Former Lab Members
Former Lab Members
DPT Students

Justin McCrary, DPT, MBA
Justin McCrary, DPT, MBA
ECU DPT Class of 2024
Capstone Research Project and Graduate Research Assistant: 2023-2024
Project: Skeletal Muscle Calcium Handling Regulation Across the Lifespan
Where is he now? Licensed and practicing DPT in NC.

Anna Webster, DPT
Anna Webster, DPT
ECU DPT Class of 2024
Project: Effect of Age and HIIT on Muscle Fiber Type and Cross-Sectional Area
Where is she now? Licensed and practicing DPT in NC.

Chris Bird, DPT
DPT Class of 2021
Chris Byrd, DPT
ECU DPT Class of 2021
Capstone Research Project and Graduate Research Assistant: 2020-2021
Research Project: Translational Models of Mouse Exercise and Transcriptomic Changes in Older Mice
Where is he now? Licensed and practicing DPT in North Carolina.
MS Students:

Justin Stephenson, MS
Justin Stephenson, MS
Master’s Thesis and Research Assistant 2023-2024
ECU Exercise Physiology MS Class of 2024
Project: Effect of HIIT on Cognitive Function
Where is he now? Doing a PhD in Human Bioenergetics with Dr. Linda May as advisor.
Gabe Gonzalez-Contreras, MS
Master’s Thesis: 2022-2023
MS Exercise Physiology Class of 2023
Project: “The Effects of Age on Endothelial Response to High Intensity Interval Training”
Where is he now? Working as an Exercise Physiologist Researcher at ECU!
Staff Members:

Megan Pajski, PhD
Megan L. Pajski, PhD
Lab Manager and Research Scientist: Summer 2020-Summer 2022
Projects: Too numerous to list!
Where is she now? Lab Manager at ThermoScientific
Undergraduates:

Ashby Dickerson
Exercise Physiology, Class of 2024
Project: Effect of HIIT on Capillarization, Muscle Fiber Type and Cross-Sectional Area and inter-rater reliability of immunohistochemistry data collection
Where is she now? Getting ready to start DPT school here at ECU in Fall 2025.

Hayden Carter, BS
Exercise Physiology, Class of 2024
Project: Brain Tissue Processing Techniques and intra-rater reliability of immunohistochemistry data collection
Where is he now? Attending DPT school at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC.

Emily Rust
Exercise Physiology, Class of 2023
Project: Effect of HIIT on Muscle Fiber Type and Cross-Sectional Area

Brandon Baucom
Exercise Physiology, Class of 2023
Project: Effect of HIIT on Cognitive Function
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Emily Bowser
Exercise Physiology, Class of 2023
Project: Effect of Age and HIIT on Muscle Fiber Type
Where is she now? Unknown.
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Shay (Catherine) Legget
Undergraduate Researcher: Fall 2022
ECU Kinesiology Program Class of 2023
Project: Brain Biomarkers Related to Aging and Exercise
Where is she now? Unknown.
Hill HollowellHill Hollowell, BS
ECU Exercise Physiology Class of 2022
Undergraduate Researcher: spring 2020 and spring 2022
Project: High Intensity Interval Training in Older Mice Restores Age-Related Alterations to Activity Patterns
Where is he now? Applying to Doctor of Physical (DPT) Therapy programs.
Nathalie Hemingway, BS
ECU Biology Class of 2022
Undergraduate Researcher: Fall 2021-Spring 2022
Project: Physiological Relevance of Gene Expression Changes during Aging Associated with Declining Physical Function
Where is she now? Applying to Physician’s Assistant programs

Adam Schmidt
Adam Schmidt, BS
ECU Exercise Physiology Class of 2023
Undergraduate Researcher: Fall 2021
Project: Optimizing Mass Spectrometry Protein Detection in Aging Mouse Muscle
Where is he now? Attending Doctor of Physical (DPT) Therapy school at East Carolina University.

Patrick Kerr, BS
Patrick Kerr, BS
ECU Exercise Physiology Class of 2022
Undergraduate Researcher: Fall 2021
Project: Muscle Calcium Handling Changes in Aging Mice
Where is he now? Working in cardiac rehab at Wake Hospital.

Anna Seguin, BS
Anna Seguin, BS Exercise Physiology Class of 2021
Affiliations: Honors College, Sigma Alpha Omega, Pre-PT Club
Undergraduate Researcher: 2020
Research Project: High Intensity Interval Training Endurance Exercise to Prevent Functional Decline in Older Mice
Where is she now? Graduated DPT school at East Carolina University, and now a practicing DPT.

Emily Seguin, BS
Emily Seguin, BS Exercise Physiology Class of 2021
Affiliations: Honors College, Sigma Alpha Omega, Pre-PT
Undergraduate Researcher: 2020
Research Project: Voluntary Wheel Running Endurance Exercise to Prevent Functional Decline in Older Mice
Where is she now? Graduated DPT school at East Carolina University, and now a practicing DPT.

Alyssa Fennell, BS
Alyssa Fennell, BS Exercise Science Class of 2021
Affiliations: Honors College
Undergraduate Researcher: 2020-2021
Research Project (Honor’s College Thesis Project): Efficacy of Exercise Modalities in Older and Adult Mice
Where is she now? Graduated DPT school at Western Carolina University, and now a practicing DPT.

Nainika Nandigama, BS
Nainika Nandigama, BS Major: Public Health; Minor: Biology Cl;ass of 2021
Affiliations: Honors College Chancellor’s Fellow
Undergraduate Researcher: 2019-2021
Research Project (Honor’s College Thesis Project): Exercise to Improve Age-Related Loss of Function and Corresponding Alterations in Gene Expression
Where is she now? Going to Medical School at Campbell University!