School of Kinesiology > Research Laboratories and Centers > LIHP
Personnel
Faculty
Donald Dengel, Ph.D.
Donald Dengel, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the
University of Minnesota and a Research Scientist at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
He serves as the Director of the Human Performance Core and Densitometry Services at
the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which provides clinical cardiovascular,
metabolic and body composition testing for researchers across the University of
Minnesota. Dr. Dengel also directs the Human Performance Teaching Laboratory for
the School of Kinesiology, which is one of the leading teaching facilities for both human
and exercise physiology as well as anatomy and biomechanics laboratory methods in the
United States.
Dr. Dengel has published over 80 scientific manuscripts and 3 book chapters in the area of insulin sensitivity, oxygen uptake kinetics and vascular structure and function in both children and adults. He is the principal investigator or co-investigator on a series of grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute to explore the development of cardiovascular disease and the metabolic syndrome in adolescent and adult cancer survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other cancers as well as obese adolescents. In addition, Dr. Dengel is funded to examine the effects of obesity on peripheral and cerebral vascular function in obese adolescents and adults. Dr. Dengel is a Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine as well as the Fellow in American Heart Association’s Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism.
Staff
Joe Harmon
LIHP manager
Joe Harmon is the laboratory manager for the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology. In addition, he is in charge of the day to day operations of the Human Performance Lab.
Brittney Nelson
Exercise Coordinator for the General Clinical Research Center
Brittney Nelson is the Exercise Coordinator for the Masonic Clinical Research Unit (MCRU). Brittney received her Master's degree from Minnesota State University in Clinical Exercise Physiology. She is H/FI certified through ACSM and is a certified CPR instructor. Brittney is in charge of scheduling and conducting the exercise testing that is done in the lab.
Students
Graduate assistant, Ph.D. student
Tyler is doctoral candidate working under Dr. Donald Dengel. He received his B.A. in Biology from Saint John’s University and his M.A. in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. His Master’s thesis compared the changes in heart rate variability and blood pressure variability during head-up tilt table testing and nitroglycerin dosing. He is currently researching childhood obesity, specifically the etiology of obesity and the role of visceral fat. Tyler is a teaching assistant for Dr. George Biltz’s human physiology class.
Graduate assistant, Ph.D. student
Justin is a doctoral candidate working under Dr. Donald Dengel. He received his B.S. in Preventive and Rehabilitative Exercise Science and his M.S.ed. in Exercise Physiology from Northern Illinois University. His Masters’ thesis compared two modalities of speed training in 8-12 year old males over a 10-week speed and strength training program. His current research interests at the University of Minnesota focus on blood flow alterations due to obesity and traumatic brain injury.
Teaching assistant
Kara Marlatt is a doctoral candidate under the supervision of Dr. Donald Dengel. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Carleton College in 2005, and completed her Master of Science degree in Kinesiology (emphasis in exercise physiology) at the University of Minnesota. She is currently a teaching assistant for the Kinesiology department’s Human Anatomy course. Her research interests at the University of Minnesota are within vascular function of overweight/obese children and adolescents, as well as both peripheral and cerebral vascular dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors.
Graduate assistant, Ph.D. student
Meghan is a doctoral candidate working under Dr. Donald Dengel. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2005. She is currently a teaching assistant for the School of Kinesiology's Human Physiology and Exercise Physiology courses. Her research interests at the University of Minnesota focus on microvascular function evaluation in both adolescents and adults.
Graduate assistant, M.S. student
Joe is a masters candidate working under Dr. Donald Dengel. He received his B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry from Evangel University. His current research interests at the University of Minnesota have yet to be defined.
Graduate assistant, M.S. student
Natalie Taylor is an Exercise Physiology masters student under the supervision of Dr. Donald Dengel. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Winona State University in 2010. She is currently a teaching assistant for Dr. George Biltz’s human anatomy course. Her current research interests at the University of Minnesota are yet to be determined.
Research assistant, Ph.D. candidate
Erik VanIterson is a doctoral candidate working under the supervision of Dr. Alan Bank of United Heart and Vascular Clinic and Dr. Donald Dengel here at the "U". He holds degrees in M.S. Exercise Physiology, M.A. Biology, and B.S. Human Physiology. He is a research scientist at United Heart and Vascular Clinic, concentrating on the benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy to heart failure patients. Results will be based on echocardiographic, clinical, and mortality outcomes. Additional research studies include exploring acute and chronic hemodynamic changes through varying pacing configurations and implantable counterpulsation devices.