New study published by Science Direct, in collaboration with Dr. Guy Faulkner.

New study published by Science Direct, with Guy Faulkner collaboration as part of the research team: “Longitudinal trends and predictors of muscle-strengthening activity guideline adherence among Canadian youths”

Muscle-strengthening activity (MSE e.g. push-ups, sit-ups, use of weight machines) is linked to multiple health benefits for youth, and is part of the global physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents (5–17 years). However, MSE is rarely assessed in youth health surveillance. This study describes the longitudinal trends and predictors of MSE among a cohort of Canadian youths.

For the full paper: Click Here.

Mannella, Staci

This Fall, Staci Mannella graduates with her MSc in Kinesiology. Her master’s thesis is a socio-psychological study on high-performance, visually impaired athletes and their relationships with their sighted guides. Under the supervision of assistant professor Dr. Andrea Bundon, Staci “explores the intersections of disability sport cultures, experiences of impairments, and athlete mental health.”

Her motivation behind researching this topic stems from her personal experience of being a professional athlete who is legally blind. She is a two-time Paralympic champion who competed for the U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team. As an athlete, movement and exercise played a huge role in her daily life so her research contributions meant that she would be “giving back to a community that was very influential in her life.” Furthermore, Staci remarks that “disability sport challenges us to think differently about what high-performance sport, bodies, and impairments look like.” Athletes with disabilities have been historically marginalized in sports and society, so this research gives them a platform on which to share their voices and experiences.

The variety of expertise and resources she could access in the Kinesiology MSc program made her learning experience fun, says Staci: “Research can be really fulfilling when it is driven by your own curiosities and excitement to explore a topic that is meaningful and interesting to you.” During her tenure as a grad student, Staci has worked as a TA and in several external research positions. She has worked at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre and the Canadian Blind Sports Association, “exploring quality participation of people with disabilities in adaptive snow sports programs” and “focusing on gender equity in Paralympic Sport” respectively.

According to Staci, what prospective students may find beneficial to know before entering graduate school is to ensure that they “keep open communication with the professor they are working with.” In this way, both the student and professor will “have the same expectations for the class and the TA work they will do to support student learning.” Currently, Staci is working on her Ph.D. in counseling psychology and hopes to contribute her findings to sports psychology research and clinical practice, specifically for athletes with disabilities. Staci likes to stay physically active by participating in CrossFit, riding horses, skiing, hiking, and biking.

If you are interested in learning more about her research, follow Staci on Twitter: @staciskier96.

Guan, Yanfei

Joining the Class of 2021 this fall, is Ph.D. Kin student Yanfei Guan!

KIN doctoral candidate, Yanfei Guan, will cross the stage as part of the UBC Class of 2021 at the Fall convocation. His dissertation examines “the relationship between inter-limb asymmetry and sports injury in youth athletes.” As part of his dissertation, he led four studies that combined sports medicine and biomechanics. Yanfei explains that he has a great interest in sports-related research, “My dissertation shows how injury prevention is important for athletes, especially for youth who are more vulnerable to soft tissue injuries.”

Prior to his doctoral studies at UBC, Yanfei studied kinesiology in China where he completed his bachelor’s degree at the Shandong University School of Sports Education and his master’s at the Shanghai University of Sports. In 2014, Yanfei travelled to Alberta to participate in a 6-month program at the University of Calgary. The experience was a turning point for him, and he decided to pursue his studies outside of China. Yanfei explains, “Being there influenced my decision to pursue a Ph.D. degree at UBC.”

Yanfei says that his time as both a Ph.D. student and a member of the UBC Kin community was nothing short of an eye-opening experience. His most important takeaway from the program is to “learn independently,” and explains that by solving problems on his own, he learned how to cope with them independently, became self-sufficient, and achieved self-improvement. After graduating this fall, he hopes to find a research position at a university in China to continue his research in sports science.

