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. Postdocs at UNC (bone marrow adiposity, MSC fate decisions, immune control of bone) and at Duke in Evolutionary Anthropology led her to a bigger question: why is the modern human skeleton so much more fragile than our ancestors? The rise of infectious disease after the Neolithic transition may hold a clue!

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 “Kat” Kozakova, BS

MS student · 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 “Gabe” Kozak, BS

MS student · Exercise Physiology

Gabe joins us from John Carroll University, where he studying 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.

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

Undergraduate students

Elina Satlik

Undergraduate · Kinesiology (pre-health)

Claire LeBlanc

Undergraduate · Biology & Nutrition

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