Lab Members | Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology

Lab Director

Donald Dengel, PhD

Professor, School of Kinesiology
Henry L. Taylor-Arthur S. Leon Professorship in Exercise Science and Health Enhancement

☎ 612-626-9701
✉ [email protected]

Donald Dengel, Ph.D., is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. In addition to directing the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, he also serves as the Director of the Clinical Vascular Biology Laboratory. Dr. Dengel is editor for the International Journal of Sports Medicine and serves at the University of Minnesota’s Faculty Athletics Representative.

Dr. Dengel’s principle areas of research include insulin sensitivity, body composition, heart rate variability and vascular structure and function in both children and adults. He is the co-investigator on a series of grants funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health to explore the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adolescent and adult cancer survivors.

LAB MANAGER

Nicholas Evanoff, PhD,

✉ [email protected]

Nick is the LIHP research manager on a casual appointment in addition to his full-time appointment as the clinical operations manager for the medical school’s Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine. Dr. Evanoff collaborates closely with research groups both within the University and Minnesota as well as nationally and internationally in respect to exercise testing/interventions, body composition, and cardiovascular risk assessments. His mentoring provides LIHP students with opportunities to enhance their training to include clinical exercise and integrative physiology in multiple clinical trials.

Areas of interest: Non-invasive techniques (Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, arterial tonometry, etc.) to assess vascular function in children and adults.

PHD STUDENTS

Nikki Lescano

✉ [email protected]

Nikki is a first-year PhD student in the Lab of Integrative Human Physiology from Indianapolis, IN. Her research interests include vascular health outcomes, biochemistry, and exercise physiology. Nikki is currently serving as a teaching assistant for KIN 4385: Exercise Physiology, and has taught Exercise Prescription as well as Anatomy and Physiology. Outside of the lab, Nikki enjoys traveling, LEGO sets, volleyball, and spinning.

Tamara Mancilha

✉ [email protected]

Tamara Mancilha is a second-year PhD international student in the Lab of Integrative Human Physiology. Her research interests are related to body composition assessment methods, diet, and metabolic disorders. Tamara has served as a teaching assistant for Exercise Physiology.
In her free time, she enjoys running, listening to some Brazilian music, and cooking.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Marissa Peaslee

✉ [email protected]

Marissa is a Master's student in the Lab of Integrative Human Physiology. Her research interests include exercise physiology, nutrition, and women's health. Marissa has served as a teaching assistant for Human Physiology.

Outside of school, Marissa enjoys knitting, sewing, running, and camping with her dog.

Undergraduate Students

Lance Liu

✉ [email protected]

Lance Liu is a research assistant in the Lab of Integrative Human Physiology and Junior undergraduate student studying kinesiology, with minors in Integrative Neuroscience and Sport Coaching. In his free time, Lance enjoys weightlifting, camping, playing Pokémon GO and coaching High School track and field.

Keshav Sriram

✉ [email protected]

Keshav Sriram is a sophomore majoring in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota on the pre-medical track. He is an undergraduate research assistant in the Lab of Integrative Human Physiology. He is also serving as a teaching assistant for the Principles of Nutrition course. He is particularly interested in cardiovascular physiology and hopes to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of becoming a cardiologist and contributing to cardiovascular research. Outside of academics, he enjoys playing cricket, working out, occasionally watching boxing, and listening to music.

Emmie Hannon

✉ [email protected]

Emmie Hannon is a sophomore majoring in Kinesiology on the Pre- PT track. She plans on furthering her education in the DPT program at the University of Minnesota. In her free time, Emmie enjoys reading, working out, and listening to music.