In Memoriam: Dr. David G. Russell, BPE ’70 and MPE ’71, 1937 – 2021.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of David Gray Russell (International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, 1993), an accomplished Professor and Emeritus Professor, School of Physical Education, University of Otago, New Zealand (NZ).

Professor Russell received his teaching certificate in NZ in 1958, his BPE (1970) and MPE (1971) from the UBC School of Kinesiology (head of the graduating BPE class). He completed an MA (psychology) in 1972 and his PhD (motor learning and control) in 1974 at the University of Michigan. David then was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois before moving to the Human Movement Studies Dept at the University of Queensland in Australia where he was a Senior Lecturer from 1974 – 81 and Head of the Dept from 1978- 81.

In 1981 he became Dean of the School of Physical Education at the University of Otago, NZ until July 1991. Following his period as Dean of the School, David established the Life in New Zealand Activity and Health Research (LINZ) Unit and was Director of this Unit until his retirement in 2001. David’s research interests have included: coordinating a research review on drugs in sport for the Royal Society of NZ culminating in the publication ‘Drugs in Sport: Their Use and Abuse’; and exploring the cost of inactivity of the New Zealand population leading to the report ‘The Cost of Doing Nothing.’

David is survived by his wife Ruth of 63 years, his children Neil and Susan, grandchild Lucy. We send them all our condolences. David is remembered fondly remembered by his many colleagues throughout the world. He has left an exceptional legacy of scholarship and friendship.

Congratulations to the winners of the UBCV/UBCO Collaborative Catalyst Grant in Kinesiology, Health, and Exercise Sciences.

Congratulations to the following teams for their successful application for the UBCV/UBCO Collaborative Catalyst Grant in Kinesiology, Health, and Exercise Sciences:

Drs. Stephen Wright, Neil Eves, and Bill Sheel, for their submission titled, ‘Lower-body Negative Pressure as a Novel Approach to Enhance Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction’.
Drs. Hashim Islam, Jonathan Little, and Robert Boushel, for their submission titled, ‘Linking immune cell and skeletal muscle mitochondrial structure and function across the healthspan: Impact of biological sex and obesity’.

A sincere thanks to the adjudication committee (Drs. Ali McManus and Dr. Chris McNeil from UBC-O, Dr. Tania Lam and Dr. Guy Faulkner from UBC-V).

Behaviour Interventionist

Position title

Behaviour Interventionist

Volunteer or Employment?

Employment

Employer name

Courtney Phillips

Employer email address

cpaigemapson@gmail.com

Number of positions available

Organization

Private Employer

Organization website

Job/volunteer posting URL

Job description

We are hiring bright, outgoing, and athletic individuals to work alongside a 27-year-old with autism in his home and community. This learner loves to go hiking, snowshoeing up at Grouse Mountain, ice skating and swimming. You must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per week. If you are interested in this position, please email a cover letter & resume to Courtney – cpaigemapson@gmail.com.

Hours/time commitment

Various shifts available – must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 shifts per week. Shifts available are:
Mondays 3:00-9:00pm, Tuesdays 3:00-9:00pm, Fridays 3:00-9:00pm, and Saturdays 5:00-9:30/10:00pm

How to apply

If you are interested in this position, please email a cover letter & resume to Courtney – cpaigemapson@gmail.com.

Posting expiration date

01/01/2022

Tenure-Stream Open Rank Professor in Indigenous Land-based Physical Culture and Wellness

Position title

Tenure-Stream Open Rank Professor in Indigenous Land-based Physical Culture and Wellness.

Volunteer or Employment?
Position within the School of Kinesiology

Employer name
School of Kinesiology

Employer email address
kin.hr@ubc.ca

Organization
UBC School of Kinesiology

Job description
The School of Kinesiology in the Faculty of Education at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invite applications for a full-time tenure-stream Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor position (Open Rank) in the area of Indigenous Land-based Physical Culture and Wellbeing. While the position is housed in the School of Kinesiology, the successful candidate is expected to collaborate with the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy and the Faculty’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP). The appointment is expected to begin on July 1, 2022 or as negotiated with the successful candidate.

