Physiology

Muscle Biophysics Laboratory

Directed by Dr. Edward (Ned) Debold, the Muscle Biophysics lab focuses on identifying the root molecular mechanisms of muscular fatigue and heart disease. Whole muscle movements are ultimately derived from nano-scale motions of a muscle's motor enzyme, myosin at the molecular level. Myosin generates force and motion while strongly bound to actin powered by ATP hydrolysis. Advances in single molecule biophysical techniques have provided researchers with the ability to directly observe these nano-meter scale motions of myosin, offering unprecedented insight into the molecular function of muscle. These advances are also helping to reveal the root molecular causes of muscle dysfunction such as heart failure and muscular fatigue. 

A three-bead single molecule laser trap assay. An actin filament attached to two glass beads held in optical traps are brought into contact with a third bead sparsely coated with myosin.

To learn more about the Muscle Biophysics lab, explore https://www.umass.edu/musclebiophy/index.html

Muscle Physiology Laboratory

Directed by Dr. Mark Miller, the Muscle Biology lab conducts research on single muscle fibers at the cellular level and examines the effects on the body at the whole muscle level. The lab is conducting research on sex-specific counter measures with different exercise interventions to prevent age related decreases in muscle performance regarding each sex. In order to find sex-specific counter measures from exercise interventions, biopsies are performed to extract bundles of muscle fibers. Single muscle fibers are then removed from the bundle and examined using advanced engineering methods to measure muscle function at the cellular level.

Process in which a single muscle fiber is attained and measured: 1) Biopsie is conducted on the thigh; 2) Muscle bundle is organized and dissected; 3) Single fiver is extracted from bundle and T-clips are attached; 4) Fiber is set on hooks; 5) Fiber is measured 

Assistant Professor: Mark Miller

Education

With plans to become an astronaut, Mark
Miller received a Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Miller worked at NASA-Ames Research Center as an Engineering Intern in Moffett Field, California and then NASA-Johnson Space Center as a Visiting Researcher in Houston, Texas. While working at the NASA facilities, he noticed the lack of people that combined biology and engineering at that point in time. Miller attended the University of Vermont to complete his Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering, with research focusing on locomotor activity of fruit flies during microgravity and hypergravity exposure. With his experience working with animal and fly tissue, Miller decided to apply his knowledge into human tissue as a post-doctoral fellow, assisting in research at the University of Vermont. Miller began his work as Assistant Professor at UMass Amherst in 2014 and is currently working to attain academic tenure.

Current Position

As an Associate Professor, Miller writes and applies for grants in order to fund the research and to pay students (doctoral, masters, undergraduate research assistants) post-docs, and himself. On top of writing for grants, Miller teaches graduate level courses, provides service to the community, and hosts an undergraduate intern. The undergraduate intern has been working under Miller in the Muscle Biology Laboratory starting from freshman year. From experience in the lab, the intern has received a "Rising Researcher Honor", and had opportunities over the past few summers as a payed-researcher.

"Many people that come into the lab don't have the wet lab experience and haven't looked through microscopes all day. That's something you either like or don't like"

UMass, similar to most other universities pays nine months of Miller's salary to teach, interact with students, and provide a service to the community. The other three months of the year in the summer are payed through "soft money" which is money compensated through obtained grants. In order to receive tenure at UMass, he must graduate enough graduate students from the Muscle Biology Laboratory, and apply for enough grants in a certain amount of time.

Doctoral Student: Aurora Foster

Education

Aurora spent one year at Mount Holyoke College and transferred to the UMass Amherst to pursue a
Kinesiology degree. As an undergraduate student at UMass, Aurora was involved as a research assistant and teaching assistant both in which, she enjoyed doing. These positions on top of her curiosity, were the factors that led Aurora to further her education to the graduate level. 

"The reason I got into this position was because of exposure...I definitely made an effort to get to know the people in the department"

After three years at UMass, Aurora graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. In the beginning stages of Aurora's Masters education, she was the primary contributor to the start-up of the Muscle Biology Lab as the first graduate student under Miller. Aurora's Masters thesis explored the mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue in skeletal fibers of older men and women, and the fatigue-mitigating effects of dATP. At the beginning of 2019, she completed her Master's degree. Currently as a graduate student, Aurora assists in general lab upkeep, oversees undergraduate research and teaching assistants, and collects data for large government grants acquired by Miller as well as for her own studies. Aurora is also a teaching associate, directing entire courses and has developed and taught an online course alongside a university lecturer. Aurora is now in the beginning stages of attaining her doctorate degree.

Future & Careers

After completing her doctorate degree from UMass, Aurora hopes to become an instructor at the university level to be academically involved with undergraduate students and less  involved with research. 

Science policy was of particular interest for Aurora as well. Science policy is an area of public policy that effects the rules and regulations of science and research. Communication in this regard is essential in order to translate science research to policy makers and to make sense of policies to scientists. Aurora hopes to use her acquired critical thinking, writing, and presenting skills from graduate school to influence public policy for the physical well being of the general public.

Project Coordinator: Caroline Pellegrini 

Education

Caroline originally started off as a Biology major at UMass Amherst, but switched to Kinesiology after realizing she wanted to study the human body at a whole body level. While pursuing her Kinesiology degree as an undergraduate student, Public Policy was of particular interest to Caroline, as she enjoys using her coordinating and administrative skills to help people at a larger scale. Caroline graduated from UMass with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. 

