UNC Lab Services

Post Doctoral Researcher

Paul is a postdoctoral researcher in the Applied Physiology Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan. His research interests center around metabolic, body composition, and vascular alterations in response to exercise, nutrition, ergogenic aids, and environmental stressors. Prior to Chapel Hill, he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in exercise physiology from the University of Kentucky. At the University of Kentucky, he obtained a high-performance coaching certificate, which focused on skills to optimize athlete development through strength and conditioning, physiological readiness, leadership, and sport psychology. He received his doctorate in nutrition from Florida State University under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Hickner. His dissertation work explored the effects of NADPH oxidase and creatine monohydrate supplementation on oxidative stress and skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow in older individuals with overweight/obesity. In his free time, Paul loves to hike, rock climb, slackline, trail run, weightlift, travel, and explore new places.

Masters Student

Gabrielle is a second-year master’s student in Exercise Physiology and Graduate Research Assistant in the Applied Physiology Laboratory. She is originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, where she attended the University of Virginia and majored in Kinesiology. While at UVA, Gabrielle worked with UVA Recreation as a group fitness instructor, volunteered as an Emergency Medical and Swift Water Rescue Technician, and was the first female president of The Barbell Club. After graduating, Gabrielle worked as a Clinical Research Specialist with UNC Orthopaedics, coordinating FDA-regulated clinical trials in Orthopaedic Trauma, Joint Replacement, and Sports Medicine. Gabrielle is passionate about women’s health and nutritional interventions to improve quality of life. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, strength training, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Masters Student

Caroline Kelly is a graduate of Biomedical Engineering from Union College, with minors in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies. At Union, Caroline completed research on the psychological impact of taking hormonal birth control methods, as well as leading a capstone design project creating an atraumatic tenaculum to be used for IUD insertions. Her long-term goal is to receive her PhD studying topics related to women’s health and longevity and is excited to continue her involvement in this field through work in Dr. Smith-Ryan’s Applied Physiology Lab. Caroline loves to trail run, hike, lift, and be creative!

Masters Student

Mikey is a first-year graduate student and Research Assistant in the Applied Physiology Lab. Originally from McKenzie, Alabama, he graduated from Samford University, where he majored in Health Science with minors in Strength and Conditioning and Nutrition. During his undergraduate studies, he researched sport supplementation and resistance training while serving as a lead associate for a community testing program, where he performed metabolic and body composition assessments. Mikey also earned his CSCS credentials shortly after graduating. He is planning on pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of exercise science with interests in sport supplementation, body composition, metabolism, and resistance training. Mikey spends most of his free time weightlifting, watching football, and trying new foods.

Research Coordinator

Alex Ladan has recently graduated with her Master of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from UNC Chapel Hill, while studying under the direction of Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan. If Alex is not in the lab, you’ll likely find her at the pool – where she enjoys teaching individuals of all ages how to swim. Prior to her time at Carolina, Alex studied nutrition and its impact on the gut microbiota at the University of Illinois. She competed for Team USA as a rhythmic gymnast, which sparked her interest in studying female physiology, performance, recovery, and metabolism.

Research Coordinator

Celia Gottlieb is a recent graduate from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her BSPH in Nutrition Health & Society. She discovered her passion for connecting science with real-world behavior change and obtainable interventions while working as an undergraduate research assistant in the APL and as a performance nutrition intern for UNC Football. If Celia isn’t in the lab, you’ll likely find her trying a new restaurant with her friends, experimenting in the kitchen, in a pilates class or cheering on UNC athletics. Deeply interested in female physiology, sports nutrition, and metabolic health, Celia plans to pursue a graduate degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology to continue exploring how food, movement, and physiology shape health across the lifespan.

Sport Scientist for Women’s Soccer Team

Elena is a former soccer player for the National Autonomous University of Mexico where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After an internship at Stanford Sports Performance, she discovered her passion for coaching and got certified as a Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS). Her interest in sport science and female physiology led her to pursue her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology, where she works under Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan at the Applied Physiology Laboratory and as a sport scientist for the UNC Women’s soccer team. Her research interests are centered around evaluating all aspects of performance in female populations, specifically creating scientific-based practical applications to improve health and performance in female athletes. In her free time, Elena enjoys to workout, drink coffee, and watch sports.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lucy is a pre-medical student with a focused interest in women’s health and global languages. Lucy is passionate about furthering the scope of health care tailored to the female physiology and is proud to be a part of the APL’s pioneering menopause-focused research. With her interest in the Spanish language and medicine, Lucy hopes to provide as many patients as possible a seamless healthcare experience, without hesitation from a language barrier. When not in the lab, you can find Lucy studying for her weekly chemistry midterms, at a charlas get-together, or on a walk around Chapel Hill’s sunny campus.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ashley is a senior Undergraduate at UNC Chapel Hill double majoring in Biology and Psychology. Upon graduating in May 2026, she plans to complete a post-baccalaureate program prior to applying to medical school. Her goal is to become a Cardiologist and provide care to individuals in at-risk populations. Outside of the lab, Ashley enjoys volunteering at Duke and UNC Hospitals, reading and writing mystery fiction, and going on runs through her local nature preserve.

Sam R. Moore, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma. Graduated 2025.

Morgan Britton, MA. Scientific Affairs Associate, Bonafide Health. Graduated 2025.

Kelly Joniak, MA. Advisor. Thrive Health. Graduated 2024.

Malia N.M. Blue, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina. Graduated 2020.

Hannah E. Cabre, PhD, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Graduated 2023.

Katie R. Hirsch, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina. Graduated 2020.

Eric T. Trexler, PhD, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Duke University. Graduated 2019.

Kara Anderson, MA – Doctoral Student, University of Virginia
Gabrielle Brewer, MA – Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Connecticut
Amanda Gordon, MA – Doctoral Student, Washington Spirit
Lacey Gould, MA - LabCorp
Alex Ladan, MA – Research Coordinator, Applied Physiology Laboratory
Kelly Joniak, MA – Bionic Health
Austin Peterjohn, MA – Clinical Research Associate, IQVIA
Alexis Pihoker, MA – Fire Fighter, Pittsburgh, PA
Meredith Mock, MA – Physician Assistant
Erica Roelofs, MA – Doctoral Student, University of Minnesota
Hailee Rich (Wingfield), MA – Fitness & Wellness Supervisor, Wake Med
Sarah Fultz Colbert, MA – head Programming Coach, OxFit, Exercise Physiologist for Best Health, Atlanta, GA
Mary Woessner, PhD – Clinical Trial Project Coordinator, Bone Health & Fractures Research Program, Australian Catholic University