globe and was held from April 24-27, 2025.

One of the highlights of the conference was when Oluwatosin presented his research, titled “Classroom Techniques for Teaching Skeletal Muscle Contraction”. This project explores the alternative teaching (hands-on or active learning) approaches that can be employed to skeletal muscles to students across different levels.

Oluwatosin Oyeniran delivering his poster presentation

Another important highlight of the summit were the inspiring keynote lectures from eminent speakers including Emeritus Professor James Rothman, PhD, Professor George Brooks, PhD, FAPS, and Professor Holly Ingraham, PhD. The summit also encompasses eight game-changer sessions, 80 foundational science sessions, poster receptions, the PhysioHub, and exciting social events.

Moreover, other APS Summit attendees from Michigan Technological University who attended and presented exciting research include Derrick Simet (MS student, Biological Sciences), and Jenna Disser (PhD student, Biological Sciences).

Derrick Simet, Jenna Disser, and Oluwatosin Oyeniran

Speaking on his experience, Oluwatosin stated “Presenting my research findings in the poster session to a large scientific and academic audience was both exciting and fulfilling. The feedback I got from the participants was highly beneficial, bringing out novel ideas and roadmaps for future studies.

Furthermore, the APS Summit was an awesome opportunity to meet and network with students in physiology and other biomedical sciences, mentors and advisors, early career researchers, and possible future research collaborators. I also had a great time interacting with other graduate students, faculty, and keynote speakers, while discussing and learning about ongoing projects and cross-exchanging ideas to help advance my research and career.”

Oluwatosin Oyeniran and faculty from the Oakland University, Michigan

Outside of the summit, Oluwatosin and Derrick also took the opportunity to explore the rich culture of Baltimore, as they visited the Inner Harbour, and the National Aquarium, Baltimore.

Oluwatosin Oyeniran at the National Aquarium, Baltimore
Oluwatosin Oyeniran at the Inner Harbour, Baltimore

In summary, attending the APS 2025 Summit was a great opportunity for KIP graduate students to share their research, network and learn from the research of others in the field. Most importantly, the keynote speeches, research presentations, and professional development series covered a wide range of topics, from the latest advances in physiology to groundbreaking approaches to health and medicine. Overall, the summit was truly enriching, and it reinforced the need to constantly contribute to the field of physiology, while providing novel strategies and opportunities to do so. Lastly, Oluwatosin sincerely appreciates the support of his advisor, Dr. William Cooke, and the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, for their funding and support towards his participation in the APS 2025 Summit.

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Upper Peninsula Adaptive Track & Field Clinic Held at MTU

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On Saturday, February 22, 2025, adaptive athletes from across the Upper Peninsula gathered at the MTU Student Development Center for an Adaptive Track and Field Clinic, co-sponsored by KIP. This clinic was hosted by “I Am An Athlete Too”, a nonprofit established by Houghton native Maria Velat to lobby the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to create an adaptive division for middle and high school track and field, and to raise up and support adaptive athletes to join their school sports teams. The clinic was led by Amie Day, a Paralympian and track coach for the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, as well as the University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness department.  Athletes, coaches, family members and support personnel learned about the basics of racing, how to maintain equipment, how to cultivate an athlete mindset and deal with stress, and modified strength and conditioning programs. The day ended with a mini-track meet! KIP students volunteered to make the day a resounding success!

Adaptive Track & Field Clinic Volunteers and Participants
Adaptive Track & Field Seminar Information Session

“I volunteered to help set up for the track and field clinic and have also volunteered with Maria at her other adaptive sports events like the E.L.K. Sled hockey event. It is truly amazing to see the impact that “I Am An Athlete Too” and E.L.K. have on the adaptive athlete community. It is always so much fun volunteering and participating in these events,” says Ella House a KIP Exercise Science Student. ‘It was great to see so many people supporting our local adaptive athletes. I learned a lot about racing chair maintenance, adapting workouts, and local opportunities for adaptive athletics. Overall a good experience both as a volunteer and as a community member”, says Leah Berkey a KIP Exercise Science Student.

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