Current Position

Caroline works full-time as the Project Coordinator for the Muscle Biology Laboratory. As the project coordinator, she recruits participants, schedules appointments, and conducts exercise training sessions three times a week for sixteen weeks. During the recruiting process, Caroline advertises the study to participants via fliers and social media and screens participants to ensure suitability. Caroline schedules the four pre-visits, sixteen weeks of exercise training, and three post-visits consisting of MRI scans, DEXA scans, blood draws, and biopsies. Along with scheduling, she coordinates with the Physical Activity and Health Lab to put protocols together for undergraduates to analyze data. Safety precautions and motivational factors are considered during each exercise training session. On exercise training days the participants warm up for five minutes on a bike to perform three exercises, leg press, leg extension, and leg flexion. Each leg is trained differently for each participant, making each participant their own control subject. One leg lifts heavy weights (80% 1RM) slowly for three sets of eight, with the other leg lifting lighter weights (40% 1RM) quickly for three sets of sixteen. The hypothesis is that women will respond better to power training and men will will respond better to strength training.

Future
Caroline is using this experience to figure out what she likes in future careers for herself. She has no strict plans for the future and considers herself someone who is interested in a lot of different things which is why she enjoys working as a Project Coordinator. Currently, Caroline is applying to a few other Project Coordinator positions.

"I like the idea of being able to get creative and market things but also still be in an athletic environment".

In the future, Caroline hopes to pursue a Masters Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, or Kinesiology.

Laboratory Technician: Anudeep Jala

Education

Anudeep graduated from the honors program at UMass with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and two minors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate student, Anudeep was
involved in a Biology lab in which he didn't enjoy due to the individualized-nature of work. He transferred over to the Muscle Biology lab and has enjoyed the teamwork required between lab members and with other kinesiology labs.

"I've come to appreciate research so much more because I realized the depth within research but also the teamwork involved between kinesiology labs as well as other professionals like MRI technicians, and physicians."

Current Position
As a Laboratory Technician, Anudeep is a full time employee under the lab and his role is heavily dependent on his wet lab skills, directly working with the muscle fibers and solution in which it is settled in. Before he can perform his job, another technician must extract individual muscle fibers from the muscle bundle. Then, Anudeep solely fixes muscle fibers and pours solution on both ends of each individual fiber to prevent it from tearing. The fixed muscle fiber is then given to another technician to test the fiber's tension, force production, etc. Seeing that Anudeep's role is in the middle of the process and errors in previous steps can affect the next technician, teamwork in this area of the lab is crucial.

Future & Advice
Anudeep plans on pursuing a Medical school degree since he has been accepted into several Medical School programs already. From Anudeep's volunteer experience abroad in India, he realized the extent to which healthcare is underserved in other countries which reinstalled his values for why he wanted to work in healthcare.

"I believe if you want to go into healthcare, it's because you genuinely want to help people and make a positive difference".

Although Anudeep is confident in his decision to pursue medical school, he advocates taking time before committing to a career in order to realize what truly sparks your interest when thinking about careers.

To learn more about the Muscle Biology lab, explore https://www.facebook.com/umassMBL/

Muscle Physiology Laboratory

Directed by Dr. Jane Kent, The Muscle Physiology lab conducts research on the effects of age, gender, and physical activity in human skeletal muscle function and intramuscular fatigue. Compared to the Muscle Biology lab that works with muscle fibers primarily at the cellular level, the Muscle Physiology lab works with whole muscles "in vivo", directly translating to "within the living". Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), the muscle physiology lab is able to obtain images of muscles within the body and measure the chemical metabolism within the muscle. Exercises are conducted within the magnet to measure the use of energy substrates.

Masters Student: Christopher (Chris) Hayden 

Education

From Springfield College, Chris graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. The coursework at Springfield College trained and taught him for the applied science professions like strength and conditioning and personal training. Over the summer prior to beginning his master's degree, Chris underwent an internship under the Institute of Applied Life Sciences, Human Testing Center Director, Michael Busa.

Current Project

As a graduate student, Chris must propose and defend his research study which aims to compare the functionality of accelerometer with portable calorimeters and room calorimeters which measure inhalation and exhalation of heat from the body. The application of portable calorimeters for long durations is not feasible due to the discomfort of being attached to the subject similar to a V02 max test. On the other hand, a room calorimeter is a chamber measures oxygen inhalation and carbon dioxide exhalation for a longer period of time without any implements physically attached to the body. With the use of the room calorimeter, and accelerometers from the Physical Activity and Health lab, the goal is to manipulate accelerometers to better estimate everyday energy expenditure.

Portable calorimeter

Room calorimeter with bed, laptop, window, and air ducts. Full virtual tour can be accessed at https://www.umass.edu/ials/room-cal

Future

Chris will propose, collect data, and defend his research. After achieving a Master's degree in Kinesiology at UMass, he plans to pursue a Doctorate degree at a different institution as it is more influential to what area he may decide to work in.

To learn more about the Muscle Physiology lab, explore https://blogs.umass.edu/jkent/.