Current Members
Doctoral Students
Rupal Patel, PT, DPT
Title: Licensed Physical Therapist, Doctoral student, research assistant
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Degree Program: Health Behavior & Health Education
Previous Degrees: B.S. Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Austin; DPT, The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Research Interests: Studying how Complementary therapies enhance physical therapy outcomes
Career goals: To pursue a career in academia
Other Interests: Rock climbing, skiing, reading, and spending time with my husband and daughter
Masters Students
Katie Burford
Title: Masters Student, Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Degree Program: Exercise Physiology
Previous Degree: B.S. Public Health
Research Interests: Sustainable physical activity interventions, school-based and built environment physical activity programs, high-intensity interval training, and social, psychological, and behavioral factors that influence physical activity
Career Goals: To pursue a career in academia and start my own physical activity program or non-profit
Other Interests: Being outside, running, hiking, traveling, cooking, exploring new restaurants, family, friends, and my dog Blue
Alexandra Peluso, B.S.
Title: Masters Student, Teaching Assistant
Hometown: Scotch Plains, NJ
Degree Program: Health Behavior & Health Education
Previous Degree: B.S. Exercise Science, The University of South Carolina
Research Interests: Child independent mobility, children with developmental delays, transitions, (i.e. middle school to high school)
Career Goals: To pursue a career in academia
Other Interests: State parks, family, friends, a good book, and my dog Farley