People | Human and Sport Performance Laboratory

Christopher Lundstrom, Ph.D.- Lab Director
Lecturer, School of Kinesiology

My research interests center on endurance exercise training and performance. Specifically, I am interested in running economy, aerobic capacity, metabolic substrate utilization, and heart rate variability. I have been teaching at the University of Minnesota since 2006, including courses in the areas of sports science, training theory, coaching, and physical education.

My interest in sports science can be traced back to my own career as a runner. My athletic highlights include placing 3rd and 4th in the USA Marathon Championships and representing the United States in the Pan-American Games (2007) and the World Mountain Running Championships (2010). I have been coaching distance runners since 1999, and have worked with runners of all levels: elite runners, high school, collegiate, and recreational. Through the Marathon Training class, I have guided hundreds of students in completing their first marathon. Currently, I am the Head Coach of Minnesota Distance Elite - an elite development program for professional distance runners.

Emma Lee, PhD- Research Associate
Post-doctoral Fellow, Cardiovascular Research & Rehabilitation Lab

✉ [email protected]

Research Interests: Emma received an M.S. in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) from the University of Minnesota in 2015 and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) in 2018. Her dissertation focused on running performance in marathon runners and master athletes. She is excited to explore cardiovascular and autonomic function in women, especially endurance athletes.

Personal Interests: Emma loves to run, strength train, cross country ski, read books, and be active outdoors.

Anton Hesse- Research Assistant
Ph.D. candidate, School of Kinesiology

Exercise Physiology

✉ [email protected]

My name is Anton Hesse and I am a current Kinesiology PhD student at the University of Minnesota. I graduated from Southwest High School in Minneapolis (2011) and St. Olaf College (2015), where I studied Exercise Science and Chemistry. My research interests are cellular and molecular exercise physiology, graded exercise testing and gas exchange analysis, and muscle atrophy. As a former collegiate track & field athlete, I am ever interested in running research. I enjoy fishing, cooking, and gardening.

Nick Foreman- Research Assistant
M.S. student, School of Kinesiology

Exercise Physiology

✉ [email protected]

I graduated from Centennial High School in 2017 and from the U of M with a degree in Human Physiology in 2019. As a Masters student, my thesis will look at recovery after low- and moderate-intensity exercise in trained runners, as measured with heart rate variability (HRV). My research interests are centered around endurance exercise, stemming from my interest in distance running. Specifically, I'm interested in HRV, the molecular mechanisms underlying endurance exercise, and endurance performance predictions from exercise testing data. I'm also interested in reproducible research and open science. Outside of my research and coursework, I enjoy running and am an assistant cross country and track coach at a local high school.

Aaron Easker- Research Assistant

M.S. student, School of Kinesiology

Exercise Physiology

✉ [email protected]

My name is Aaron Easker and I am a Kinesiology M.S student at the University of Minnesota. I graduated from Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School in 2009, and UW-Eau Claire in 2013 with a B.S in Kinesiology. At UW-Eau Claire, I was a national champion in the 10,000m run at the 2013 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Since graduating, I have worked as a personal trainer at Life Time Fitness in Woodbury, MN. My passions and interests are distance running and other endurance sports, strength training, and weight loss.

Owen Hoeft - Research Assistant
M.S. student, School of Kinesiology

Exercise Physiology

✉ [email protected]

My name is Owen Hoeft and I am a first year graduate student in the Kinesiology M.S. program. I graduated from Hopkins High School in 2016, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Kinesiology. My research interests include human performance in endurance athletics. I also am a three year captain of the University of Minnesota's track and cross country teams.