Dr. Sara Harper Assistant Professor, Kinesiology Contact 301 Sparkman DriveWilson HallRoom 316Huntsville, AL 35899 Campus Map 256.824.2184sara.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 Bolton DAE, Baggett CC, Mitton CA, Harper SA, Richardson JK. Suppressing a blocked balance recovery step: A novel method to assess an inhibitory postural response. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 1488. Abugu E, Harper SA, Kim Y, Bolton DAE. Cortical activation when inhibiting a compensatory step. Gait & Posture. In press. Brown CB, Barrett TS, Long C, Corbridge S, Braeger A, Zollinger BJ, Hale AE, Harrison K, Poulsen SL, Boman T, Dakin CJ, Harper SA. Step edge highlighters and illuminance changes influence stair descent in a real-world setting. Ergonomics. Harper SA, Thompson BJ. Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase. Frontiers in Aging – Musculoskeletal Aging. Accepted Sep 2022. Harper SA, Long C, Corbridge S, Barrett, TS, Braeger A, Zollinger BJ, Hale AE, Brown CB, Harrison K, Poulsen SL, Boman T, Dakin CJ. Stairway visual contrast enhancement to reduce fall-related events. J Ergonomics 2022;12(303). Rowley MA, Warner J, Harper SA, Beethe AZ, Whelan R, Ruddy KL, Bolton DAE. A method to assess response inhibition during a balance recovery step. Gait & posture 2022. PMID: 35453084. Lavin KM, Coen PM, Baptista LC, Bell MB, Drummer D, Harper SA, Lixandrão ME, McAdam JS, O'Bryan SM, Ramos S, Roberts LM, Vega RB, Goodpaster BH, Bamman MM, Buford TW. State of Knowledge on Molecular Adaptations to Exercise in Humans: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions. Compr Physiol. 2022;12(2):3193-279. PMID: 35578962; PMCID: 9186317. Harper SA, Corbridge S, Long C, Barrett TS, Braeger A, Zollinger BJ, Hale AE, Brown CB, Harrison K, Poulsen SL, Boman T, Dakin CJ. Safe stairway negotiation: distraction's influence on handrail use and successful stairway negotiation. Journal of Safety Research. 2022 Sep; 82:314-322. PMID: 36031259. Harper SA, Thompson BJ. Potential benefits of a minimal dose eccentric resistance training paradigm to combat sarcopenia and age-related muscle and physical function deficits in older adults. Frontiers in Physiology. 2021;12. PMID: 34916963. Harper SA, Peters FJ, Pollock BS, Burns KJ, McDaniel J, Ridgel AL. Design of an eccentric recumbent ergometer to elicit delayed onset muscle soreness. Research Directs in Health Science. 2021;1(1). PMID: 34368818.
