Associate Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Chad Kerksick was invited to speak at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements on October 21. The invitation will give Kerksick an opportunity to represent Lindenwood University’s Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory (EPNL) on a national stage.
The invitation from the NIH is recognition of more than a decade of research conducted by Lindenwood’s EPNL. Since opening in 2015, the students and employees working in the lab have contributed to more than 100 publications while generating external funding for the University. While the EPNL is known for conducting clinical research, often related to dietary ingredients and supplements, Kerksick said the laboratory’s central purpose has always been to give students the opportunity to put their classroom learning into practice.
Students working in the EPNL are encouraged to take an active role in research. Kerksick said the laboratory is designed to train students in any research discipline that they are willing to learn. The EPNL has supported student research in exercise science, chemistry, biology, and psychology, among other fields. “Our philosophy is to truly use the research process as an opportunity to give students research experience and organic opportunities to learn,” Kerksick said. Through hands-on research and participation in the publishing process, students develop communication techniques and other skills that can set them apart in applications and interviews.
Kerksick views the NIH invitation as an opportunity to showcase the EPNL’s research accomplishments and the experiences it provides for students. “People may look at publications and grants and think that number means something,” Kerksick said. “In reality, it is the number of contact hours, the number of students who work in the lab and get PhD opportunities that make a difference.” The student-centered emphasis reflects Lindenwood’s commitment to giving real experience that leads to academic and career success.