The successful candidate must hold a doctoral degree (PhD or EdD), and demonstrate excellence or the potential for excellence in teaching, research and scholarship that will contribute to the School’s priorities of Indigenous engagement and Indigenous health and well-being. The successful candidate is expected to engage in teaching and research that is related to Indigenous land-based physical cultural wellbeing, with a focus on Indigenous advancement and community-based leadership in sport, physical activity, health and wellness in local and global contexts

How to apply
Interested applicants are invited to send:
(i) a cover letter (please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada),
(ii) curriculum vitae,
(iii) a five-year research plan,
(iv) a summary of teaching interests and philosophy,
(v) evidence of teaching excellence (such as course outlines and student evaluations if available),
(vi) three papers that are the most significant and relevant to their research interests, and
(vii) a Diversity Statement that describes and documents how values of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and anti-oppression figure into your past, present, and future experience of teaching, research/educational leadership, community engagement, and your lived experience (maximum 1 page), and
(viii) names and contact details of three academic references. Letters of reference will only be requested from short-listed candidates.
The complete application file must be submitted in the format of one bookmarked PDF file, addressed to Dr. Robert Boushel, Director, School of Kinesiology, and sent electronically to kin.hr@ubc.ca. Please indicate in subject heading: Indigenous Land-based Physical Culture and Wellness Position. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process.

For full details and application process, Click Here

Posting expiration date
01/31/2022

Fliss, Matthew

Matthew Fliss is a graduate student, working on his Master of Science (MSc) in Kinesiology. He was recently awarded the esteemed Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) 2021 Graduate Student Award for MSc Poster Presentation. The award acknowledges the outstanding graduate research that is presented at CSEP’s Graduate Student Poster Award Session. Winning the award was momentous for Matthew, as it is the first academic award he has received, and it proved to him how important his research is within the scientific community. “I had decently long conversations with two of the three judges,” remarks Matthew, “and one of them happened to be researching a similar topic to mine, so we talked about collaborating in the future.”

Before starting his MSc at UBC, he graduated from McMaster University in 2019 with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. When asked about his mentors and who impacted him along his journey, Matthew stated McMaster university professors Dr. Stuart Phillips and Dr. Robert Morton as his biggest inspirations. Both were pivotal in his decision to continue his research at UBC: “Dr. Morton is the primary reason I’m at UBC today as he gave me the opportunity to excel in the lab and allowed me to discover my passion for muscle physiology research.”

Matthew’s love for sports ignited his passion for kinesiology before starting his bachelor’s, but an MSc was his opportunity to “answer his own questions” and “direct his own learning” in the field. Under the supervision of Dr. Cameron Mitchell, assistant professor in UBCKin, Matthew is currently researching the effects of higher- and lower-load resistance exercise training on muscle growth, strength, and endurance in the upper and lower body. He shares that there has never been a conversation with Dr. Mitchell that did not leave him curious to learn more. “It’s fun to try and hunt down the answer,” states Matthew, “and if there isn’t an answer, Dr. Mitchell and I can be the ones to try and find one.”

In January 2022, Matthew plans to start his Ph.D. also under Dr. Mitchell’s supervision to further expand on his current thesis research. In addition to his full-time studies, he works as a strength and conditioning coach at UBC. He enjoys volleyball and beach volleyball, but a sport he would love to learn is skiing. He also loves dogs, Sunday hikes, and reading on the beach during the summertime.

Reconciliation in the Rainforest Trail Run – September 27, 2021 Recap.

