Members

Our team

Meet the people behind the work.

Lab Director

Sarah Little-Letsinger, MS, PhD

Assistant Professor · Director

Dr. Little’s educational background is in Exercise Physiology (Virginia Tech, Texas A&M). Her doctoral work traced how space radiation and diet-induced obesity drive inflammatory bone loss. Dr. Little’s postdoc at UNC (bone marrow adiposity, MSC fate decisions, immune control of bone) and at Duke in Evolutionary Anthropology led her to two fundamental questions underpinning her current research program: (1) Why is our modern human skeleton so much more fragile than our ancestors? and (2) Can that explain why modern humans uniquely experience osteoporosis and related fractures?

Off the clock: She loves to be physically active outdoors – whether it’s hiking, walking her two dogs, playing soccer, snowboarding, or just running around with her kids, Beck and Hayes. She is also an avid reader, especially on philosophical fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Rand, Dostoevsky, Hesse, Camus, Kundera, and Pirsig.

Reach her at s.little@austin.utexas.edu.

Graduate students

Katarina Kozakova, BS

MS Thesis · Exercise Physiology

Kat joins us from Iowa State University, where she studied cardio- and cerebrovascular function. She currently researches the role of (sex) hormones and menopause in bone health. Kat plans to pursue a PhD focused on women’s health.

Off the clock: Kat enjoys outdoor activities, travelling, weightlifting, and spending time with her dog.

Gabriel Kozak, BS

MS Thesis · Exercise Physiology

Gabe joins us from John Carroll University, where he studied metabolite accumulation during aerobic exercise. He currently researches the effect of space radiation on immune cells, aiming to deepen our understanding of human physiology during spaceflight. Gabe plans to pursue Aerospace Physiology with the US Navy.

Off the clock: Gabe enjoys competing in Tough Mudders, weightlifting, road trips, and cooking.

Nan Sricharoen, BS, CSCS

MS Thesis · Exercise Physiology

Nan, a graduate of the University of Texas, spent the past 4 years as a personal trainer specializing in prenatal, postpartum, and women’s health. She brings this expertise to the lab’s research on bone health in humans, and is currently leading BoneFIT, a community-based exercise program run in collaboration with the Fitness Institute of Texas.

Off the clock: Nan enjoys riding horses, traveling, weightlifting, and running her home bakery. She also loves reading, crocheting, and cuddling with her cat, Basil.

Undergraduate students

Elina Satlik

Undergraduate

Kinesiology (pre-health)

Claire LeBlanc

Undergraduate

Biology & Nutrition

Interested in joining the lab? See how to get involved.