Dr. Sara Harper

Assistant Professor, Kinesiology

Contact

301 Sparkman Drive
Wilson Hall
Room 316
Huntsville, AL 35899
Campus Map

256.824.2184
sara.harper@uah.edu

Biography

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Research Webpage

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow II, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Ph.D., Exercise Physiology, Kent State Univsersity
  • M.S., Exercise Physiology, Kent State University
  • B.S., Physical Education, Kent State University

Honors & Awards

  • (2021) Utah State University Student Association, Distinguished Service Award Recipient
  • (2018) UAB Clinical Investigator Training Program
  • (2016 - 2017) Level III Leadership and Mentorship Program, Midwest American College of Sports Medicine (MWACSM)
  • (2016) Best Doctoral Student Poster Presentation, MWACSM
  • (2016) Graduate Student Volunteer of the Year Award, Kent State University (KSU)
  • (2015) Graduate Student Research Award Recipient, MWACSM
  • (2015) Regional President’s Cup Award, MWACSM
  • (2014) Outstanding Master Student, Department of Exercise Science
  • (2014) Best Master’s Student Presentation, Northeast Ohio Exercise Science Conference
  • (2012) Service and Leadership Award, College of Education, Health and Human Services (EHHS)

Affiliations

  • American College of Sports Medicine
  • Gerontological Society of America
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
  • Southeast American College of Sports Medicine Chapter
  • American Council of the Blind
  • International Code Council
  • Tennessee Valley Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
  • UAB Integrative Center for Aging Research

Research Funding

  • 2020-2021: American Heart Association, Postdoctoral Fellowship, role: PI, 20POST34990005, title: Resveratrol and exercise combined to enhance mitochondrial function among older adults ($131,356.00)
  • 2021: Utah State University, Research Catalyst program, role: Co-I., title: Establishing a neural marker for inhibitory control during balance recovery ($19,652.98)
  • 2021: Utah State University, Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity, role: Co-Mentor, title: The Effects of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries on Global Motor Control Deficit Measured by Motor Inhibition ($1,895.20)
  • 2021: Utah State University College of Education and Human Services, Undergraduate Research Grant, role: Co-Mentor, title: Blocking a balance recovery step ($1,740.00)
  • 2020: Utah State University, Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity, role: Co-Mentor, title: Developing a method to assess response inhibition during a balance recovery step ($2,000.00)
  • 2020: Utah State University, Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity, role: Co-Mentor, title: Mobile Device use's impact on handrail grasp and fall avoidance strategies ($2,000.00)
  • 2020: Utah State University Staff Employment Association, Professional Development Scholarship, role: PI support to present at the 2020 Keystone Symposia ($1,000.00)
  • 2018-2019: National Institutes of Health, T32HD071866 Interdisciplinary Training in Pathobiology and Rehabilitation Medicine Program Trainee, role: Trainee, Mentors: Dr. Thomas Buford, Co-mentors: Drs. Marcas Bamman, Gary Cutter ($87,879.00)
  • 2016: Ohio Parkinson Foundation Northeast Region, role: PI, dissertation, title: The influence of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on cognition, depression, quality of life, and motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's disease after dynamic cycling ($3,048.00)
  • 2015: Midwest American College of Sports Medicine, Graduate Student Research Award Recipient, role: PI, dissertation, title: The influence of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on cognition, depression, quality of life, and motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's disease after dynamic cycling ($500.00)

Recent Publications