KIP Newsblog

Author: Amy Evans

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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Title: A Week of Science, Exploration, and the Great Lakes

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Last week, I had the opportunity to blend professional growth with a bit of adventure during a short trip through Michigan. My journey began in Grand Rapids, where I attended the annual Midwest Chapter of American College of Sports Medicine (MWACSM) conference. It was an exciting and enlightening event where I had the chance to deliver a long-form professional presentation titled “Metabolic Cost of Human Locomotion: A Historical Review and Future Considerations.” Getting the experience to present and engage with a broad audience from undergraduate students to professionals in the field was rewarding and provided great opportunity for personal growth. The other highlight of the MWACSM conference was undoubtedly the keynote by Dr. Philip Skiba. His talk on Nike’s “Breaking Two” project—a quest to break the 2-hour marathon barrier—was inspiring and highlighted some of the most cutting edge work marrying engineering and science to optimize human performance.

From Grand Rapids, I then headed to Ann Arbor to attend the Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) conference. Here, I presented a poster on my current research titled “Human Powered Locomotion on Variable Terrain: Implications for How to Move on Mars.” The interdisciplinary nature of the conference made it incredibly enjoyable. Presentations ranged from hard engineering to deep space science to ecology and biomechanics, fostering conversations that bridged numerous fields of research. It was refreshing to be part of such a diverse gathering of minds, all united by a common curiosity for the unknown.

Figure 1: The poster presented at the Michigan Space Grant Consortium Conference held October 19th 2024 in Ann Arbor, MI.

This trip was not just a personal and professional milestone but also an opportunity to represent Michigan Tech and the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP). By presenting my research, I had the chance to showcase our work to undergraduates and other attendees from around the region. I hope that sharing cutting-edge topics and insights with future scientists and researchers could inspire collaborations both within and outside the department and university.

To cap off the trip, I embarked on a mini adventure. Driving back home, I took a scenic route that allowed me to touch three of the Great Lakes in a single day—Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Feeling the cool water from each of these massive lakes was a grounding experience, a reminder of the vast and varied landscapes that define this region.

All in all, the trip was a perfect mix of professional development, scientific inspiration, and personal exploration.

Submitted by Kyle Wehmanen

Figure 2: Scenes from my visit to three Great Lakes on the return trip to Houghton. The photo on the left is from near Lake Huron and the photo on the right, Lake Michigan.
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KIP Students Attend the 11th Annual Michigan Physiological Society (MPS) Conference

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KIP doctoral students Gregory Miodonski and Oluwatosin Oyeniran attended the 11th Annual Michigan Physiological Society (MPS) Conference hosted by Oakland University, Rochester Hills, Michigan. The event featured participation from eleven institutions including Michigan Technological University and was held from Monday June 24th to Tuesday June 25th, 2024.

One of the highlights of the conference was when Oluwatosin presented his research, titled “Classroom Techniques for Teaching Skeletal Muscle Contraction”. This project supervised by Dr. Steven Elmer 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 a poster presentation

Another important highlight of the conference were the keynote lectures from eminent speakers including Emeritus Professor John Williams from the University of Michigan who took the audience on a journey through his life as a physiologist in his talk titled, “The Pancreas and Me”. The Physiology Trivia Competition was also a fascinating session as it refreshes our understanding of basic physiology. Furthermore, the professional development series was very enriching as it offers new perspectives and approaches to learning, teaching, and career development.

Moreover, doctoral students Gregory Miodonski and Oluwatosin Oyeniran had the privilege to moderate the oral presentation session on Strength, Reproduction, and Integrative Physiology. Speaking on their experience, Gregory stated, “It’s no accident that the MPS is arguably the most active APS  chapter–it takes a lot of work to keep physiologists, trainees, and our communities involved throughout the year. Our annual meeting in particular requires everyone to chip in, and it was a pleasure to do my part”.

On the other hand, Oluwatosin stated, “Moderating an oral presentation session and presenting my research findings to a large scientific and academic audience was both fulfilling and fabulous. The feedback I got from the participants was highly beneficial, bringing out novel ideas and roadmaps for future studies.

Furthermore, the MPS conference was a great opportunity to meet and network with graduate students in physiology, mentors and advisors, early career researchers, and possible future research collaborators. We 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 our research and careers.

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