Eva Miles

On September 27th, over 200 runners and walkers braved the rains to participate in the second annual Rainforest Trail Run at the urban rainforest of Central Park in Burnaby, BC in the name of truth, reconciliation and hope. The event, which aims to advance Indigenous culture and history, was forced to cancel in 2020 because of the Covid Pandemic. The inaugural Rainforest Trail Run was held in 2019 with great support from the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreational Council (I-SPARC). We are delighted to say that the event proceeded in-person with great enthusiasm this year. The warmth of the participants and happiness at being able to gather in a healthy outdoor activity was palpable!

Robert Boushel, Shannon Bredin, Darren Warburton and Dr. Rosalin Miles and her daughter were but some of the many Kinesiology attendees at the event. UBC Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine Professor Emeritus Doug Clement together with Diane Clement co-organized the event, and Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine’s Ron Mattison and Professor Emeritus Jack Taunton also participated. Rosalin Miles drummed her way through the rainforest and then went on to win the 5km run!

To read more about the run and see the winners, visit: https://www.rainforesttrailrun.com/news/rain-welcomes-runners-and-walkers-at-2021-rainforest-trail-run

Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) brave rain at the RainForest Trail Run

Dr. Rosalin Miles

Andrea Nicholson, Ron Mattison, Jack Taunton

10k Winner

10k 2nd place winner Professor Jocelyn Stacey, Allard School of Law, UBC.

Ritika Saraswat, 4th-Year BKin Student and Canadian Management Consulting (CMC)-BC Student Award Winner.

Ritika Saraswat is a 4th-year BKin student in the interdisciplinary stream. The School of Kinesiology is happy to announce that Ritika is one of 2 students in the province to have been awarded the Canadian Management Consulting (CMC)-BC Student Award. Sponsored by KPMG Canada, the award recognizes a BC undergraduate student leader who has demonstrated a passion for, and excellence in the area of, management consulting and leadership. It is unusual for a Kinesiology student to win such a prize. But Ritika believes that it was her academic background in kinesiology as well as the extensive consulting work which made her stand out as a candidate to the award committee.

Ritika has definitely demonstrated her passion for management consulting! Over the past year, Ritika has conducted two pro-bono consulting cases, three case competitions, and worked with four start-up businesses, in addition to her full-time studies. One of these cases was with Eastside Boxing, a local non-profit sports organization, whose mission is to “empower women and people in the Downtown Eastside community.” Ritika and her team worked on strategies to diversify the organization’s digital strategy to make their services accessible to everyone. Ritika says the project enabled her to connect her studies with her consulting interests, while applying her knowledge of kinesiology in addressing social issues in business, such as EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) and accessibility.

How does a kinesiology student, who is not in the Dual Degree Master of Management program, win a business award, you might ask? Ritika initially pursued her studies in Kinesiology due to her love of sports. However, in second year in Kin she was offered a marketing job by an NGO which led to other such opportunities with startups in and out of Canada. As a result, she joined the Sauder Management Consulting Club in her third year of UBC Kin. She began to take free business courses through platforms like Coursera and joined the Kinesiology Mentorship program under past Student Engagement Officer, Elise Le Brun. Here, she was paired with her mentor and Kin alum, Atila Ozkaplan, who encouraged her career interests, shared his LinkedIn contacts, and recommended her to one of his contacts, which led to a job.

Ritika had started building her LinkedIn (LI) network early on, and it was a LinkedIn connection that sent her CMC-BC award application. Ritika states, “I definitely did not have any expectations when applying. A month-and-a-half later I learned that I got it and I was pretty excited!” As a result, LI contacts reached out to her with more opportunities. One of these was for a job with the globally renowned firm Deloitte. Ritika has accepted the offer and will begin work with them upon her graduation from UBC.

Ritika encourages all Kinesiology students to consider every opportunity that comes their way: “As long as you’re willing to put in that consistent effort you can actually achieve your goals. If you want to become something, write it down. Keep it on your wall. Look at it every day you wake up and say, ‘I am going to become that’. Ritika is certainly proof of her philosophy! Congratulations to Ritika for this prestigious award and for landing the job of her dreams!

Watch the CMC-BC recognition video: