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